ABSTRACT
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) compounds are a class of complex organic chemicals, containing carbon and hydrogen with a fused ring structure containing at least two benzene rings (Ravindraa et al. 2008). PAHs are widely distributed in the atmosphere due to the incomplete combustion of carbonaceous materials, and they were one of the first atmospheric pollutants to be identified as suspected carcinogens. They have relatively low vapour pressure and are resistant to chemical reaction (Ferreira 2001), so they persist in the environment and tend to accumulate in biota, soils and sediments. They are included in the Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (UNECE 1998) and measures should be put in place to control their emission (Denier van der Gon et al. 2007).
