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What is Benzo(ghi)perylene?
Benzo(ghi)perylene is one of a group of chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs for short.Benzo(ghi)perylene is a colorless crystal-like solid. PAHs are created when products like coal, oil, gas, and garbage are burned but the burning process is not complete
Uses
Most of the PAHs are used to conduct research. Like most PAHs, benzo(ghi)perylene is used to make dyes, plastics, pesticides, explosives and drugs. It has also been used to make bile acids, cholesterol and steroids
Sources & Potential Exposure
Fumes from vehicle exhaust, coal, coal tar, asphalt, wildfires, agricultural burning and hazardous waste sites are all sources of exposure.You could be exposed to PAHs by breathing cigarette and tobacco smoke, eating foods grown in contaminated soil or by eating meat or other food that you grilled. Grilling and charring food increases the amount of PAHs in the food. If you work in a plant that makes coal tar, asphalt and aluminum, or that burns trash, you can be exposed to PAHs. You can also be exposed if you work in a facility that uses petroleum or coal or where wood, corn and oil are burned.
Federal Regulations
The EPA has indicated that not enough information exists to classify benzo(ghi)perylene as a cancer causing substance.
