A review on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Source, environmental impact, effect on human health and remediation

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants generated primarily during the incomplete combustion of organic materials (e.g. coal, oil, petrol, and wood). Emissions from anthropogenic activities predominate; nevertheless, some PAHs in the environment originate from natural sources such as open burning, natural losses or seepage of petroleum or coal deposits, and volcanic activities. Major anthropogenic sources of PAHs include residential heating, coal gasification and liquefying plants, carbon black, coal-tar pitch and asphalt production, coke and aluminum production, catalytic cracking towers and related activities in petroleum refineries as well as and motor vehicle exhaust. PAHs are found in the ambient air in gas-phase and as sorbet to aerosols. Atmos