PAHs are a group of organic compounds made up of multiple fused aromatic rings. They are commonly found in fossil fuels and can be released into the environment through combustion processes like burning coal or oil.
Think of PAHs as puzzle pieces made up of interconnected rings. When these pieces come apart and scatter around, they can create an environmental puzzle that is difficult to solve.
Combustion: The process of burning a fuel source, which releases PAHs into the air.
Carcinogenicity: The ability of certain substances, including some PAHs, to cause cancer.
Atmospheric Deposition: The settling down of particles containing PAHs from the air onto land or water surfaces.
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.