Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: PAHs in refinery adjacent areas

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are combustion products of pyrogenic and petrogenic origion. They are produced from natural and anthropogenic sources. In the present study PAHs concentration and exposure profile was determined. The compositional profile of PAHs revealed that 3 ring PAHs were predominant in samples.The toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) were used to quantify carcinogenic potential of PAHs relative to benzo[a]pyrene-equivalent concentration (BaPeq). Higher carcinogenic potency of PAHs in soil indicates a high degree of risk to the people exposed to these areas.