Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Foods: Biological Effects, Legislation, Occurrence, Analytical Methods, and Strategies to Reduce Their Formation

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2021-06, Vol.22 (11), p.6010
• Main Authors: Sampaio, Geni Rodrigues, Guizellini, Glória Maria, da Silva, Simone Alves, de Almeida, Adriana Palma, Pinaffi-Langley, Ana Clara C, Rogero, Marcelo Macedo, de Camargo, Adriano Costa, Torres, Elizabeth A F S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: benzo[a]pyrene; Benzopyrenes - adverse effects; Carcinogenesis - drug effects; Carcinogenesis - genetics; Charcoal - adverse effects; Cooking; cooking procedures; DNA Adducts - adverse effects; Environmental Pollution - adverse effects; Food - adverse effects; Food Analysis; food contamination; Food Handling; food quality; Humans; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - adverse effects; Review
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms22116010

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemical compounds comprised of carbon and hydrogen molecules in a cyclic arrangement. PAHs are associated with risks to human health, especially carcinogenesis. One form of exposure to these compounds is through ingestion of contaminated food, which can occur during preparation and processing involving high temperatures (e.g., grilling, smoking, toasting, roasting, and frying) as well as through PAHs present in the soil, air, and water (i.e., environmental pollution). Differently from changes caused by microbiological characteristics and lipid oxidation, consumers cannot sensorially perceive PAH contamination in food products, thereby hindering their ability to reject these foods. Herein, the occurrence and biological effects of PAHs were comprehensively explored, as well as analytical methods to monitor their levels, legislations, and strategies to reduce their generation in food products. This review updates the current knowledge and addresses recent regulation changes concerning the widespread PAHs contamination in several types of food, often surpassing the concentration limits deemed acceptable by current legislations. Therefore, effective measures involving different food processing strategies are needed to prevent and reduce PAHs contamination, thereby decreasing human exposure and detrimental health effects. Furthermore, gaps in literature have been addressed to provide a basis for future studies.