Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon toxicity. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Abstract

Because of the combustion of fossil fuels and organic waste, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are ubiquitous in the environment. Some metabolites are believed to interact with DNA, causing malignancies and heritable genetic damage. Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is associated with lung and skin cancers and, possibly, urologic, gastrointestinal, laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers.