POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHs) 

CAS number: Varies with the compound or mixture; see below 

Synonyms: A variety of mixtures contain PAHs: Asphalt fumes and Bitumen (CAS# 8052-42-4); Benz[a]anthracene (CAS# 56-55-3); Benzo[b]fluoranthene (CAS# 205-99-2); Benzo[a]pyrene (BAP) (CAS# 50-32-8); Coal tar (CAS# 8007-45-2); Coal tar pitch volatiles (CAS# 65996-93-2); Coke oven emissions; Creosote (CAS# 8001-58-9; 8021-39-4); Diesel and gasoline engine exhaust particulates; Mineral oil mists; Naphthalene (CAS# 91-20-3; and Petroleum asphalt. PAHs are also found as contaminants on carbon black (CAS# 1338-86-4); in used gasoline engine oils, wood, tobacco, and oil smokes; polynuclear aromatics (PNAs); and polynuclear aromatic compounds (PAC) 

Molecular formula: Formulas vary. PAHs consist of two or more fused (condensed) aromatic rings having molecular weights ranging from about 128 to over 300. Mixtures containing PAHs are more often defined by technical performance than by chemical composition. 

Chemical structure: The parent compounds of the two recommended biomarkers have the following structures: 

Pyrene                                  Benzo[a]pyrene

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