To　obtain　the　characteristic　factors　or　signatures　of　particulate　polycyclic　aromatic　hydrocarbons　(PAHs)　to　help　identify　the　sources　of　particulate　PAHs　in　the　atmosphere,　different　carbonaceous　aerosols　were　generated　by　burning　different　fossil　fuels　and　biomass　under　different　conditions　in　the　laboratory,　and　the　chemical　characteristics　of　14　PAHs　were　studied　in　detail.　The　results　showed　that　(1)　carbonaceous　aerosols　derived　from　domestic　burning　of　coal,　diesel　fuel,　and　gasoline　have　much　higher　concentrations　of　PAHs　than　those　derived　from　domestic　burning　of　biomass;　(2)　carbonaceous　aerosols　derived　from　domestic　burning　of　diesel　fuel/gasoline　have　similar　PAH　components　as　those　derived　from　high-temperature　combustion　of　diesel　fuel/gasoline,　although　the　former　have　much　higher　concentrations　of　PAHs　than　the　latter,　suggesting　that　the　burning　temperature　obviously　affects　the　emitting　amount　of　particulate　PAHs,　but　only　slightly　influences　the　PAHs　components;　and　(3)　the　ratios　of　benzo[b]fluoranthene/acenaphthylene,　benzo-[b]fluoranthene/fluorene,　dibenzo[a,h]anthracene/acenaphthylene,　dibenzo[a,h]anthracene/fluorine,　and　benzo[b]fluoranthene/benzo[k]fluoranthene　in　carbonaceous　aerosols　are　sensitively　dependent　on　their　sources,　indicating　that　these　ratios　are　suitable　for　use　as　characteristic　factors　or　signatures　of　particulate　PAHs　in　the　atmosphere.　Copyright　2010　Air　&　Waste　Management　Association.