Used primarily in research and environmental studies as a marker for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) due to its fluorescent properties. It helps in identifying and quantifying PAH contamination in air, soil, and water. Additionally, it serves as a model compound in studies exploring the metabolic pathways and toxicological effects of nitro-PAHs, which are known to be mutagenic and carcinogenic. Its application extends to the development of analytical methods for detecting trace levels of nitro-PAHs in complex environmental samples.