Selected Non-heterocyclic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

An evaluation of the risks to human health and the environment posed by exposure to 33 non-heterocyclic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), of which benzo[a]pyrene is the most intensively investigated.

Compounds from this large class were selected for evaluation on the basis of abundant data documenting toxic effects, including carcinogenicity.

More than 2000 references to literature are included.

There are chapters discussing: the physical and chemical properties of PAH; sources of human and environmental exposure; data on the environmental behaviour of PAH; the environmental levels and human exposure, summarizing results from various studies; data on kinetics and metabolism; studies of toxic effects in laboratory animals; and health effects in humans.

The report further concludes that PAH are almost certainly one of the carcinogenic agents responsible for lung cancers in cigarette smokers.