Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-021504",
  "term": "Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Please see the ATSDR fact sheet for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.\n\n2. A chemical contaminant that forms when gas, coal and oil are burned. PAHs are common in areas with high rates of development and motor vehicle traffic.\n\n3. Group of organic chemicals. (See Toxicity Profiles http://www.epa.gov/region5superfund/ecology/html/toxprofiles.htm#pahs for additional information.)\n\n4. A group of organic chemicals that includes several petroleum products and their derivatives.\n\n5. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry defines polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as \"a group of over 100 different chemicals that are formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil and gas, garbage, or other organic substances like tobacco or charbroiled meat. PAHs are usually found as a mixture containing two or more of these compounds, such as soot. Some PAHs are manufactured. These pure PAHs usually exist as colorless, white, or pale yellow-green solids. PAHs are found in coal tar, crude oil, creosote, and roofing tar, but a few are used in medicines or to make dyes, plastics, and pesticides.\"\n\n6. A major group of unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbons containing two or more rings. The vast number of compounds of this important group, derived chiefly from petroleum and coal tar, are rather highly reactive and chemically versatile. The name is due to the strong and not unpleasant odor characteristic of most substances of this nature. (From Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 12th ed, p96)\n\n7. A chemical contaminant that forms when gas, coal and oil are burned. PAHs are common in areas with high rates of development and motor vehicle traffic. [Chesapeake Bay Glossary]Class of hydrocarbon compounds whose molecular structure includes two or more aromatic rings.\n\n8. A class of organic compounds with a fused-ring aromatic structure. PAHs result from incomplete combustion of organic carbon (including wood), municipal solid waste, and fossil fuels, as well as from natural or anthropogenic introduction of uncombusted coal and oil. PAHs include benzo(a)pyrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene.\n\n9. PAHs are a class of organic compounds produced by incomplete combustion or high-pressure processes. PAHs form when complex organic substances are exposed to high temperatures or pressures. Often, PAHs consist of three or more fused benzene rings containing only carbon and hydrogen (Figure 1). Differences in the configuration of rings may lead to differences in properties.",
  "abbreviation": "PAHs",
  "synonyms": [
    "CAS Number: 1340489-29-2",
    "PAH-15",
    "PAH-16",
    "PAH-7",
    "PHAH",
    "PAH"
  ],
  "subject": "Land, waste and cleanup",
  "references": [
    "RCRA Glossary of Terms",
    "Chesapeake Bay Glossary",
    "Ecological Risk Assessment Glossary of Terms",
    "Contaminated Sediments Glossary & Acronyms; Contaminated Sediments (G/A)",
    "Brownfields Profile Glossary",
    "NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)",
    "40 CFR 79.50 (CFR 2013)",
    "USGS National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program Glossary",
    "Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Toxicity of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/pah/docs/pah.pdf"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/polycyclic-aromatic-hydrocarbons/"
}