[The carcinogenic and genotoxic action of the substances in the exhaust gases from internal combustion engines].

The review presents physicochemical methods of the study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and analysis of substances composing the exhausts of the internal combustion engines (ICE). High carcinogenic effect of the ICE exhausts due to the presence of nitro-PAHs was confirmed in the experiments with animals and the mutagenic effect was detected in the Ames test. A necessity to study carcinogenic and mutagenic effects of nitro-PAHs in a view to reveal their potential human health hazard is emphasized.