Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbon Composition Of Air Polluted by Coal-tar Pitch Fumes

Abstract

Coal-tax-pitch pollution can be characterized by the large amounts of anthracene, phenanthrene, pyrene and carbazole present in collected airborne particulates. Carbazole has not yet been found in pollution due to incomplete solid fuel combustion products or auto exhaust fumes. Goal-tar-pitch pollution is characterized by much higher P/BaP, BaP/BghiP, and BaP/Cor ratios when compared to other types of pollution. The large amounts of polynuclear hydrocarbons (and especially benzo[a]pyrene) often present in coal-tar-pitch polluted air indicate the necessity of a thorough study of this problem as it affects lung cancer.