Background levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and legacy organochlorine pesticides in wheat sampled in 2017 and 2018 in Poland

AbstractBoth polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and legacy organochlorine insecticides (OCPs), including DDT, are dangerous chemical contaminants. The aims of this study were to (i) determine background levels of PAHs and legacy OCPs for wheat samples collected in 2017 and 2018 in Poland, (ii) identify differences between levels in wheat harvested in various regions of Poland, (iii) evaluate differences in contamination sources manifested by the profiles of the identified chemicals, (iv) identify possible correlations between different classes of chemicals present in wheat, and (v) assess the health risks associated with the presence of PAHs and OCPs in Polish wheat. Average concentrations found in the samples were 0.09 ± 0.03 μg kg−1 for benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) (formerly used as a single PAH marker), 0.43 ± 0.16 for the more recently introduced collective PAH 4 marker (benzo[a]anthracene + benzo[a]pyrene + chrysene + benzo[b]fluoranthene), and 1.07 ± 0.68 μg kg−1 for DDT and its metabolites. The PAH profiles indicated contamination from combustion-related emission sources (liquid fossil fuels, coal, biomass). Health risks associated with the presence of PAHs and OCPs in cereals were assessed using the margin of exposure (MOE) approach. The MOE values calculated based on the highest concentrations found in this study exceeded 50,000 for both BaP and PAH 4. The calculated worst-case scenario value for DDT and metabolites was as low as 0.3% of the respective tolerable daily intake (TDI) value. Assessment of dietary risk has shown that the presence of the two contaminant classes in Polish wheat grains is of low concern.

Download Full-text

A Review on Cancer Probability in Human Beings Due to Environmental Impact of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Remediation

Pakistan Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research Series A: Physical Sciences ◽

10.52763/pjsir.phys.sci.64.3.2021.275.286 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 64 (3) ◽

pp. 275-286

Author(s):

Ayesha Jamal Zaidi ◽

Hina Ahsan ◽

Alia Bano Munshi

Keyword(s):

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Health Risks ◽

Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Forest Fires ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Coal Gasification ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Human Beings ◽

Environmental Consequences ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic

Environmental consequences of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were studied to evaluate possible human health risks, subsequent cancer probabilities and remediation tools for their eradication. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are generated globally through incomplete combustion of organic materials and emitted in the environment by various anthropogenic routes including residential heating, coal gasification, liquefying plants, cooking practices, thermal distillation of petroleum and coal, oil spills, ships embankments, incomplete burning of fossil fuels, forest fires, asphalt, engines and vehicles exhaust. Their high lipophilicity and marked tendency for localization in body fats made them easily absorbed through dermis, nasal mucosa and gastrointestinal tract of mammals. The reviewed data show estimated carcinogenic potency equivalent concentrations exceeding the screened value for food stuffs including fish species indicating significant carcinogenic health risks associated with the consumption of fishes. Many remedial measures have been taken to exterminate persistent organic pollutants including PAHs out of which bio-remediation being comparatively safer and economical methodology. Keywords:

Download Full-text

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons through consumption of some popular soft drink products in Nigeria

Ife Journal of Science ◽

10.4314/ijs.v22i2.16 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 175-189

Author(s):

J.A.O. Oyekunle ◽

F.P. Afolabi ◽

F.O. Okewale ◽

A.S. Adekunle ◽

A.A. Adenuga ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Human Health ◽

Health Risks ◽

Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Soft Drink ◽

Human Health Risk ◽

Daily Intake ◽

The Other ◽

Regular Consumption ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic

In this study, levels and types of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in the commonly consumed soft drink products in Nigeria. This was done to assess the possible human health risks associated with the long-term regular consumption of the soft drink products. Two batches of twelve samples of differently packaged soft drink products were obtained from Ile-Ife, Osun Sate, Nigeria. The PAHs were extracted by Liquid-Liquid Extraction (LLE) method using n-hexane as the extracting solvent, while the cleaned-up samples were analysed for their PAHs content using Gas Chromatography coupled with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). The results obtained from the study indicated that seventeen PAHs could be detected from the soft drink samples at levels (μg/mL) that varied diversely among the soft drink samples. Pyrene had the highest level of prevalence while 2-methyl naphthalene had the lowest level of prevalence; it was present in only one sample. Levels of SPAHs were lowest in sample B while the least levels of SPAHs were found in sample F. The result indicated that B had a higher potential for carcinogenic risks from consumptionthan the other soft drink samples. The observed values of estimated Dietary Daily Intake (DDI) for the total PAHs and carcinogenic toxic equivalents (TEQ) in sample B were the highest indicating that there could be a higher risk of exposure and carcinogenic human health risk from regular consumption of B in preference to the other soft drink products. Key words: Soft drinks, Consumption, Health risks, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Nigeria

Download Full-text

Human health risks from brominated flame retardants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in indoor dust

Chemosphere ◽

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131005 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 131005

Author(s):

Meshari Al-Harbi ◽

Eman Al-Enzi ◽

Hessa Al-Mutairi ◽

Joann K. Whalen

Keyword(s):

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Human Health ◽

Health Risks ◽

Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Flame Retardants ◽

Brominated Flame Retardants ◽

Indoor Dust ◽

Human Health Risks ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic

Download Full-text

Classroom Dust-Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Jeddah Primary Schools, Saudi Arabia: Level, Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17082779 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (8) ◽

pp. 2779

Author(s):

Mansour A. Alghamdi ◽

Salwa K. Hassan ◽

Noura A. Alzahrani ◽

Marwan Y. Al Sharif ◽

Mamdouh I. Khoder

Keyword(s):

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Cancer Risk ◽

Urban Schools ◽

Health Risks ◽

Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Primary Schools ◽

Residential Schools ◽

Suburban Schools ◽

Lifetime Cancer Risk ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic

Data concerning polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Jeddah’s schools, Saudi Arabia, and their implications for health risks to children, is scarce. Classroom air conditioner filter dusts were collected from primary schools in urban, suburban and residential areas of Jeddah. This study aimed to assess the characteristics of classroom-dust-bound PAHs and the health risks to children of PAH exposure. Average PAH concentrations were higher in urban schools than suburban and residential schools. Benzo (b)fluoranthene (BbF), benzo(ghi)perylene (BGP), chrysene (CRY) and Dibenz[a,h]anthracene (DBA) at urban and suburban schools and BbF, BGP, fluoranthene (FLT) and indeno (1, 2, 3, −cd)pyrene (IND) at residential schools were the dominant compounds in classroom dust. PAHs with five aromatic rings were the most abundant at all schools. The relative contribution of the individual PAH compounds to total PAH concentrations in the classroom dusts of schools indicate that the study areas do share a common source, vehicle emissions. Based on diagnostic ratios of PAHs, they are emitted from local pyrogenic sources, and traffic is the significant PAH source, with more significant contributions from gasoline-fueled than from diesel cars. Based on benzo[a]pyrene equivalent (BaPequi) calculations, total carcinogenic activity (TCA) for total PAHs represent 21.59% (urban schools), 20.99% (suburban schools), and 18.88% (residential schools) of total PAH concentrations. DBA and BaP were the most dominant compounds contributing to the TCA, suggesting the importance of BaP and DBA as surrogate compounds for PAHs in this schools. Based on incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCingestion, ILCRinhalation, ILCRdermal) and total lifetime cancer risk (TLCR)) calculations, the order of cancer risk was: urban schools > suburban schools > residential schools. Both ingestion and dermal contact are major contributors to cancer risk. Among PAHs, DBA, BaP, BbF, benzo(a)anthracene (BaA), benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkF), and IND have the highest ILCR values at all schools. LCR and TLCR values at all schools were lower than 10−6, indicating virtual safety. DBA, BaP and BbF were the predominant contributors to cancer effects in all schools.

Download Full-text