| Agent Name |
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS |
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| Alternative Name |
CLASS |
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| Major Category |
Other Chemicals |
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| Synonyms |
Arenes, polycyclic; Arenes, polycyclic, dihydroxyepoxy; Aromatic hydrocarbons, fused-ring; Aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons; Dihydroxyepoxy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; PAH; PAHs; Polyarenes; Polycyclic dihydroxyepoxy aromatic hydrocarbons; Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons; Aromatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic; Polycylic compounds, arom. hydrocarbons; [ChemIDplus]; PAHs; Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP); Benzo[e]pyrene; Chrysene; Dibenz[a,h]anthracene; Anthracene; Benzo[c]phenanthrene; Pyrene; Fluoranthene; Cholanthrene; Benz[a]acridine; Benzo[g]chrysene; Phenanthrene; Benz[a]anthracene |
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| Category |
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons |
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| Description |
Occur as needles, plates, crystals, leaflets, or prisms ranging from colorless to pale yellow to golden yellow; [HSDB] |
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| Sources/Uses |
"PAHs are a group of chemicals that are formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil and gas, garbage, or other organic substances. PAHs can be man-made or occur naturally. . . . A few of the PAHs are used in medicines and to make dyes, plastics, and pesticides." [ATSDR ToxFAQs] |
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| Comments |
Occupational exposure to PAHs increases the risk for lung, skin, GI, and genitourinary cancers. [ATSDR Case Studies # 13] Occupational exposures to soots in the past were associated with skin and lung cancer (chimney sweeps; heating-unit service personnel; brick masons and helpers; building demolition workers; insulators; firefighters; metallurgical workers; work involving burning of organic materials). [Schottenfeld, p. 327] In high-dose animal studies, benzo(a)pyrene causes testicular and ovarian damage, reducing fertility. [Frazier] See "Soots." |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| BEI |
1-Hydroxypyrene (1-HP) in urine = Nq at end of shift at end of workweek; "Biological monitoring should be considered for this compound based on the review; however, a specific BEI could not be determined due to insufficient data." [ACGIH] |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
Not evaluated |
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| Reference Link |
ATSDR - ToxFAQs - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Reproductive Toxin |
Yes |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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