06Apr 2018

POLYCYCLIC-AROMATIC HYDROCARBON (PAHS) IN ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH: A REVIEW.

  • Environmental Monitoring DivisionEnvironmental Microbiology Division.
  • Environmental Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR).
  • Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31-Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow-226001, UP, India.
Crossref Cited-by Linking logo
  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • References
  • Cite This Article as
  • Corresponding Author

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a large group of organic compounds with two or more fused benzene rings, which are ubiquitous in nature. PAHs are generated during incomplete combustion during heating or cooking or pyrolysis of organic material. They have a relatively low solubility in water, but are highly lipid soluble and thus readily absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract of mammals and have a marked tendency for localization in the body fat. World notable public health protecting organizations like IARC, OSHA, EPA, NIOSH and ACGIH considers many of these PAHs are highly toxic, mutagenic and/or carcinogenic properties. US Environmental Protection Agency has promulgated 16 un-substituted PAHs (EPA-PAHs) as priorities pollutants are found in the environmental media (air, soil, water, food and other). This review article offers an overview of PAH?s properties, environmental fates, transformations, human exposure, metabolism and covers brief description of different types of toxicities and discuss the magnitude of the human health risks posed by such substances. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is normally present in the environment and the abundance of information on toxicity could be used as biomarker for PAHs toxicity study. The health risk posed by PAHs exposure could be reducing through better management of industrial air pollution.

  1. Flowers, SH, Rieth, VJ, Cogliano, GL et al (2002) Health assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures: current practices and future direction. Polycycl Aromat Compd, 22: 811? 818 doi: 10.1080/10406630290103960.
  2. Wild SR, Jones KC (1995) Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in the United Kingdom 188(1):91-108. PubMed PMID: 15091573.
  3. Wania F, Mackay D (1996) Tracking the distribution of persistent organic pollutant. J Environm. Sci. Technol. 30, 390.
  4. USEPA (Environmental Protection Agency). (2008) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) EPA fact sheet. Washington, DC: National Center for Environmental Assessment, Of- fice of Research and Development.
  5. Bostrom CE, Gerde P, Hanberg A, Jernstrom B, Johansson C, Kyrklund T et al (2002) Cancer risk assessment, indicators, and guidelines for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the ambient air. Health Perspect 110:451?488.
  6. IARC (1983) Polynuclear aromatic compounds, Part 1, Chemical, environmental and experimental data. IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risk Chem Hum,. Dec: 32:1-453
  7. IARC (1984) Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, Part 2, carbon blacks, mineral oils (lubricant base oils and derived products) and some nitroarenes. IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risk Chem Hum, 33: 1?222. PMID:6590450
  8. IARC (1984) Polynuclear aromatic compounds, Part 3, Industrial exposures in aluminium production, coal gasification, coke production and iron and steel founding. IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risk Chem Hum 34: 1?219
  9. IARC (1985) Polynuclear aromatic compounds, Part 4, Bitumens, coal-tars and derived products, shale-oils and soots. IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risk Chem Hum, 35: 1?247. PMID:2991123
  10. IARC (2010) Some non-heterocyclic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and some related exposures. IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risks Hum, 92:1?853. PMID:21141735
  11. Guocheng H, Xiaojun L, Fengchao L, Jiayin D, Jianyang G, Shejun C, et al 2010 Organochlorine compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediment from Baiyangdian Lake, North China: Concentrations, sources profiles and potential risk. J Environmental Sciences 22(2):176?183.
  12. Agarwal T, Khillare PS, Shridha V (2006) PAHs Contamination in bank sediment of the Yamuna River, Delhi, India. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 123(1):?151?166.
  13. Qiao M, Wang CX, Huang SB, Wang DH, Wang ZJ (2006) Composition, sources, and potential toxicological significance of PAHs in the surface sediments of the Meiliang Bay, Taihu Lake, China. J Environment International,. 32(1): 28?33.
  14. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR-1995). Toxicological profile for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.
  15. Wakeham SG, Schaffner C, Giger W, (1980a) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in recent lake sediments. Compounds having anthropogenic origins. J Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 44, 403-413.
  16. Wakeham SG, Schaffner C, Giger W, (1980b) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in recent lake sediments. Compounds derived from biogenic precursors during early diagenesis. Geochim. Cosmochim.. Acta 44, 415-429.
  17. Yunker MB, Macdonald RW (2003) Alkane and PAH depositional history, sources and fluxes in sediments from the Fraser River Basin and Strait of Georgia, Canada. J Org. Geochem. 34, 1429?1454.
  18. Ke L, Bao W, Chen L, Wong YS, Tam NFY (2009) Effects of humic acid on solubility and biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in liquid media and mangrove sediment slurries. J Chemosphere, 76, 1102?1108.
  19. Cavalcante, R.M., ?? W. Sousab,?R. F. Nascimentoc,? E. R. Silveirad andR. B. Viana. 2012. Influence of urban activities on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in precipitation: Distribution, sources and depositional flux in a developing metropolis, Fortaleza, Brazil. The Science of Total Environment 141: 287?292.
  20. Neff JM, Stout SA, Gunster DG (2005) Ecological risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments: identifying sources and ecological hazard. J Environ Assess Managment Jan;1(1):22-33.
  21. John RC, Essien JP, Akpan SB, Okpokwasili GC (2012) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria from aviation fuel spill site at Ibeno, Nigeria. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 88:1014-1019.
  22. Mirza R, Mohammady M, Dadoloahi A, Safahieh AR, Savari A, & Hajeb P (2012) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in, seawater, sediment and oyster (Saccostrea cucullata) from the Northern part of the Persian Gulf (Bushehr Province). J Water, Air Soil Pollution, 223, 89?198.
  23. Hoffman D, Wynder EL (1971) Respiratory carcinogens their nature and precursors. In: Westley B (edn) Identification and measurement of environmental pollutants. Canada? National Research Council, Ottawa, . 9?16.
  24. Grimmer GG (1983) Environmental carcinogens: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons chemistry, occurrence, biochemistry, carcinogenicity. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.
  25. Baek SO, Goldstone ME, Kirk PWW, Lester JN, Perry R (1991b). Method- ological Aspects of Me asuring Polycyclic Aro- matic Hydrocarbons in the Urban Atmo- sphere, Environ. Technol.?12, 107.
  26. Perera FP Environment and cancer: who are susceptible? Science (1997) 278:1068?1073.
  27. Boehm PD, Burns WA, Page DS, Bence AE, Mankiewicz PJ, Brown JS, Douglas GS, (2002) Total organic carbon, an important tool in an holistic approach to hydrocarbon source finger printing.Environ Foren 3:243?250.
  28. Yunker MB, Snowdon LR, Macdonald RW, Smith JN, Fowler MG, Skibo DN, McLaughlin FA, Danyushevskaya AI, Petrova VI, Ivanov GI (1996) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon composition and potential sources for sediment samples from the Beaufort and Barents Seas. J Environ. Sci. Technol. 30, 1310?1320.
  29. Berg V. M, Birnbaum L. S, Denison M, DeVito M,? Farland W,? Feeley M, Fiedler H, Hakansson H, Hanberg A, Haws L, Rose M, Safe S, Schrenk D, Tohyama C, Tritscher A, Tuomisto J, Tysklind M, Walker N, Peterson RE. 2006. The 2005 World Health Organization reevaluation of human and mammalian toxic equivalency factors for dioxins and dioxin-like compounds. Toxicological Sciences 93(2):223-241.
  30. Yunker MB, Macdonald RW, Vingarzan R, Mitchell RH, Goyette D, Sylvestre S (2002) PAHs in Fraser River basin: a critical appraisal of PAH ratios as indicators of PAH source and composition. J Org. Geochem. 33, 48.
  31. Tabak HH, JM Lazorchak, L Lei, AP Khodadoust, JE Antia, R Bagchi and MT Suidan (2003) Studies on bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contaminated sediments bioavailability, biodegradability and toxicity issues. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 22: 473-482.
  32. Simpson CD, Mosi A, Cullen WR et al. (1996) Composition and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in surficial marine sediments from Kitimat.
  33. Zhang XL, Tao S, Liu WX, Yang Y, Zuo Q, Liu Z (2005) Source diagnostics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons based on species ratios: A multimedia approach. J Environ Sci Technol 39:9109?9114.
  34. Varca LM, (2012) Pesticide residues in surface waters of Pagsanjan-Lumban catchment of Laguna de Bay, Philippines.? J Agricultural Water Management,. 106, 35?41. doi:1016/j.agwat.2011.08.006.
  35. Zhong Y, Carmella SG, Upadhyaya P, Hochalter JB, Rauch D, Oliver A, et al. (2012) Immediate Consequences of Cigarette Smoking: Rapid Formation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Diol Epoxides.Chemical Research in Toxicology.
  36. Watanabe K, (2001) Microorganisms relevant to bioremediation.Current Opinions in Biotechnology, 12, 237?241.
  37. Zhang, Y., Tao, S., Shen, H., Ma, J., (2009) Inhalation exposure to ambient polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and lung cancer risk of Chinese population. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106, 21063e21067.
  38. Ciecierska M and Obiedzinski MW (2013) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in vegetable oils from unconventional sources. Food Control, 30(2): 556?56.
  39. Wang Y, Tian Z, Zhu H, Cheng Z, Kang M, Luo C? et al. (2012) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils and vegetation near an e-waste recycling site in South China: concentration, distribution, source, and risk assessment. J Sci Total Environ;439: 1 87?93.
  40. Armstrong BG, Hutchinson E, Unwin J, Fletcher T, (2004) Lung cancer risk after exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: a review and meta-analysis. Environ Health Perspect 112(9) : 970?978.
  41. See SW, Karthikeyan S, Balasubramanian R (2006) Health risk assessment of occupational exposure to particulate-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons associated with Chinese, Malay and Indian cooking. J Environ Monit 8:3 69?76.
  42. Santodonato, (1981) J. Polycyclic Organic Matter, Journal of Environmental Pathology & Toxicology, 5, 1-364.
  43. Peter H. Albers. Petroleum and individual Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in Hoffman DJ, Rattner BA, Buston GA, J. Cairns editors. Handbook of Ecotoxicology. Lewis Publisher. 2003.342, 359.
  44. Borosky GL (1999) Theoretical study related to the carcinogenic activity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon derivatives. J Org Chem 64:7738-7744.
  45. Unwin J, Cocker J, Scobbie E, Chambers H (2006) An assessment of occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the UK. Ann Occup Hyg 50(4): 395?403.
  46. Diggs DL, Huderson AC, Harris KL, Myers JN, Banks LD, Rekhadevi PV et al. (2011) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and digestive tract cancers: a perspective. J Environ Sci Health C Environ Carcinog Ecotoxicol Rev; 29:324?57.
  47. Wells PG, McCallum GP, Lam KC, et al. (2010) Oxidative DNA damage and repair in teratogenesis and neuro developmental deficits.Birth Defects Res C Embryo Today.? ;90:103?109.
  48. Srogi K, (2007) Monitoring of environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: a review. J Environ Chem Lett. 5(4):169?95.
  49. Armstrong BG, Hutchinson E, Fletcher T, (2002) Cancer risk following exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): a meta-analysis. Rep No 068. Sudbury, UK: this health and safety executive. (Available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr068.htm, 2002, Accessed 21st March 2017).
  50. John K, Ragavan N, Pratt MM, Singh PB, Al-Buheissi S, Matanhelia SS et al (2009) Quantification of phase I/II metabolizing enzyme gene expression and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-DNA adduct levels in human prostate. Prostate 69:505?19.
  51. Gunter MJ, Divi RL, Kulldorff M, Vermeulen R, Haverkos KJ, Kuo MM, et al. (2007) Leukocyte polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-DNA adduct formation and colorectal adenoma. Carcinogenesis 28:1426?9.
  52. Garcia-Suastegui WA, Huerta-Chagoya A, Carrasco-Colın KL, Pratt MM, John K, Petrosyan P et al (2011) Seasonal variations in the levels of PAH-DNA adducts in young adults living in Mexico City. Mutagenesis 26:385?91.
  53. Kuo CY, Hsu YW, Lee HS (2003) Study of human exposure to particulate PAHs using personal air samplers. J Environ Contam Toxicol; 44:454?9.

[Ganesh Chandra Kisku, Sindhuja Tripathi and Abhay Raj. (2018); POLYCYCLIC-AROMATIC HYDROCARBON (PAHS) IN ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH: A REVIEW. Int. J. of Adv. Res. 6 (Apr). 287-296] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com

Dr. Ganesh Chandra Kisku
CSIR- Indian Institute of Toxicology Research

DOI:

Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/6857      
DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/6857

Download Full Paper

Download PDF No. of Downloads: 53 | No. of Views: 196