Used primarily in research settings as a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) standard for environmental and toxicological studies. It helps in analyzing pollution levels in air, soil, and water due to its presence in combustion byproducts like vehicle exhaust and cigarette smoke. Also studied for its potential carcinogenic properties, aiding in understanding DNA damage and mutagenesis mechanisms. Due to its fluorescent characteristics, it can be used in spectroscopic studies to probe molecular interactions in organic systems.