In this paper, we review studies on the carcinogenic effects of two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA), on the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) and the guppy (Poecilia reticulata). Exposure media were prepared by adding PAHs to water, with and without dimethylformamide (DMF) as a carrier, and passing this solution through various sized filters. The low exposure medium was a 0.45 micron filtrate without DMF that contained less than 5 micrograms L-1 PAH. The intermediate medium was a DMF-mediated 0.45 micron filtrate which contained 30-50 micrograms L-1 of PAH. The high medium was a DMF-mediated glass-fibre filtrate which contained 150-250 micrograms L-1 of PAH. Young fish specimens (6-10 d old) were given a 6 h exposure once weekly for 2 to 4 wk. Both BaP and DMBA induced hepatic neoplasms in the two species, with the medaka being more sensitive than the guppy, and DMBA being a stronger carcinogen than BaP. Liver neoplasms almost exclusively developed after exposure to BaP and the neoplasms were limited to the high concentration exposure, whereas DMBA caused a substantial number of extrahepatic neoplasms as well as hepatic ones, especially in the medaka. Furthermore, all three concentrations of DMBA induced hepatic neoplasms in the medaka and all but the low concentration induced neoplasms in the guppy. These studies demonstrate the carcinogenic effects of two waterborne PAHs on two small fish species following brief exposures to very low concentrations, and support the contention that environmental PAHs can contribute to the occurrence of cancer in wild fishes.