The present invention provides a filter for a polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon containing smoke. In one embodiment, the filter is used in combination with an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine or in combination with an industrial smoke stack. In this embodiment, the filter includes a filtering material and a PAH-reducing amount of at least one purine. In another embodiment, the filter includes a filtering material of a certain type and a PAH-reducing amount of at least one purine. In a related embodiment, the filter includes a filtering material and a PAH-reducing amount of at least one purine free from tannic acid contamination. In each instance, the purine is distributed on the surface of the filtering material.