ABSTRACT
The airbourne toxic element and organic substance study focused on the measurement of pollutants and biological activity thought to be associated with chronic diseases, notably cancer. The EPA study estimated that roughly half of the cancer incidence assigned to air pollution is attributable to products of incomplete combustion (PIC). PIC consists of organic compounds, including Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as well as numerous PAH derivatives, PAH degradation products, and heteroanalogs, as well as numerous as yet unknown classes. PAHs are by-products of the combustion of organic matter. Most of the PAHs are associated with the fine particulate matter present in air and originate during the combustion process. Correlations between pollutants can be done both from the point of view of qualitative intrasite comparison and intersite comparison. The range of data reflects differences in results obtained by respected laboratories, each of which employs different combustion, sample collection, and analytical protocol.
