[Aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons: chemism, vehicles and technics for protection from toxicological risk]

In this work we take under examination the aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons (APHs) as a class of organic micropolluting agents which have a considerable impact in the life and in the working environment of man. The authors decided to expressly start this study by proposing the changes pattern cause by APHs according to their chemical-physical reactivity characteristics, in order to realise a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of their toxicologic impact. Therefore, the specific aspects of chemism (reactions of substitution, aromatic electrophilia and addition) of these organic micropolluting agents are studied with particular reference to their chemical structure and to the properties which are the main important cause of every effect of diffusion both in productive environments and of toxicity in the human body. In this way, come toxicologic risk sources, responsible, within some technological cycles for the APHs emission in the working areas, are identified, shown and evaluated; carrying factors, not much investigated till now, which represent a synergic effect to the introduction and absorption of the APHs by the human body. For the necessity of a useful environmental monitoring which could be applied to different matrices, the techniques and the methods useful for carrying out sampling and analytical evaluation in a correct way, are introduced as well. Lastly, the Authors stress on the engagement and discuss the measures of prevention and protection, technically performable on the basis of the chemico-physical-granulometric properties of APHs, with the goal of safeguarding at best health of people occupationally exposed.