Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons PAH
Meaning, Term, and Glossary Definition - What is Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons PAH?
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemical compounds that consist of fused aromatic rings and do not contain heteroatoms or carry substituents.
PAHs (also called poly-aromatic hydrocarbons or polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons) occur in oil, coal, and tar deposits, and are produced as byproducts of fuel burning (whether fossil fuel or biomass). As a pollutant, they are of concern because some compounds have been identified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic. PAHs are also found in foods. Studies have shown that most food intake of PAHs comes from cereals, oils and fats.
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Related glossary terms:
Aromatics Chlorinated Hydrocarbons Hydrocarbons HC Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons TPH
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