Four commercial asphalt release agents were chemically characterized using different analytical methods. Functional groups and molecular weight distributions were determined by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and mass spectrometry (MS). General compositions of the agents were obtained as petroleum hydrocarbons, fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), fatty acids and glycerides using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and MS probe inlet method. The contents of health related analytes, such as aromatic hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were determined. Asphalt release agents emission was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) The emission proneness as well as emission level of aromatic hydrocarbons from these agents were compared. The results obtained were used for ranking the agents with regard to health hazards. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd.