Among the PAHs present in the environmental samples, phenanthrenes often are one of the most abundant families 8, 13. Limited evidence has also shown that methylation on the aromatic rings could significantly change the toxicological properties of 3-ring PAHs 11, 12. The ratio between a methylated PAH and an unmethylated PAH (phenanthrene, for instance) can be used to identify the sources of PAH contamination (i.e., whether it is of petrogenic or pyrogenic origin) 10. However, methylated PAHs account for a relatively large proportion of total PAH contaminants in cases such as oil spills 9. Most previous investigations have been directed toward unsubstituted PAHs, whereas methylated derivatives have not been specially distinguished and analyzed. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons consist of 2 or more fused aromatic rings and are frequently generated by incomplete combustion of many carbonaceous materials 3 – 6 they are also components of crude oil 7, 8. The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment generates public health concerns because of their abundance, persistence, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, and toxic effects on immune and reproductive systems and development 1, 2.
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