The solid-matrix phosphorescence of (±)-anti-dibenzo[a,l]pyrene diol epoxide-DNA adducts and benzo[e]pyrene

New solid-matrix phosphorescence (SMP) methods for (±)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE-DNA adducts and B[e]P were developed. The methods can be used to detect and characterize (±)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE-DNA adducts and B[e]P by employing SMP spectra, intensities, and lifetimes acquired with the heavy-atom salt, TlNO3, on Whatman 1PS paper. With the SMP data, a number of photophysical parameters were calculated such as biexponential SMP decay curves, pre-exponential factors, and fractional contribution to SMP decay curves. The SMP results were compared with earlier SMP data for (±)-anti-BPDE-DNA adducts and tetrol I-1. The SMP results show that small molecular-weight compounds like B[e]P can be readily detected and characterized by SMP. For example, the limit of detection for B[e]P was 0.60 pmol. Comparison of the SMP properties of the (±)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE-DNA adducts with earlier SMP data for the (±)-anti-BPDE-DNA adducts showed major differences in the SMP spectra, intensities, and lifetimes. The methods developed are important for the comparison of the SMP properties of different diol epoxides of PAH bonded to DNA.