PAH emissions to air (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)

The collective term polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs covers hundreds of chemically related, persistent organic pollutants, varying in structure and harmfulness.PAHs are released from incomplete combustion, such as wood combustion in stoves and fireplaces, combustion of fossil fuels (e.g. traffic and building heating), production of steel and coke, cigarette smoke, waste combustion (e.g. fires in gardens).