The　metabolism　of　the　three　rings　PAHs　phenanthrene　induced　by　peroxynitrite　has　been　investigated　using　a　porphyrin/peroxynitrite　biomimetic　system　through　a　facile　method　based　on　high-performance　liquid　chromatography　coupled　with　electro　spray　ionization　tandem　mass　spectrometry　(HPLC-ESI-MS).　Four　main　metabolites　were　identified　as　hydroxy-,　quinone-,　nitro-　and　1,10-phenanthroline　derivatives,　respectively,in　which　nontoxic　phenanthrene　was　transformed　into　the　direct-acting　mutagen,　nitroand　quinone-　compounds.　©　2011　IEEE.