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Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

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Encyclopedia of Cancer

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Synonyms

Polyaromatic compounds

Definition

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) belong to the more general class of polycyclic aromatic compounds that contain two or more aromatic rings fused together in a linear or angular configuration. PAHs consist of carbon and hydrogen only. Hence, polycyclic aromatic compounds containing heteroatoms (e.g., N, S, and O) in their molecular structure would not belong to the group of PAHs in a narrow sense of the chemical nomenclature.

Characteristics

Anthropogenic Origin and Carcinogenicity

PAHs are formed during incomplete combustion processes of organic matter. Due to the abundant use of fossil energy sources, PAHs are readily detectable as ubiquitous contaminants in the environment. Humans are exposed to complex mixtures of PAHs in the atmosphere from combustion sources such as cigarette smoking, vehicle emissions, and fossil fuels; and in foodstuffs from pyrolysis products such as overbarbequed meat or charbroiled food. In addition,...

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References

  • ATSDR (1995) Toxicological profile for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Agency for toxic substances and disease registry. US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta

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  • Grimmer G (1983) Environmental carcinogens: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. CRC Press, Boca Raton

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  • Harvey RG (1991) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: chemistry and carcinogenicity. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK

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  • Luch A (2005) The carcinogenic effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Imperial College Press, London

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Abbott Nutrition, Regulatory Affairs, Abbott Laboratories, 43219, Columbus, OH, USA

    Brinda Mahadevan

  2. German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn Strasse 8/10, 10589, Berlin, Germany

    Andreas Luch

Authors
  1. Brinda Mahadevan
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  2. Andreas Luch
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brinda Mahadevan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Abt. Tumorgenetik, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany

    Manfred Schwab

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© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Mahadevan, B., Luch, A. (2015). Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_4666-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_4666-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27841-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

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