Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in bovine lens

A study was performed to detect the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in bovine eyes. Twenty fresh bovine eyes were used to detect the presence of PAHs in lens, vitreous and aqueous by HPLC and spectrofluorometer. In lenticular tissue the mean amount of PAHs was 0.0271 microgram/g and the mean level of PAH in each lens was 0.059 microgram. Five types of PAHs (pyrene, fluoranthene, triphenylene, 1.2-benzanthracene and chrysene) were found in the lenses but none in vitreous and aqueous. These data indicate that PAHs are present only in the lens of the bovine eye. The source of these substances in mammalian clear lens is unclear.