A short review on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are prevalent environmental pollutants produced by incomplete combustion of biomass including fossil fuels, wood, and coal. The majority of PAHs in the environment emits from anthropogenic activities, while some are released from naturally occurring phenomena, such as volcanic activities. Consequently, PAHs concentration is significantly higher in industrialized and urban areas than in rural areas. Human exposure to PAHs results in many health problems, depending on the PAH concentration type, time and method of exposure, and individual health status. The PAHs readily transport between soil, water, and the atmosphere. Four main processes involved in PAH transportation are volatilization, absorption, leaching, and erosion. However, many factors affect PAHs‘ transportation, including PAHs‘ molecular weight, vapor pressure, soil matrix, climate condition, and topography. Various remediation techniques have experimented in order to PAHs remove from the natural environment. Bioremediation, in particular, is an optimistic way that can be done by bacteria, fungi, and alga.