IntroductionPolycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants, and although they are formed from both natural and anthropogenic sources, the latter are by far the major c0ntributors.l Natural sources include forest and prairie fires,2 volcanoes,3~4 and in situ synthesis from degraded biological material, which has led to the formation of these compounds in various sediments,5-13 fossils,l4J5 and fossil fuels.16-27 Several rare PAC minerals,