ABSTRACT
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PARs) are ubiquitous pollutants that result from fossil fuel combustion and industrial by-products. These carcinogenic and mutagenic chemicals are dispersed in the environment. Around industrial sites, such as coal gasification and liquefaction companies, high levels of PARs are detected in the soil. Polluted sites are a health risk to human populations because of their long persistence. Widespread occurrence and the implications for public health are the motivating factors for soil remediation.
