The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has investigated particle emissions from the incineration of various waste feeds. Emission particles from the incineration of municipal, medical/pathological, plastic and mixed wastes were captured and subsequently tested for biological activity. An ion-exchange fractionation of emission extracts yielded a base/neutral subfraction that contained a large portion of the total biological activity found. This subfraction was known to contain nonpolar neutrals, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), some of which are known mutagens and carcinogens. A modified version of U.S. EPA Method 610 for PAHs was utilized to quantify 15 of the 16 priority-pollutant PAHs found in emission particle extracts. Modification of Method 610 consisted of time-programmed excitation and emission wavelength selection for fluorescence detection. Only the PAH acenaphthylene, which has a low fluorescence intensity, could not be quantified at the desired levels using optimized fluorescent detection. PAH detection limits from 0.001 to 0.07 ng/mL extract were obtained. Emission rates based upon extractable organic matter, stack gas, mass of combusted waste and heating potential were calculated for each PAH and incinerator.