Table 1.
PAHs analyzed, number of aromatic rings in the chemical structure (No. aromatic rings), molecular weight (MW), and their IARC classifications; Group 1 “carcinogenic to humans,” Group 2A “probably carcinogenic to humans,” and Group 2B “possibly carcinogenic to humans”.
| PAH | MW | No. aromatic rings | IARC Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naphthalene | 128 | 2/3 | 2B |
| Fluorene | 166 | 2/3 | 3 |
| Phenanthrene | 178 | 2/3 | 3 |
| Anthracene | 178 | 2/3 | 3 |
| Fluoranthene | 202 | 4 | 3 |
| Pyrene | 202 | 4 | 3 |
| Benzo[a]fluorene | 216 | 4 | 3 |
| Benz[a]anthracene | 228 | 4 | 2A |
| Chrysene | 228 | 4 | 3 |
| Benzo[b]fluoranthene | 252 | 5 | 2B |
| Benzo[k]fluoranthene | 252 | 5 | 2B |
| Benzo[j]fluoranthene | 252 | 5 | 2B |
| Benzo[e]pyrene | 252 | 5 | 3 |
| Benzo[a]pyrene | 252 | 5 | 1 |
| Perylene | 252 | 5 | 3 |
| Benzo[ghi]perylene | 276 | 6 | 3 |
| Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene | 276 | 6 | 2B |
| Benzo[b]chrysene | 278 | 6 | 3 |
| Dibenzo[a,j]anthracene | 278 | 6 | |
| Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene | 278 | 6 | 2A |
| Dibenzo[a,c]anthracene | 278 | 6 |