The emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from selected processes in steelworks in southern Poland was investigated. Size-segregated samples of air particulate matter (<0.25, 0.25-0.5, 0.5-1.0, 1.0-2.5 and 2.5-10 mu m) were collected at the electric arc furnace and rolling mill. The PAHs were sampled with the personal cascade impactor and identified by H PLC with fluorescence detector. The obtained results showed that collected PAH contents were significantly higher at the electric arc furnace. The highest content of total PAHs (93 ng m(-3)) was present in the smallest particles of 0.5 mu m aerodynamic diameter or less, indicating that the ultrafine particles have a high contribution in the overall PM2.5 fine fraction. Concentrations of Py. CH, BbF, BaP and BghiP came to 76% of total PAHs content in <0.25 mu m fraction. The five- and six-ring compounds (BbF, BkF, BaP, DBA, BghiP) with 4-ring chrysene presented typical unimodal size distribution with one predominant peak for this particles' diameter. Phenanthrene and fluoranthene exhibited highest concentrations on coarse particles in the range of 10-2.5 mu m, decreasing with decrease of a particle size fraction. Using the toxic equivalent factor (TEF), the mean contributions of the carcinogenic potency of BaP to the air samples collected at the arc furnace and rolling mill (fraction below 0.25 mu m) were determined to be 66.3% and 50.3%, respectively. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.