Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Methylated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, and Polycyclic Azaaromatic Compounds

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polycyclic azaaromatic compounds (carbazoles and acridines) are chemicals formed by the incomplete combustion of organic matter. These compounds have been detected in a wide variety of sources, including mainstream and sidestream cigarette smoke, mainstream smoke of marijuana cigarettes, gasoline, coal, and oil, gasoline and diesel engine exhaust, emissions from the combustion of oil, coal, wood, and garbage, grilled and smoked fish and meats, cooking oils, butter, and margarine, urban air, and various workplace scenarios. Due to their ubiquitous distribution, human exposure to these chemicals invariably occurs. A major concern regarding these agents is their potential carcinogenicity. In this chapter, we review the general properties, production, use, exposure assessment, metabolism, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity of specific chemicals from each of these classes. The focus is on agents that have been reviewed for carcinogenicity by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP).