Benzo 'ghi''erylene is a

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon A Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) is any member of a class of organic compounds that is composed of multiple fused aromatic rings. Most are produced by the incomplete combustion of organic matter— by engine exhaust fumes, tobacco, incine ...

with the

chemical formula A chemical formula is a way of presenting information about the chemical proportions of atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound or molecule, using chemical element symbols, numbers, and sometimes also other symbols, such as pare ...

C₂₂H₁₂.

Occurrence and safety

Benzo 'ghi''erylene occurs naturally in crude oil and coal tar. It is a product of incomplete combustion and is found in tobacco smoke, automobile exhausts, industrial emissions, grilled meat products and edible oils. In the atmosphere, it is

adsorbed Adsorption is the adhesion of atoms, ions or molecules from a gas, liquid or dissolved solid to a surface. This process creates a film of the ''adsorbate'' on the surface of the ''adsorbent''. This process differs from absorption, in which a f ...

to particles and is deposited into the soil and water. The compound accumulates strongly in organisms and the environment, and is suspected to be

mutagen In genetics, a mutagen is a physical or chemical agent that permanently changes genetic material, usually DNA, in an organism and thus increases the frequency of mutations above the natural background level. As many mutations can cause cancer in ...

ic and

carcinogen A carcinogen () is any agent that promotes the development of cancer. Carcinogens can include synthetic chemicals, naturally occurring substances, physical agents such as ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, and biologic agents such as viruse ...

ic. It is one of 16

PAHs A Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) is any member of a class of organic compounds that is composed of multiple fused aromatic rings. Most are produced by the incomplete combustion of organic matter— by engine exhaust fumes, tobacco, inciner ...

included in the EPA list of priority pollutants. , a natural crystalline mineral of this compound, is found in Hokkaido, Japan.

References

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PBT substances Hexacyclic compounds {{hydrocarbon-stub

Occurrence and safety

See also

References