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The phenomenon of electrogenerated chemiluminescence has been examined as a potential analytical technique for the determination of trace amounts of aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons and related compounds. An apparatus has been constructed to establish the optimum excitation conditions for the observation of ecl emission from such compounds, and to obtain analytical data at high sensitivity. Long-wavelength eel emission peaks arising from decomposition products and excited dimer formation have been examined, and related to parameters of the applied signal. An attempt has been made to utilise ecl for the analysis of aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons separated from tobacco residues by preparative scale gas chromatography.