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2222779 
Journal Article 
The identification of a carcinogenic compound in coal-tar 
Kennaway, E 
1955 
Yes 
British Medical Journal
ISSN: 0007-1447 
2 
4942 
749-752 
English 
13250207 
The carcinogenic impact of exposure to coal-tar (8007452) is considered. The literature associated with coal-tar exposure is briefly cited. Research evidence indicates that industrial cancers caused by various forms of tar and mineral-oil are due to exposure to temperatures above a certain value. The temperature factor as an agent conferring carcinogenic power to coal-tar is considered. The application of fluorescence spectroscopy in the study of the carcinogenicity of coal-tar is discussed. The value of fluorescence spectroscopy in explicating the relationship between temperature and cancer causing ability is highlighted. The literature reporting the first synthetic carcinogens from 1929 is presented. The association between synthetic chemistry and cancer research is discussed. The experimental isolation of a carcinogen in gasworks tar, and the fractionation of pitch (61789604) are described. The identification and synthesis of 3,4-benzpyrene (50328) is addressed; this research showed that 3,4-benzpyrene is identical to the strongly fluorescing major component of the crystals prepared from pitch distillate. The synthetic preparation is also highly carcinogenic.