How to Use polycyclic in a Sentence

polycyclic

adjective
  • Both synthetic nitro musks and polycyclic musk compounds are harmful to people and the planet.
    — John Cumbers, Forbes, 12 May 2021
  • However, a growing body of research suggests their replacements, polycyclic musks, may pose many of the same problems.
    — ELLE, 30 Apr. 2022
  • And in the mid-infrared, when space itself looks afire because of glowing molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that are produced by aging stars, colors again get wonky.
    — New York Times, 12 July 2022
  • Soil that was removed was laden with contaminants including arsenic, lead, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons like benzo(a)pyrene.
    — AL.com, 11 May 2017
  • Other harmful substances, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, can enter ecosystems by sticking to drifting plastic.
    — Tania Rabesandratana, Science | AAAS, 10 June 2021
  • This includes polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, formaldehyde, phenols, and heavy metals.
    — Anuradha Varanasi, Forbes, 13 May 2022
  • The operations also pump out nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, traces of which have been detected by scientists in soils and snowpack dozens of miles away.
    — NBC News, 22 Nov. 2021
  • Meat that’s been cooked over an open flame also often contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which form when fat and juices drip down and cause smoke that latches onto the surface of your food.
    — Barbara Brody, Fortune, 16 July 2022
  • The river there had been contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, produced by aluminum smelters.
    — Rosanna Xia, Star Tribune, 11 Mar. 2021
  • The authors used official government statistics and satellite images to track the emissions of polycyclic hydrocarbons and the incidence of lung cancer, checking their correlation with beehive coal oven use.
    — Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, 28 Feb. 2018
  • Of particular concern was a smaller class of particle pollution known as PAHs, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
    — Lulu Ramadan, ProPublica, 22 Aug. 2021
  • Most of these particles are black carbon, but vehicles also discharge nitrogen oxides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).
    — Aaron Sidder, National Geographic, 10 Aug. 2016
  • With the mummichogs that Jasperse and Chernick captured this summer, Di Giulio’s lab is studying some of the more subtle impacts of polycyclic-aromatic hydrocarbons and other pollutants.
    — Carrie Arnold, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2021
  • The chemicals Anderson and her co-authors examined are called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs for short, which can potentially cause cancer.
    — oregonlive, 2 June 2020
  • Hazardous chemicals like dioxins, furans, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, can have serious and differing impacts on health, but right now they are collectively categorised as particulate matter.
    — Ishan Kukreti, Quartz, 5 Nov. 2021
  • The study said the sealants release significant amounts of organic molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, that are found in river sediment downstream of dense residential areas.
    — Suzanne Baker, chicagotribune.com, 24 Dec. 2020
  • One is worry about contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are naturally occurring chemical compounds found in crude oil that have been deemed probable human carcinogens.
    — Washington Post, 17 Dec. 2021
  • Top pollutants reported at facilities include chromium compounds, benzene, polycyclic aromatic compounds, cadmium compounds, nickel compounds, arsenic compounds, quinoline, manganese compounds, lead compounds and naphthalene, according to the study.
    — Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'polycyclic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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