Some of the daughter compounds can be more toxic than the parent PAH. PAH-affected rivers and dams are likely to be contaminated by toxins in much greater quantities than emitted by major polluters. (Read: Survivors of Covid-19 in the UK Now Suffer from Hearing Loss)
Coal-fired power plants, exhaust pipes from cars, burning crop residues, airplanes and forest fires all have similar PAH levels.
“This could mean that more toxic and carcinogenic PAH compounds are present in dams and rivers than previously thought,” said Dr. Mathapelo Seopela, a researcher in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Johannesburg and lead author of the study.
“Process burning creates PAHs that vary in size from two to six fused benzene rings. The hotter the combustion process, the bigger the compounds that are formed, and the more dangerous it is, “he said.
Seopela said, for example when coal is burned in a coal-fired power plant, five and six ring PAHs are most likely to form. This is because the combustion process is at a very high temperature, more than 1,000 degrees Celsius. (Read also: There Is Life Under The Surface Of The Planet Mars)
“When gasoline is burned in a car engine, usually two to three rings of PAH are formed. Similar PAHs are formed by airplanes, when farmers burn crop residues or grass, or with firewood,” he said.
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