The airborne carcinogens as contained on soot disappear slowly in the dark, probably due to the presence of oxidizing material coproduced and carried with the carcinogens on the soot particles. A much more rapid disappearance occurs during exposure to light, the rate being proportional to the intensity of the light. The amount disappearing under the influence of light is directly related to the surface area of the particle. The sequential degradation from carcinogen through intermediates to final stable compounds is discussed.
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Tebbens et al. (1971) studied this question.