Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds (PAC) are a broad class of compounds whose
wide distribution in the environment results from incomplete combustion
processes of fossil fuels in power generator, industrial plant and
domestic heating, from car exhaust gas and from tobacco smoke. Many PACs
are biologically active and in particular many of the PACs with three or
more fused rings are carcinogenic. Currently there is concern of the
occurrence of these pollutants at ppb (ug.kg-1) le- vel. However the
predicted 2 to 3% annual increase in the rate of their release into 1
the environment could lead to ppm (ug.g-) levels in the next century.
The move to- wards stricter control of these pollutants brings with it
the need for accurate monito- ring of their environmental occurrence.
Reliable identification and quantification of these compounds in complex
environ- mental samples depends greatly on the availability of reference
values for their phy- sicochemical and biochemical properties. This
second volume results from a close collaboration within the General
Directorate for Science, Research and Development of the Commission of
the European Communities between the Joint Research Centre, Ispra
Establishment, the Community Bureau of Reference and expert laboratories
of the Member States.