ABSTRACT
In order to protect men, animals, plants, and our habitat against noxious environmental pollution, it is necessary to identify the substances causing this noxious effect and to measure the frequency of their occurrence in the environment. Noxious substances in air and food are hazards to human health. Consequently, all compounds belonging to a class of noxious substances have to be tested in several animal models in order to assess their activity. On the basis of findings in various animal species and their action on cultures of animal and human tissue, it is possible to state which polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) have carcinogenic properties. It is the task of chemistry to detect known hazardous PAH in the environment and to determine their concentration. The profile of PAH contained in mineral oil is clearly different from the profile of PAH obtained by incomplete combustion or pyrolysis of organic material.
