This report, authored by scientists at the Morgantown Energy Technology Center (METC), addresses various aspects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) release from combustion sources that should be considered in determining the need for measurement of PAHs in emissions, and the methods to be used in their sampling and analysis. Because of the large degree of uncertainty and controversy surrounding the toxic effects of even trace amounts of PAHs and other carcinogens on the public welfare, there has been substantial emphasis on the development of analytical instrumentation to measure trace levels of PAH and related compounds in a wide variety of emission sources and environmental samples. New laser-based techniques taking advantage of the real-time selectivity and high sensitivity afforded by laser-induced fluorescence and resonance multi-photon ionization/time-of-flight spectrometry offer potential for accurate on-line monitoring of PAH in product of combustion (POC) streams. These new techniques may also serve as highly selective and sensitive detectors which can enhance existing chromatographic methods of PAH analysis. 428 refs., 20 figs., 29 tabs.