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8426802 
Book/Book Chapter 
Phenanthrene 
Gad, SE 
2014 
Elsevier 
Encyclopedia of Toxicology: Third Edition 
865-867 
English 
Phenanthrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon composed of three fused benzene rings. The name phenanthrene is a composite of phenyl and anthracene. In its pure form, it is found in cigarette smoke and is a known irritant, photosensitizing skin to light. Phenanthrene appears as a white powder having blue fluorescence. Release of phenanthrene most likely results from the incomplete combustion of a variety of organic compounds, including wood and fossil fuels. Human exposure occurs primarily through inhalation of tobacco smoke and other combustion aerosols, and via ingestion of food or water contaminated by combustion effluents. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists threshold limit value, 8h time-weighted average (TWA) is 0.2mgm-3 for coal tar pitch volatiles, as is the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration permissible exposure limit, 8h TWA. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 
Coal tar; Combustion; Photosensitizer; Phototoxic; Polycyclic hydrocarbons