Benzo[e]pyrene is a pentacyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, which, unlike its structural isomer benzo[a]pyrene, is not a potent carcinogen or mutagen. The metabolism of benzo[e]pyrene was studied using the filamentous fungus Cunninghamella elegans ATCC 36112.C. elegans metabolized 65% of the [9, 10, 11, 12-H-3]benzo[e]pyrene and unlabeled benzo[e]pyrene added to Sabouraud dextrose broth cultures after 120 h of incubation. Three major metabolites of benzo[e]pyrene were separated by reversed-phase high- performance liquid chromatography. These were identified by H-1 and C-13 NMR, and mass spectral analyses as 3-benzo [e] pyrenylsulfate, 10-hydroxy-3-benzo[e]pyrenyl sulfate, and benzo[e]pyrene 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside.