Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons recalcitrant

Figure 5.2. Genotoxic activities, physical properties and recalcitrance of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Even a cursory examination of the literature shows that analysis of virtually every environmental sample reveals contamination from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons — resulting from incomplete combustion processes — and a range of the more recalcitrant organohalogen compounds such as DDT (together with its degradation product DDE), PCBs, hexachlorocyclohexanes, compounds related to aldrin, and mixtures present in commercial toxaphene preparations. Possibly the most disturbing fact, which has already been noted, is the occurrence of these compounds in samples from remote and largely isolated locations in the Arctic and Antarctic. 

Jayaweera IS, Marti-Perez M, Diaz-Ferrero J. (2002). Solubility of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons under hydrothermal conditions. Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds. 

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