ABSTRACT
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) constitute a large class of organic compounds containing two or more fused aromatic rings made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms. They are formed during incomplete combustion or pyrolysis of organic matter and are present in the environment as pollutants. PAHs can be produced and emitted from natural sources, such as forest res and volcanoes, and from anthropogenic sources, which include the processing of aluminum, iron, steel, asphalt, coal tar, coke, crude oil, petroleum, and natural gas; heating in power plants and homes; burning of refuse; wood res; oil spills and motor vehicle exhausts. These compounds are also formed during food processing (WHO, 2006; EFSA, 2008). The structure of some PAHs is given in Figure 28.1.
