Polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles as information carriers in environmental studies

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) play a huge role in environmental analytical chemistry, both as pollutants and as markers for many processes. On the other hand, polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASHs; heterocyclic compounds related to PAHs) have been studied far less intensely, but such studies may lead to a great deal of information not available through the study of PAHs. Here we discuss analytical aspects of PASHs in environmental matrices and their use as information carriers. Since PASHs accompany PAHs in sampling and work-up, it is not necessary to expend much extra analytical effort in order to analyze them. This work reviews how they can provide information on diverse processes such as petroleum, industrial and vehicular pollution, and sources of air and marine pollution.