Understanding Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Derivatives: Sources, Properties, and Health Impacts

Section: Research Articles
Keywords: toxic, Health hazards, organic pollutant, mutagenic, carcinogenic
Subjects: This chapter delves into the contemporary knowledge surrounding Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives, shedding light on their sources, formation mechanisms, and inherent properties. It also comprehensively reviews the global status.
Disciplines: Environmental Chemistry, atmosphere chemistry

PAHs, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), composed of 2-7 fused aromatic rings, emerge from processes involving incomplete combustion of organic materials. Released into the ambient air as vapors or adsorbed onto airborne particulate matter, these compounds undergo complex photochemical reactions with atmospheric pollutants such as ozone, NO_X, SO_X, and OH radicals and result in the formation of its derivatives which possess remarkably higher toxicity and carcinogenicity than its parent PAHs. This chapter delves into the contemporary knowledge surrounding Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives, shedding light on their sources, formation mechanisms, and inherent properties. It also comprehensively reviews the global status.