Immunological Detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Airborne Aerosols

The quality of air is one of the most important factors that affect life quality and public health. Many sources of pollution are threatening this precious good, e.g., emissions from traffic and industry, but natural particles like pollen, spores, viruses or bacteria as well. To get an adequate impression of the degree of the air pollution, monitoring of all pollutants or at least of the most relevant ones (considering their amount and their harmfulness to human health) would be necessary. By determining only one class of compounds little can be concluded on the total effect of the pollutants on human health. Additionally synergistic effects of different pollutants may lead to increased derogation. One example from recent literature is the potential of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to induce allergies (Diaz-Sanchez 1997, Bömmel et al. 2000).