Health effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Humans exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can develop cancers and other serious diseases. Many of the PAHs cause cancers in animals when they are inhaled, ingested or come in contact with skin. These include benz(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(j)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo(a,h)acridine, and indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene. Some of the PAHs are complete carcinogens. The evidence for carcinogenicity in humans is found primarily in occupational studies of worker exposed to mixtures containing PAHs. Cancers associated with exposure to PAH-containing mixtures in humans occur predominately in the lung and skin following inhalation and dermal exposure.