Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (pronounced: pah-lee-sy-klik a-ro-mat-ik hy-dro-car-bons) are a class of chemicals that occur naturally in coal, crude oil, and gasoline. They are also produced when coal, oil, gas, wood, garbage, and tobacco are burned.
Etymology
The term "Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons" is derived from the structure of these compounds. "Poly" is a Greek word meaning "many", "cyclic" refers to the ring structure of these compounds, "aromatic" refers to their chemical property of having a ring of atoms with alternating single and double bonds, and "hydrocarbons" refers to their composition of hydrogen and carbon atoms.
Related Terms
- Aromatic Hydrocarbons: A type of hydrocarbon, consisting of closed rings of carbon atoms, with a pleasing aroma.
- Hydrocarbons: Compounds consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon.
- Carcinogens: Substances capable of causing cancer in living tissue.
- Coal: A black or brownish-black sedimentary rock that can be burned for fuel.
- Crude Oil: A naturally occurring, unrefined petroleum product composed of hydrocarbon deposits.
- Gasoline: A transparent, petroleum-derived liquid that is used primarily as a fuel in internal combustion engines.
Health Effects
PAHs are carcinogens. They can cause cataracts, kidney and liver damage, and jaundice. Some PAHs have caused cancer in laboratory animals when they breathed air containing them (lung cancer), ingested them in food (stomach cancer), or had them applied to their skin (skin cancer).
Exposure
People can be exposed to PAHs in the air they breathe, the food they eat, and the water they drink. PAHs can also be absorbed through the skin.
Prevention
Preventing exposure to PAHs can be achieved by reducing the use of products that contain these chemicals, such as tobacco, coal, and crude oil.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
- Wikipedia's article - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
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