Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were one of the first airborne pollutants to be identified as being carcinogenic. This class of compounds is ubiquitous in the urban atmosphere, and has therefore undergone considerable scrutiny for the last three decades. PAH can be formed in any incomplete combustion or high temperature pyrolytic process involving materials containing carbon and hydrogen, such as fossil fuels. In this paper, the literature on the occurrence, ambient levels, and atmospheric fate and behaviour of airbonrne PAH has been reviewed, with a particular emphasis on the role of automobile sources in PAH emissions. Sampling and analytical techniques for the determination of PAH in air have also been examined. In addition, health implications and legislative aspects of human exposure to airborne PAH have been briefly reviewed. Finally, future requirements for better understanding of the atmospheric behaviour of PAH recommended.