Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure and Health Effects
Summary
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of ubiquitous environmental pollutants formed during incomplete combustion of organic materials, including fossil fuels, tobacco, charred foods and industrial emissions. Human exposure occurs via inhalation of polluted air, ingestion of contaminated food and water, and dermal contact. Once absorbed, PAHs are metabolised to reactive intermediates that can bind to DNA, proteins and lipids, provoking mutations, oxidative stress and endocrine disruption. Epidemiological and experimental evidence links PAH exposure to adverse respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes, developmental impairment in utero and early childhood, metabolic dysfunction and carcinogenesis. Global patterns of exposure vary with urbanisation, occupational practices and dietary habits, underpinning the need for harmonised monitoring and mitigation strategies. Recent advances in biomarker analysis and molecular epidemiology have refined risk estimates and underscored critical windows of susceptibility, particularly during pregnancy and early life.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Occupational exposure to soot-rich PAH mixtures has been shown to elevate urinary concentrations of PAH metabolites by up to sevenfold in chimney sweeps compared with unexposed controls. Elevated homocysteine, total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol were observed alongside dose-dependent increases in diastolic blood pressure. Specific urinary metabolites, such as 2-hydroxyphenanthrene and hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene derivatives, correlated positively with early markers of cardiovascular risk. These findings highlight the importance of metabolic biomarkers in assessing individual exposure and the need for reinforced protective measures in high-risk occupations.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure and Health Effects publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and health effects across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH): Organic compounds composed of multiple fused aromatic rings, generated by incomplete combustion and known for mutagenic and carcinogenic properties.
Urinary PAH Metabolites: Hydroxylated derivatives of PAHs excreted in urine, serving as quantitative biomarkers of recent internal exposure.
Homocysteine: A sulphur-containing amino acid; elevated plasma levels are an early indicator of cardiovascular risk and endothelial dysfunction.
Meta-analysis: A statistical technique that synthesises results from multiple studies to derive pooled effect estimates and assess overall evidence strength.
Anthropometry: The measurement of body dimensions, such as weight and length, used to evaluate growth and nutritional status in foetal and child health studies.
References
- Dietary Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Consumption and Risk of Adverse Birth Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Environmental Health Perspectives (2024).
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure during pregnancy and child anthropometry from birth to 10 years of age: Sex-specific evidence from a cohort study in rural Bangladesh. Environmental Research (2023).
- Early markers of cardiovascular disease are associated with occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Scientific Reports (2017).
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