[Significance of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as carcinogenic risk factors for man (author's transl)].

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAK) are tightly connected with the history of chemical carcinogenesis since they are carcinogenic components of carbon blacks, tars, paraffines, and mineral oils. In selected examples it is shown for some cases of professional cancer that they can induce cancer in man. The carcinogenic effect obtained with PAK containing extracts of very different products, correlates also in animal tests with the detected contents of PAK and particularly of benzo[a]-pyrene (BaP). This concerns, among others, tars, carbon blacks, exhaust gases of combustion engines, and environmental pollutions. BaP may be regarded as representative for the PAKs. PAKs and BaP are ubiquitous. The sources of contamination are briefly summarized. Epidemiologic studies show also a connection between human cancer and influence of PAK. In the opinion of the authors and for the given reasons the PAKs are carcinogenic for many to a very high degree of security.