PAH Concentrations Research Articles

The concentration and probabilistic health risk assessment attribute to PAHs in indoor air of Hormozgan aluminum plant, Iran

ABSTRACT We measured PAHs concentrations to understand the potential short and long-term health risks to workers. In the anode cooking area, the lowest and highest concentrations of PAHs were found for DahA (dibenzo[a,h]anthracene) at 0.373 ± 0.326 µg/m3 and Chry (chrysene) at 1.923 ± 1.258 µg/m3, respectively. In the anode-making area, these concentrations were higher, with DahA at 0.435 ± 0.221 µg/m3 and Chry peaking at 3.841 ± 1.702 µg/m3. Risk assessment based on these concentrations indicates a hierarchical order of individual PAHs risks in the anode cooking area, led by BaP (benzo[a]pyrene), followed by other specific PAHs compounds. The total hazard quotient (THQ) for PAH exposure in both anode-making and cooking areas significantly exceeds the threshold for considered cancer risk, emphasizing the considerable danger to workers. This study underscores the urgent need to mitigate exposure to PAHs in industrial settings to protect worker health from the carcinogenic risks of such hazardous compounds.

Concentration and Distribution of Specific Siloxanes (D5 and D6) and PAHs in the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers, USA

The waterways adjacent to Washington DC, USA have a history of contamination from heavy metals, nutrients, pesticides, and industrial chemicals. Among the chemicals of concern are PAHs, which are a historical contaminant but also have modern pyrogenic and petrogenic sources in the area’s waterways. Another group of contaminants that are of emerging interest are siloxanes (silicones), which are widely used as lubricants, sealants, and cosmetics. Some lower-molecular-weight siloxanes are regulated by the EU in recognition of harm to aquatic life, but there are no restrictions in the United States. In fact, studies examining water pollutants do not typically test for siloxanes. Here, we present the concentrations of specific PAHs and siloxanes from surface sediments in the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers (including the Anacostia’s tributaries) collected between 2018 and 2023. Both D5 (decamethylcyclopentasiloxane) and D6 (dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane) were found in most locations, with concentrations averaging 0.13 and 0.006 mg/g (dry mass), respectively. Pyrene, fluoranthene, bibenzyl, and phenanthrene were also found in the Anacostia and some of its tributaries, with concentrations increasing downstream. In the Potomac, concentrations were generally lower than those observed in the Anacostia. Based on ratios of pyrene to fluoranthene + pyrene, the likely source of PAHs was petrogenic.

Bioremediation of crude oil polluted surface water using specialised alginate-based nanocomposite beads loaded with hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria and inorganic nutrients

This study explored the elimination of petroleum from river water using matrix-bound composites of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) decorated on biochar with immobilized hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria (HCB) and monoammonium phosphate (MAP) at 10%v/v pollution levels. The beads containing biochar and IONPs (BCNP) showed better pollutant removal than those with biochar alone (BC). The treatment with beads containing biochar, IONPs, HCB and MAP had the highest removal efficiency for TPH (98.5%) and PAH (93.7%) and the lowest biodegradation half-lives. The removal efficiency for TPH and PAH was greater in the treatment microcosms than in the controls with significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) between the two groups. TPH and PAH elimination levels differed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) between systems with the BC bead and those with the BCNP beads. The study revealed a steady increase in the abundance of the total cultivable heterotrophic bacteria and cultivable hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria in the treatment microcosms after an initial decline, with strong negative correlation between bacterial abundance and TPH and PAH concentrations based on r values (0.5 − 1.0) and shared variances obtained. Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella pneumoniae dominated as the drivers of the bioremediation process while organic acids and esters (25.0%) and ketones (14.3%) were the main biodegradation metabolite groups.

The Effect of Wood Species on Fine Particle and Gaseous Emissions from a Modern Wood Stove

Residential wood combustion (RWC) is a significant source of gaseous and particulate emissions causing adverse health and environmental effects. Several factors affect emissions, but the effects of the fuel wood species on emissions are currently not well understood. In this study, the Nordic wood species (named BirchA, BirchB, Spruce, SpruceDry, Pine and Alder) were combusted in a modern stove, and the emissions were studied. The lowest emissions were obtained from the combustion of BirchA and the highest from Spruce and Alder. The fine particle mass (PM2.5) was mainly composed of elemental carbon (50–70% of PM2.5), which is typical in modern appliances. The lowest PAH concentrations were measured from BirchA (total PAH 107 µg/m3) and Pine (250 µg/m3). In the ignition batch, the PAH concentration was about 4-fold (416 µg/m3). The PAHs did not correlate with other organic compounds, and thus, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or organic carbon (OC) concentrations cannot be used as an indicator of PAH emissions. Two birch species from different origins with a similar chemical composition but different density produced partially different emission profiles. This study indicates that emission differences may be due more to the physical properties of the wood and the combustion conditions than to the wood species themselves.

Investigation of PAH content and hazard assessment in sewage sludge in Gwangju

Investigation of PAH content and hazard assessment in sewage sludge in Gwangju

Alterations in viscera histoarchitecture and organosomatic index as biomarkers of toxicity induced by Aba-Eku and Olusosun solid waste landfill leachates in Rattus norvegicus.

Solid waste disposal generates leachate, a mixture of deleterious chemical, physical and microbial contaminants, which poses risk to human and wildlife health. Leachate toxicity on relative organ weight and histopathology of important viscera in mammalian body is scarce. Leachate induced toxic effects on organosomatic indices and histopathology of vital mammalian organs were investigated. Wister rats were orally exposed to 1 - 25 % of raw and simulated leachates from Aba-Eku and Olusosun landfills for 30 days. At post-exposure, organosomatic index and histoarchitectural assessment of major viscera (heart, spleen, thymus and lungs) were conducted. The physico-chemical and organic compositions of the leachates were analysed using standard protocol. The tested leachates decreased weekly and terminal body weights, and altered organosomatic index of examined viscera in rats. The histoarchitecture of the investigated viscera revealed pathologies that ranged from mild to severe degeneration, cellular infiltration, haemorrhage, congestion, necrosis, disorganization of tissues and vacuolations. Others include increased histiocytes within the bronchial associated lymphoid, lymphoid depletions, haemosiderin deposits and apoptosis were observed in the examined viscera. Physico-chemical analysis of the leachates showed different concentrations of toxic metals, PAHs and PCBs that were higher than national and international permissible limits allowed in wastewaters. The physico-chemical compositions of the leachates are capable of eliciting the observed alterations in organosomatic indices and histopathological lesions in mammalian viscera. Xenobiotic components of the leachates possibly generated free radicals and/or directly disrupted the organ architectures. These findings suggest health risk to wildlife and human population exposed to emissions from waste landfills.

Effect of 2-butanone addition to ethylene fuel on soot formation in counterflow diffusion flames using newly proposed soot model

An improved consistent soot model is proposed and applied to evaluate the effect of 2-butanone addition (10 % to 50 % on a volume basis represented as case 1 to case 5) to ethylene fuel on soot formation using a counterflow burner configuration. The predictive capability of the suggested soot model is verified by assessing its performance against existing experimental data on soot formation (SF) configuration-type ethylene counterflow flames at diverse strain rates and various fuel additives. The proposed soot model comprises 55 inception reactions with temperature-dependent collision efficiency and 10 condensation reactions from 10 PAH species (from naphthalene to larger PAHs up to coronene), including modified HACA surface growth and oxidation reactions. 2-butanone is produced as a byproduct during the pyrolysis of biomass and the microbiological fermentation of agricultural waste. It holds various benefits as a prospective biofuel for spark ignition (SI) engines. Limited information exists regarding its sooting characteristics due to a lack of available soot measurements. The simulations are conducted for the soot formation (SF) type counterflow flames with a fixed fuel and oxidizer jet velocity. The proposed soot model can effectively replicate both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the experimental trends and shows a better agreement than the existing models available in the literature. The soot volume fraction (SVF) and the particle number density (PND) decrease with increasing the 2-butanone concentration in the binary fuel mixture. The PAH concentration decreases with increasing 2-butanone addition in the fuel mixture. The peak SVF and the maximum temperature are reduced by ∼22.7 % and ∼3.6 %, with a 40 % increase in the 2-butanone portion in the fuel mixture from case 1 to case 5. Increasing the 2-butanone content in the fuel mixture decreases the inception rate, HACA rate, and condensation rate while it increases the oxidation rate.

A study of indoor air pollution caused by disinfection equipment as a consequence of infectious waste management

ABSTRACT Infectious waste disinfection is an essential process in medical waste management that may cause release of some pollutants. In this study, the PAHs concentration at the disinfection was investigated. The change in the release rate of PAHs in two including infectious waste reduction and increasing the segregation ratio was estimated. The results showed that the PAHs concentration was 1172 – 2066 ng/m3. The specific concentration of PAHs was 852 ng/ton of infectious waste in average. The annual emission of the PAHs resulting from infectious waste disinfection is estimated to be 612.6 kg. Reduction of infectious waste caused by redefining infectious waste and increasing the segregation ratio leads to reduction of PAHs concentration by 50%. Increasing the ratio of segregation and redefinition of infectious waste that led to reduced waste loading volume are essential measures that reduce the emissions of pollutants as by-products of disinfection.

Comprehensive methodology for semi-volatile organic compound determination in ambient air with emphasis on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons analysis by GC–MS/MS

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are air pollutants that affect the human health and the environment, and their accurate determination in outdoor and indoor environments is important. This study presents a methodology for sampling and analysis of semi-volatile compounds in ambient air with emphasis on the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, collected with low-volume pumps (4.8 m3) in unconditioned solid phase extraction cartridges (Isolute ENV+). Sampling in SPE cartridges with low-volume pumps allows the collection of both gas and particulate phase compounds in indoor as well as outdoor environments, and reduces the number of extraction steps required as well as the solvent volume used for extraction. Analysis of the 16 US-EPA priority PAHs after extraction was conducted by GC–MS/MS with recoveries of the PAHs 40–118 %. No breakthrough was detected during sampling. Moreover, the methodology includes storage test to assess the conservation of PAHs in the SPE cartridges in heat-sealable Kapac bags; simulating transport from sampling sites to laboratory, and storage under room, cold and frozen conditions at different time-intervals, up to 3 months after sampling. The results showed that concentration levels remained constant across various storage time intervals and temperatures, with naphthalene and acenaphthylene being the only exceptions, showing high blank levels for the first and losses at room temperature for the later. The method quantification limits, including sampling, storage and GC–MS/MS analysis ranged from 2000 pg m-3 for naphthalene and 300 pg m-3 for phenanthrene to less than 20.0 pg m-3 for higher molecular and less volatile PAHs, such as benzo[a]pyrene (LOQ = 8.0 pg m-3). The feasibility of the method was tested by sampling indoors under urban background air conditions, showing individual PAH concentrations 4 to 10 times higher than their method quantification limits.

Key role of plankton species and nutrients on biomagnification of PAHs in the micro-food chain: A case study in plateau reservoirs of Guizhou, China

There is considerable inconsistency in results pertaining to the biomagnification of PAHs in aquatic systems. Zooplankton specifically play an important role controlling the fate and distribution of organic contaminants up the food chain, particularly in large plateau reservoirs. However, it remains largely unknown how secondary factors affect the magnification of organic compounds in zooplankton. The present study assessed plankton species and nutrients affecting the trophic transfer of PAHs through the micro-food chain in plateau reservoirs, Guizhou Province China. Results show soluble ∑PAHs range from 99.9 – 147.3 ng L-1, and concentrations of ∑PAHs in zooplankton range from 1003.2 - 22441.3, with a mean of 4460.7 ng g-1 dw. Trophic magnification factors (TMFs) > 1 show biomagnifications of PAHs from phytoplankton to zooplankton. The main mechanisms for trophic magnification > 1 are 1) small Copepoda, Cladocera and Rotifera are prey for larger N. schmackeri and P. tunguidus, and 2) the δ15N and TLs of zooplankton are increasing with the increasing nutrients TN, NO3- and CODMn. As a result, log PAHs concentrations in zooplankton are positively correlated with the trophic levels (TLs) of zooplankton, and log BAFs of the PAHs in zooplankton are increasing with increasing TLs and log Kow. Temperature further enhances TMFs and biomagnifications of PAHs as noted by temperature related reductions in δ15N. There are also available soluble PAHs in the water column which are assimilated with increasing phytoplankton biomass within the taxa groups, diatoms, dinoflagellates and chlorophytes. Notable TMFs of PAHs in zooplankton in Guizhou plateau reservoirs are not significantly affected by phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass dilutions. The present study demonstrates the important roles of species selection, nutrients and temperature in the environmental fate of PAHs in freshwaters.

Impact of Photo-remediation on Anthracene PAHs in treated wastewater using ZnO/TiO2/H2O2 Catalysis

The remediation of carcinogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons )PAHs( such as Anthracene (3 Rings) in different sources of wastewater was examined using a mix of Zink Oxide, Titanium Oxide, and Hydrogen peroxide (ZnO/ TiO2/H2O2). Eleven wastewater sources were collected from different industrial wastewater and treated wastewater (5 Farms, Main treatment plant, Tanning factory treated wastewater, Tanning factory non-treated wastewater, Carton factories, Factories Lake, and Grease refining plants. Anthracene was extracted by QuEChERS methodology and Analyzed by GCMSMS/TQD. Remediation techniques were applied by using different UV wavelengths irradiation on photolysis of PAHs under two wavelengths (254 and 306 nm) UV irradiation with ZnO + TiO2+ H2O2catalysts for 10 h. Also, the influence of remediation time and several parameters on Anthracene photolysis have been studied. The results indicate that Tanning factory non-treated wastewater had the highest concentration of Anthracene PAHs. The average recovery of Anthracene ranged from 92-96% and Detection Limit (DL) was 5 µg/l. The results of Anthracene concentration in tested wastewater ranged from 21.09 -223.69 µg/l. Also, the results show the anthracene was not detected after 5, 8, and 10h after the remediation using UV 254nm ZnO + TiO2+ H2O2. On the other side, the Anthracene was not detected after 3, 5, and 8h after the remediation using UV 254nm/ZnO + TiO2+ H2O2. Generally, the results of Photoremediation were effective and sufficient for the Anthracen. The impact of photocatalytic illumination of ZnO + TiO2 + H2O2yields valence band holes and conduction band electrons, which interact with the surface adsorbed molecular oxygen to give superoxide radical anions, and finally, the water produces radicals of HO•. These radicals oxidize the target molecule (Anthracene) to Anthraquinone.

The Effects of Feedstock, Pyrolysis Temperature, and Residence Time on the Properties and Uses of Biochar from Broom and Gorse Wastes

Biochar (BC), which can be produced from several feedstocks, has been widely studied. However, the BC derived from highly pyrolytic shrubs, such as broom and gorse, has been less frequently used and only partially characterized. These wastes, when used for the preparation of biochar, can fix carbon and contribute to environmental conservation, helping to achieve sustainable development objectives. Eight biochars from broom and gorse were produced and fully analyzed, providing a more complete and novel description, with new insights for assessing their utilization. The aims of this study were to elucidate the effects of feedstock, pyrolysis temperature, and residence time on biochar properties and to assess the adequacy of these biochars as fuel. Elemental and proximate analyses and estimations of the lower and higher heating values were performed, and physical and chemical properties, as well as several other related energy indices, were determined. The experimental results showed that the temperature was a key factor in the properties of the biochars, while residence time was less important. The BCs obtained from the two feedstocks did not show important effects on the properties, which is consistent with the fact that they are woody legumes. These biochars had a high carbon content and were thermally stable. The BCs also had a high calorific value and suitable energetic properties. Additionally, their PAH contents were low, indicating that the use of these biochars would be safe. In conclusion, broom- and gorse-derived biochars can be considered as renewable fuels for green energy production.

Influence of Combustion Temperature and Composition of Organic Soil Horizons on the PAH Content (Laboratory Experiment)

Influence of Combustion Temperature and Composition of Organic Soil Horizons on the PAH Content (Laboratory Experiment)

Numerical study on kinetics of tar production and mechanism of benzene formation during corn straw gasification

Tar production is a key factor hindering the industrialization of biomass gasification technology. Understanding the mechanisms of tar formation can help predict and reduce tar yield. A gasification model was proposed to investigate the effects of oxygen ratio (OR) and temperature on products formation. Its accuracy was validated using experimental data. The relative content of PAHs from corn straw gasification decreased from 95 % to 53 % with OR and temperature increasing, indicating PAHs relative content could be decreased by increasing OR and temperature. The concentrations of phenanthrene from cellulose and corn straw gasification at 900 °C were 0.85 and 378 ppm, separately. The concentrations of pyrene were 52 and 558 ppm, respectively. The content of PAHs from cellulose gasification was much less than that from corn straw gasification. However, the contribution of cellulose to PAHs formation increased with temperature increasing. Furthermore, the mechanism of benzene formation was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. C2H2, C3H3, and C4H6 were main precursors and exhibited a considerable role in benzene formation. H, OH, CH3, and C6H5 were the key radicals. The analysis results indicated that CH3→C2H2→C3H3→benzene and C2H3/C2H4→C4H6→n-C4H5→benzene were two main paths for benzene formation during corn straw gasification.

Investigation of organic micropollutant pollution in İzmit Bay: a comparative study of passive sampling and instantaneous sampling techniques.

In this study, we used a comprehensive array of sampling techniques to examine the pollution caused by organic micropollutants in İzmit Bay for the first time. Our methodology contains spot seawater sampling, semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) passive samplers for time-weighted average (TWA), and sediment sampling for long-term pollution detection in İzmit Bay, together. Additionally, the analysis results obtained with these three sampling methods were compared in this study. Over the course of two seasons in 2020 and 2021, we deployed SPMDs for 21days in the first season and for 30days in the second season. This innovative approach allowed us to gather sea water samples and analyze them for the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Σ15 PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (Σ7 PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (Σ11 OCPs). Using SPMD-based passive sampling, we measured micropollutant concentrations: PAHs ranged from 1963 to 10342pg/L in 2020 and 1338 to 6373pg/L in 2021; PCBs from 17.46 to 61.90pg/L in 2020 and 8.37 to 78.10pg/L in 2021; and OCPs from 269.2 to 8868pg/L in 2020 and 141.7 to 1662pg/L in 2021. Our findings revealed parallels between the concentrations of PAHs, PCBs, and OCPs in both SPMDs and sediment samples, providing insights into the distribution patterns of these pollutants in the marine ecosystem. However, it is worth noting that due to limited data acquisition, the suitability of spot sampling in comparison to instantaneous sampling remains inconclusive, highlighting the need for further investigation and data collection.

Formation mechanism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in grilled beef and the mitigative effect of flavonoids

AbstractPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are found in many common foods and increase the risk of cancer in humans. This study systematically screened the components that may be related to the formation of PAHs by an excessive addition of 19 amino acids and glucose in the beef patties. Phenylalanine and glucose exhibited the potential as promoters of PAHs, while lysine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, valine, and methionine exhibited excellent potential as inhibitors of PAHs. Subsequently, a chemical model containing phenylalanine and glucose was established to confirm their roles as precursors of PAHs. The formation mechanism of PAHs showed that naphthalene was first formed as a basic structure, and then, PAHs with more rings were further formed through substitution, addition reactions, or intramolecular cyclization reactions. The mitigative effects of four flavonoids on total PAH contents were in the order: kaempferol > naringenin (better for individual PAH) > myricetin > quercetin (contradictory), which suggested that the antioxidant ability or radical scavenging capacity of flavonoids may be one of the pathways for PAH inhibition.

Reducing the impact of biomass combustion in residential units on local air quality by using innovative low-loading Pt-based heterogeneous catalyst

There are several published studies evaluating the potential of platinum and palladium-based catalysts for real flue gas purification, however, the need to reduce the mass fraction of precious metals and the effect of this process is often neglected. This study aimed to assess the influence of two catalysts on the overall flue gas composition formed during combustion in a pellet burner operated to mimic the operation of a real wood log stove. Commercial Pt–Pd-based (CAT A) and Pt-based (CAT B) catalysts with innovative sol-gel coatings and a reduced amount of active substance were used. The CO, OGC and PM conversion rates of CAT A reached 87.8%, 37.0% and 25.2%, while the removal efficiency of CAT B reached 85.8%, 37.8% and 18.8%, respectively. The decrease of organic carbon by the catalysts ranged from 28% to 49% in the case of CAT A and from 13% to 60% in the case of Cat B. The concentrations of PAHs emitted seem to indicate a less carcinogenic composition when catalytic converters are used than without these flue gas treatment units.

Is Fucus a suitable biomonitoring organism for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination? A study from the Faroe Islands

To evaluate seaweed as a biomonitoring organism, Fucus was sampled in the Faroe Islands. Nineteen PAHs, including the EPA 16, and four groups of alkylated PAHs were quantified using GC–MS analysis of extracts obtained using a modified QuEchERS method with ultrasonication in acetonitrile, back-extraction into hexane, and Florisil® cleanup. Samples from the harbor of Tórshavn collected at high tide were the most polluted with PAH concentrations between 1.3 × 102 and 1.7 × 102 ng/g wet weight. All samples contained a factor 10 higher concentrations of alkylated PAHs compared to their parent compounds. These results suggest that Fucus might be suitable as a biomonitoring organism for PAH pollution. Differences between samples collected in close proximity and on different days were observed (same range of RSD 14–120% and 60–102%, respectively), suggesting that water exchange, tide levels, and direct exposure to surface diesel pollution have a strong influence on pollutant uptake in Fucus. The findings stress the need for further evaluation of the sampling strategy.

Effect of PM2.5 exposure on adhesion molecules and systemic nitric oxide in healthy adults: The role of metals, PAHs, and oxidative potential

Since there is limited evidence on the impact of PM2.5 content on cardiovascular biomarkers, we conducted a cross-sectional study on 89 healthy adults from October 12 to November 21, 2021. We measured daily PM2.5 in two distinct regions during different time windows: a high-traffic urban area and an industrial suburb. The concentrations of metals, PAHs, and oxidative potential (OP) were determined using ICP-MS, GC-MS, and dithiothreitol (DTT), respectively. Systemic biomarkers, including NO, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, MDA, and CRP, were quantified in each subject simultaneously. A generalized linear model was used to examine the association between PM2.5 toxicity and each health endpoint. Our findings indicated that daily PM2.5 concentrations exceeded the WHO-recommended level by approximately sevenfold. We found that PM2.5 exposure was associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Moreover, exposure to PM2.5 mass, total PAHs, and certain trace metals (Ni, Fe, V, As, and Pb) resulted in a decline in serum NO levels. At lag 3, exposure to PM2.5 mass resulted in a significant decrease in NO levels [1.32% (95% CI: −2.27, −0.12)] and total PAHs [2.05% (95% CI: −3.93, −0.12)]. In contrast, OP exhibited a mild correlation with NO level increases. Positive associations were observed between PM2.5 and its chemical constituents (PAHs, As, Cu, OP) and adhesion molecules at different lag times. An increase of 0.16 ppb in PAH concentrations at an interquartile range was associated with a 4.74% decline (95% CI, −7.80, −0.55) in the sVCAM-1 level. However, our study did not reveal any significant trend between pollutants and other biomarkers (sICAM-1, MDA, and CRP). Consequently, our findings suggest that different PM2.5 chemical compositions exhibit diverse behavior in biological responses.

FTIR spectroscopy analysis assessment of reclaimed asphalt at asphalt mixing plants to optimize the recycling

Reclaimed asphalt pavements (RA) usually are fully recyclable in new asphalt mixtures. The properties of the individually aged and possibly modified bitumen in the RA will affect the mix design of the new asphalt mixture. Furthermore, the RA may contain hazardous PAH-contamination resulting from coal tar, which was applied in German road pavements up to the 1980′s. For identifying substances that impair or influence reusability of the RA the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) method was modified. Within a total measuring time of approx. 20 min, the binder contained in a sample of granulated road construction material can be recovered by means of a rapid extraction and measured by FTIR-ATR. By evaluating the measured absorption spectra, samples which have to be considered as PAH-contaminated (with PAH contents ≥ 25 mg/kg) could be distinguished from non-contaminated reclaimed asphalt. Furthermore, the presence of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) modification as well as viscosity-changing organic additives could be identified.