الفهرس 
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Abstract
In recent years, several studies on the harmful effects of organic
chemical pollutants have had an increasing influence on public cancer
policy. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the more
significantclasses of pollutant chemicals which give rise to this concern.
It has been recognized for many years that some polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons can cause cancer in laboratory mammals and possible mans,
andcorrelations have been made between occupational or other exposure to
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the incidence of human cancer
(NAS, 1972; IARe, 1973).
It has been estimated that from 50 to 90% of all human cancers are
causatively related to environmental factors, mainly chemical carcinogens
(Maugh, 1974; Wynder, 1976). The degree of carcinogenicity of a
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon is related to structure and reactivity of its
major metabolites. The contribution of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons in air, water, and food to human cancer is completely
unknown. Near ubiquity of these compounds in the human environment
indicates that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons could be important
causative agents of human cancer, (Neff, 1979).
There are many potential sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
for humans, for example drinking water, smoked, roasted or charcoal -
broiled foods, vegetables, vegetable fats and oils, and air pollutants.