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<br />What are PAHs?
<br />United States Office of Solid Waste January 2008
<br />Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20460
<br />Short for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs
<br />describe chemicals that are often found together in
<br />groups of two or more. PAHs are found naturally
<br />in the environment but they can also be man -made.
<br />In their purest form, PAHs are solid and range in
<br />appearance from colorless to white or pale yellow
<br />green. PAHs are created when products like coal,
<br />oil, gas, and garbage are burned but the burning
<br />process is not complete. Although PAHs can exist
<br />in over 100 different combinations, the National
<br />Waste Minimization Program defines this group
<br />using the Toxic Release Inventory reporting
<br />category for polycyclic aromatic compounds.
<br />Chemicals included in this category, by name and
<br />CAS number, are:
<br />1. Benzo(a)anthracene, 56 -55 -3
<br />2. Benzo(a)phenanthrene (chrysene), 218 -01 -9
<br />3. Benzo(a)pyrene, 50 -32 -8
<br />4. Benzo(b)fluoranthene, 205 -99 -2
<br />5. Benzo(j)fluoranthene, 205 -82 -3
<br />6. Benzo(b)fluoranthene, 207 -08 -9
<br />7. Benzo(j,k)fluorene (fluoranthene), 206 -44 -0
<br />8. Benzo(r,s,t)pentaphene, 189 -55 -9
<br />9. Dibenz(a,h)acridine, 226 -36 -8
<br />10. Dibenz(aj)acridine, 224 -42 -0
<br />11. Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, 53 -70 -3
<br />12. Dibenzo(a,e)fluoranthene, 5385 -75 -1
<br />13. Dibenzo(a,e)pyrene, 192 -65-4
<br />14. Dibenzo(a,h)pyrene, 189 -64 -0
<br />15. Dibenzo(a,l)pyrene, 191 -30 -0
<br />16. 7H-Dibenzo(c,g)carbazole, 194 -59 -2
<br />17. 7,12- Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, 57 -97 -6
<br />18. Indeno(1,2,3- cd)pyrene 193 -39 -5
<br />19. 3-Methylcholanthrene, 56 -49 -5
<br />20. 5-Methylchrysene, 3697 -24 -3
<br />Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
<br />(PAHs)
<br />21. 1-Nitropyrene, 5522 -43 -0
<br />It should be noted that some PAHs are listed
<br />individually on EPA's Priority Chemical list.
<br />They are:
<br />1. Acenaphthene, 83 -32 -9
<br />2. Acenaphtylene, 208 -96 -8
<br />3. Anthracene, 120 -12 -7
<br />4. Benzo(g,h,i)perylene, 191 -24 -2
<br />5. Fluorene, 86 -73 -7
<br />6. Phenanthrene, 85 -01 -8
<br />7. Pyrene, 129 -00 -0
<br />Why are PAHs bad actors?
<br />PAHs are a concern because they are persistent.
<br />Because they do not burn very easily, they can
<br />stay in the environment for long periods of time.
<br />Individual PAHs vary in behavior. Some can
<br />turn into a vapor in the air very easily. Most do
<br />not break down easily in the water.
<br />What are PAHs used for?
<br />Most PAHs are used to conduct research.
<br />However, some PAHs are used to make dyes,
<br />plastics, and pesticides. Some are even used in
<br />medicines.
<br />How can PAHs enter and leave your body?
<br />One of the most common ways PAHs can enter
<br />the body is through breathing contaminated air.
<br />PAHs get into your lungs when you breathe
<br />them. If you live near a hazardous waste site
<br />where PAHs are disposed, you are likely to
<br />breathe PAHs. If you eat or drink food and
<br />water contaminated with PAHs, you could be
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