Abstract
Nitro-PAHs are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon derivatives that contain one or more nitro groups covalently bound at chemically reactive positions on the aromatic ring. Mixtures of nitrated PAHs are generated either by reactions of PAHs with nitrogen oxides or as byproducts of the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels (65). A wide variety of nitro-PAHs have been isolated from environmental sources, such as coal fly ash, diesel emission particulates, cigarette smoke and carbon black photocopier toners (29, 52, 63, 74, 75, 86, 87, 88). Structures of representative nitro-PAHs isolated from the environment are shown in Figure 1.
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Cerniglia, C.E., Somerville, C.C. (1995). Reductive Metabolism of Nitroaromatic and Nitropolycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. In: Spain, J.C. (eds) Biodegradation of Nitroaromatic Compounds. Environmental Science Research, vol 49. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9447-2_7
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