Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants, suspected carcinogens and potential endocrine disrupters. They are known to mediate their estrogenic and antiestrogenic activity through the aryl hydrocarbon and estrogen receptors. Much less is known about their effect on male reproductive system and androgen receptor signalling. Thus, we have characterized 7 PAHs commonly found in the environment: benz[a]anthracene (BaA), benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkF), benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF), benzo[a]fluorenone (BaF), antraquinone (Ant) and chrysene (Chr) for their androgenic and antiandrogenic activity in yeast-based recombinant transactivation assay.