Sources and patterns of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pollution in kitchen air, China

Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of PAHs exposure with serum uric acid and hyperuricemia among Chinese urban residents: the potential role of oxidative damage

A few studies found polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were associated with serum uric acid (SUA) or hyperuricemia (HUA). However, the longitudinal study is vacant, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We aimed to assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of urinary PAHs metabolites with SUA levels and HUA risk, and explore the mediating effects of oxidative stress and inflammation. 10 urinary mono-hydroxylated PAHs metabolites and SUA levels were measured among 4047 Chinese urban residents at baseline and 1496 individuals at 6-year follow-up. Biomarkers of oxidative damage and inflammation in urine/plasma were determined at baseline. We adopted generalized linear mixed models and logistic regression to assess the associations of PAHs metabolites with SUA and HUA, weighted quantile sum regression and adaptive elastic net regression to evaluate the overall effects of multi-PAHs mixture, and mediation analysis to estimate the mediating roles of the biomarkers. In the cross-sectional study, each 1-unit increase in the ln-transformed values of 2-OHNa, 2-OHFlu, 4-OHPh, 9-OHPh, 3-OHPh, 2-OHPh, ΣOHNa, ΣOHPh, and ΣOHPAHs was associated with a 4.10-, 3.90-, 6.42-, 7.33-, 4.85-, 5.43-, 4.47-, 7.67-, and 5.22-μmol/L increase in SUA, respectively. Meanwhile, each 1-unit increase in the ln-transformed values of 1-OHNa, 2-OHNa, 4-OHPh, 9-OHPh, 3-OHPh, 2-OHPh, ΣOHNa, ΣOHPh, and ΣOHPAHs was associated with a 17, 14, 15, 22, 14, 19, 18, 27, and 21% increment in HUA risk, respectively. After 6 years, individuals with persistent high level of 9-OHPh had a 12.5 μmol/L increase in SUA compared with those with persistent low level. The overall effects of multi-PAHs mixture on SUA and HUA remain positive. 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine mediated the associations of PAHs metabolites with SUA and HUA, and the mediated proportion ranged from 5.39% to 15.34%. PAHs exposure was associated with the elevated SUA levels and increased HUA risk, and oxidative DNA damage may be one of the underlying mechanisms.

Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites in Chinese pregnant women: Concentrations, variability, predictors, and association with oxidative stress biomarkers

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of pervasive contaminants having adverse health effects. Urinary monohydroxylated PAHs (OH-PAHs) are commonly employed as biomarkers to estimate PAH exposure levels in humans. However, little is understood about the variability in OH-PAHs among pregnant women across trimesters and their relationship with oxidative stress biomarkers (OSBs). Based on a prospective birth cohort study conducted in Wuhan, China, we selected 644 women who donated (spot) urine samples across different trimesters and measured the urinary concentrations of eight OH-PAHs and three selected OSBs (8-OHG, 8-OHdG, and HNEMA) to explore the relationship between the OH-PAHs and OSBs. Pregnant women were found to be ubiquitously exposed to the PAHs, with detection rates of the OH-PAHs ranging from 86.3% to 100%. 2-Hydroxynaphthalene (2-OH-Nap) had the highest urinary concentrations among the OH-PAHs during the three trimesters (specific gravity-adjusted median values for the first, second, and third trimesters: 1.86, 2.39, and 2.20 ng/mL, respectively). However, low reproducibility of the OH-PAHs was observed across the three trimesters with intraclass correlation coefficients ranged between 0.02 and 0.22. Most urinary OH-PAHs had the highest concentrations at the first trimester and the lowest at the third trimester. Some OH-PAH concentrations were higher in pregnant women with lower educational level [2-hydroxyphenanthrene (2-OH-Phen) and 3-hydroxyphenanthrene (3-OH-Phen)], those who were overweight [2-OH-Nap, 2/3-hydroxyfluorene (2/3-OH-Fluo), 2-OH-Phen, and 4-hydroxyphenanthrene (4-OH-Phen)], those who were unemployed during pregnancy [1-hydroxynaphthalene, 1/9-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 4-OH-Phen], and the samples donated in summer (most OH-PAHs, except for 2-OH-Nap). In multivariable linear mixed-effects model analyses, every OH-PAH was found to be significantly associated with increased levels of the three OSBs. For example, each interquartile range-fold increase in 2/3-OH-Fluo concentration was associated with the largest increase in 8-OHdG (65.4%) and 8-OHG (49.1%), while each interquartile range-fold increase in 3-OH-Phen concentration was associated with the largest increase in HNEMA (76.3%). Weighted quantile sum regression models, which were used to examine the joint effect of OH-PAH mixture on the OSBs, revealed positive associations between the OH-PAH mixture exposure and the OSBs. Specifically, 2/3-OH-Fluo and 2-OH-Nap were the major contributors in the association with oxidative damage of nucleic acids (8-OHdG and 8-OHG), while hydroxyphenanthrenes and 1-hydroxypyrene were the major contributors in the association with oxidative damage of lipid (HNEMA). Further work is required to examine the potential mediating role of oxidative stress in the relationship of adverse health outcomes with elevated PAH exposure among pregnant women.

Biomonitoring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels in domestic kitchens using commonly grown culinary herbs

Cooking is a significant source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) emissions in indoor environments. A one-month biomonitoring study was carried out in previously selected rural Hungarian kitchens to evaluate cooking-related PAHs concentrations in 4 common kitchen vegetables such as basil, parsley, rocket and chives. The study had two mainobjectives: firstly, to follow PAHs accumulation pattern and to find out if this pattern can be associated with different cooking habits. Also, the usefulness of culinary herbs for indoor bioaccumulation studies was assessed. The 2-ring naphthalene was the dominant PAH in the majority of the samples, its concentrations were in the range of 25.4 µg/kg and 274 µg/kg, of 3-ring PAHs the prevalency of phenanthrene was observed, with highest concentration of 62 µg/kg. PAHs accumulation pattern in tested plants clearly indicated differences in cooking methods and cooking oils used in the selected households. Use of lard and animal fats in general resulted in the high concentrations of higher molecular weight (5- and 6-ring) PAHs, while olive oil usage could be associated with the emission of 2- and 3-ring PAHs. Culinary herbs, however, accumulated carcinogenic PAHs such as benzo[a]anthracene (highest concentration 11.9 µg/kg), benzo[b]fluoranthene (highest concentration 13.8 µg/kg) and chrysene (highest concentration 20.1 µg/kg) which might question their safe use.

Assessment of potential ecological risk for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban soils with high level of atmospheric particulate matter concentration

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known to be representative carcinogenic environmental pollutants with high toxicity. However, information on the potential ecological and environmental risks of PAH contamination in soil remains scarce. Thus, this study was evaluated the potential ecological risks of PAHs in soils of five Korean areas (Gunsan (GS), Gwangju, Yeongnam, Busan, and Gangwon) using organic carbon (OC)-normalized analysis, mean effect range-median quotient (M-ERM-Q), toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) analysis, and risk quotient (RQ) derived by the species sensitivity distribution model. In this study, atmospheric particulate matter has a significant effect on soil pollution in GS through the presence of hopanes and the similar pattern of PAHs in soil and atmospheric PAHs. From analysis of source identification, combustion sources in soils of GS were important PAH sources. For PAHs in soils of GS, the OC-normalized analysis, M-ERM-Q, and TEQ analysis have 26.78 × 105 ng/g-OC, 0.218, and 49.72, respectively. Therefore, the potential ecological risk assessment results showed that GS had moderate-high ecological risk and moderate-high carcinogenic risk, whereas the other regions had low ecological risk and low-moderate carcinogenic risk. The risk level (M-ERM-Q) of PAH contamination in GS was similar to that in Changchun and Xiangxi Bay in China. The Port Harcourt City in Nigeria for PAH has the highest risk (M-ERM-Q = 4.02 and TEQ = 7923). Especially, compared to China (RQPhe =0.025 and 0.05), and Nigeria (0.059), phenanthrene showed the highest ecological risk in Korea (0.001-0.18). Korea should focus on controlling the release of PAHs originating from the PM in GS.

Occurrence of emerging contaminants in pet hair and indoor air: integrative health risk assessment using multiple ToxCast endpoints

Indoor exposome is a growing concern, including a mixture of legacy and emerging contaminants. Recent studies suggest that indoor pollutants may accumulate in pet hair, a part of indoor exposome, increasing health risks to pet owners; however, the source and hazards of pollutants associated with pet hair are largely unknown. Here, we found that hydrophobic pollutants often had higher indoor concentrations than hydrophilic ones, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were the most dominant fractions (61.1%) in indoor air exposome while polycyclic musks (PCMs) had the highest concentrations among all contaminant classes in indoor dust (1559 ± 1598 ng g-1 dw) and pet hair (2831 ± 2458 ng g-1 dw). The levels of hygiene-related contaminants (PCMs, current-use pesticides (CUPs), and antibiotics) were higher in pet hair than dust due to direct contact during applications. Health risk assessment using toxicity thresholds from high-throughput screening data showed that human health risks from the five classes of indoor contaminants (PAHs, PCMs, organophosphate esters, CUPs, and antibiotics) via inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact were within acceptable limits, but the children may be exposed to a higher risk than the adults. The thresholds estimated from the ToxCast data using endpoint sensitivity distribution make the exposome risk assessment feasible in the absence of benchmarks, which is beneficial for including a mixture of emerging pollutants in risk assessment.

The effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biomarkers on cardiovascular diseases

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) are part of particulate matter (PM), which is produced from incomplete combustion of organic matter. Biomarkers mean biological indicators, molecules that indicate a normal or abnormal process in the body and may be a sign of a condition or disease. Studies show that PAHs increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases through processes such as oxidative stress, inflammation and atherosclerosis. The present study focused on the evaluation of health effects PAHs biomarkers on cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In this narrative study, data were collected from databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of science and Google Scholar in the period 1975-2023. After screening, duplicate and irrelevant articles were removed. Finally, 68 articles related to the effect of PAHs on CVD were included in the study. In addition to the articles found through the search in databases, another 18 articles from the references of the selected articles were included. According to the finding in during the biotransformation of PAH, a number of metabolites are made, such as phenols, diols, quinones, and epoxides. Phenolic isomers have the highest percentage and biomarkers used for their detection include 2-OHNAP used to trace naphthalene from heating processed food, 3-OHPHEN used to trace phenanthrene from diesel, 2-OHFLU used to trace fluorene and 1-OHPYR used to trace pyrene from cigarette and hookah smoke. According to the result, increasing blood pressure and heart rate and causing atherosclerosis are the main complications due to exposure to PAH metabolite on cardiovascular system. The most important agents that causes this affects including increased homocysteine, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), serum biomarkers of C-reactive protein, and triglycerides. Result this study showed that cardiovascular diseases risk is increased by exposure to PAH biomarkers from smoking, car emissions, occupational exposure, and incinerators. Therefore, strict controls should be implemented for sources of PAH production and exposure.

Effects of Oil and Processing Conditions on Formation of Heterocyclic Amines and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Pork Fiber

Toxic compounds such as heterocyclic amines (HAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be produced during food processing, especially meat products. This study aims to monitor the formation of HAs and PAHs in fried pork fiber, a common meat product in Taiwan, at different processing conditions. A total of six experimental groups, including raw pork tenderloin, dried pork filaments, sesame oil-stir-fried pork at 160 °C for 15 min, sesame oil-stir-fried pork at 200 °C for 6 min, lard-stir-fried pork at 160 °C for 15 min, and lard-stir-fried pork at 200 °C for 6 min, were prepared and analyzed for formation of HAs via UPLC-MS/MS and PAHs via GC-MS/MS in triplicate. Frying in sesame oil or lard showed a greater content of total HAs in fried pork fiber processed at 160 °C for 15 min than at 200 °C for 6 min. However, in the same heating conditions, pork fiber fried in sesame oil produced a higher level of total HAs than that fried in lard. Of the various HAs in fried pork fiber, both Harman and Norharman were generated in the highest amount. The precursors, including reducing sugar, amino acid, and creatine/creatinine, played a vital role in HAs formation in fried pork fiber. For total PAHs, the highest level was shown for pork fiber fried in lard at 200 °C/6 min, followed by frying in sesame oil at 200 °C/6 min and 160 °C/15 min, and in lard at 160 °C/15 min. Like HAs, at the same heating condition, a greater content of total PAHs was produced in pork fiber fried in sesame oil than in lard. Notably, the highly toxic benzo[a]pyrene was undetected in fried pork fiber. The PAH precursor benzaldehyde was shown to generate at a much higher level than 2-cyclohexene-1-one and trans,trans-2,4-decadienal in fried pork fiber, and it should play a more important role in PAH formation. Principal component analysis (PCA) also revealed that the formation mechanism of HAs and PAHs in fried pork fiber was different.

Exposure to Fumes of a Vegetable Margarine for Frying: Respiratory Effects in an Experimental Model

Deep frying is one of the strongest emission sources into indoor air. A vegetable margarine has recently been used in commercial kitchens. This study investigated the respiratory effects of exposure to its fumes in an experimental model. A setup with glass chambers was constructed. A chamber housed a fryer. The fumes were transported to the other chamber where 24 Wistar albino rats were placed in four randomized groups: acute, subacute, chronic, and control for the exposure durations. PM10 concentration in the exposure chamber was monitored to ensure occupational levels were obtained. Sacrification was performed 24 h after exposure. Lung, trachea, and nasal concha specimens were evaluated by two blinded histologists under a light microscope with hematoxylin-eosin. Mild mononuclear cell infiltration, alveolar capillary membrane thickening, alveolar edema, and diffuse alveolar damage, along with diffuse hemorrhage, edema, and vascular congestion in the interstitium were observed in the acute and subacute groups, and were overexpressed in the chronic group, whereas normal lung histology was observed in the control group. The results indicate that exposure to fumes of vegetable margarine for frying in commercial kitchens may cause pulmonary inflammation that becomes severe as the duration of the exposure increases.

Formation, migration, derivation, and generation mechanism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during frying

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogenic and lipophilic, which can be found in frying system. This review summarized the formation, migration and derivation for PAHs, hypothesized the possible mechanism for PAHs generation during frying and presented the research prospects. Some factors like high oil consumption, high temperature, long time and oil rich in unsaturated fatty acids promoted the formation of PAHs and the presence of antioxidants inhibited the PAHs formation. The effect of proteins and carbohydrates in foods on the formation of PAHs is inconclusive. The formed PAHs were migrated into food and air. Moreover, some PAHs transformed into more toxic PAHs-derivatives during frying. The generation of PAHs may be related to low-barrier free radical-mediated reaction and the unsaturated hydrocarbons may be precursors of PAHs during frying. In future, the isotope tracer technology and on-line detection may be applied to discover intermediates and provide clues for studying PAHs generation mechanisms.

Pot study using Chlorophytum comosum plants to biomonitor PAH levels in domestic kitchens

In indoor environments, cooking is a major contributor to indoor air pollution releasing potentially harmful toxic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In our study, Chlorophytum comosum 'Variegata' plants were applied to monitor PAH emission rates and patterns in previously selected rural Hungarian kitchens. Concentration and profile of accumulated PAHs could be well explained by cooking methods and materials used in each kitchen. Accumulation of 6-ring PAHs was characteristic in the only kitchen which frequently used deep frying. It also should be emphasized that applicability of C. comosum as indoor biomonitor was assessed. The plant has proven a good monitor organism as it accumulated both LMW and HMW PAHs.

Associations between urinary monohydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion and health risk assessment in a large case-control study in China

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of environmental endocrine disruptors with known carcinogenic, reproductive, and developmental toxicity. Important knowledge gaps remain regarding the relationship between PAH exposure and unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA). In the present study, twelve monohydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs) were measured in the urine of 413 URSA cases and 434 controls. The main OH-PAHs measured in this study were monohydroxy metabolites of naphthalene, followed by fluorene and phenanthrene. After the creatinine correction, the median concentration of urinary OH-PAHs in the control group (17.4 μg/g Creatinine) was higher than that in the case group (14.2 μg/g Creatinine). There was no positive relationship between PAH exposure and URSA using binary logistic regression analysis. Among 847 Chinese women of childbearing age, residential environment, type of drinking water, and education level were the influencing factors of PAH exposure. The health risk assessment showed that over 98% of women had a carcinogenic risk with carcinogenic risk values above the acceptable level (10^-6). Although this large-scale case-control study did not observe an association between PAH exposure and URSA, more attention should be paid to the high carcinogenic risk due to PAH exposure in women of reproductive age.

Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Korean adults: evaluation of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene, 2-naphthol, 1-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 2-hydroxyfluorene using Second Korean National Environmental Health Survey data

Background

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are occupational and environmental pollutants generated by the incomplete combustion of organic matter. Exposure to PAHs can occur in various occupations. In this study, we compared PAH exposure levels among occupations based on 4 urinary PAH metabolites in a Korean adult population.

Methods

The evaluation of occupational exposure to PAHs was conducted using Second Korean National Environmental Health Survey data. The occupational groups were classified based on skill types. Four urinary PAH metabolites were used to evaluate PAH exposure: 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), 2-naphthol (2-NAP), 1-hydroxyphenanthrene (1-OHPHE), and 2-hydroxyfluorene (2-OHFLU). The fraction exceeding the third quartile of urinary concentration for each PAH metabolite was assessed for each occupational group. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for exceeding the third quartile of urinary PAH metabolite concentration were calculated for each occupational group compared to the "business, administrative, clerical, financial, and insurance" group using multiple logistic regression analyses.

Results

The "guard and security" (OR: 2.949; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.300-6.691), "driving and transportation" (OR: 2.487; 95% CI: 1.418-4.364), "construction and mining" (OR: 2.683; 95% CI: 1.547-4.655), and "agriculture, forestry, and fisheries" (OR: 1.973; 95% CI: 1.220-3.191) groups had significantly higher ORs for 1-OHP compared to the reference group. No group showed significantly higher ORs than the reference group for 2-NAP. The groups with significantly higher ORs for 1-OHPHE than the reference group were "cooking and food service" (OR: 2.073; 95% CI: 1.208-3.556), "driving and transportation" (OR: 1.724; 95% CI: 1.059-2.808), and "printing, wood, and craft manufacturing" (OR: 2.255; 95% CI: 1.022-4.974). The OR for 2-OHFLU was significantly higher in the "printing, wood, and craft manufacturing" group (OR: 3.109; 95% CI: 1.335-7.241) than in the reference group.

Conclusions

The types and levels of PAH exposure differed among occupational groups in a Korean adult population.

Characteristics of PM2.5 emissions from six types of commercial cooking in Chinese cities and their health effects

Commercial kitchens may pose significant health risks to workers because they generate large quantities of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5). In our study, the concentrations and emission rates of PM_2.5 in cooking environments were measured for six types of commercial kitchens that used electricity and natural gas (including traditional Chinese kitchens, western kitchens, teppanyaki kitchens, fried chicken kitchens, barbecue kitchens, and hotpot cooking area). Furthermore, a preliminary health risk assessment of the chefs was undertaken using the annual PM_2.5 inhalation and PM_2.5 deposition rates into the upper airways and tracheobronchial and alveolar regions of the human body. Results showed that cooking in the teppanyaki kitchen generated the highest amount of PM_2.5, with a mean emission rate of 7.7 mg/min and a mean mass concentration of 850.4 ± 533.4 μg/m³ in the breathing zone. Therefore, teppanyaki kitchens pose highest PM_2.5 exposure risks to chefs, with the highest rate of PM_2.5 deposition in the upper airways (6.38 × 10⁵ μg/year), followed by Chinese kitchens. The PM_2.5 concentrations and emission rates of each kitchen varied greatly with the dishes cooked. The mean PM_2.5 concentration was the highest during Chinese stir-frying, with the peak concentration reaching more than 20,000 μg/m³, followed by pan-frying, deep-frying, stewing, and boiling. A rise in PM_2.5 concentration was also observed during the start of stir-frying and in the middle to late stages of pan-frying and grilling meat. The results obtained in our study may contribute in understanding the characteristics of PM_2.5 emissions from various types of commercial kitchens and their health effects.

Estimating accumulation rates and health risks of PAHs in residential soils of metropolitan cities

Predicting temporal changes in PAH concentrations in urban soils and their corresponding health risk is essential for developing appropriate management measures to prevent those risks. Concentrations of PAHs in soils of residential areas with different building ages in three metropolitan cities were determined to estimate the accumulation rates of PAHs in soil. The mean concentrations of total PAHs (∑PAHs) were 1297 ng/g in Shanghai, 865 ng/g in Beijing, and 228 ng/g in Shenzhen. The primary sources of the PAHs were traffic and coal combustion for industrial activity and space heating. The high PAH concentrations in Shanghai were attributed to the relatively high average building age of the sampled residential areas and the low annual temperature in the city. The overall annual accumulation rates of PAHs in the soils were estimated from linear regressions between the PAH concentrations and building age of the residential areas. The annual accumulation rate of PAHs in the soils was 64.7 ng/g in Beijing, 24.2 ng/g in Shanghai, and 3.3 ng/g in Shenzhen. The higher rate in Beijing was due to the higher intensity of PAH emissions and the lower temperature. The regression estimations suggest that health risks posed by PAHs in residential soils of the metropolitan cities increase considerably with time.

Household cooking oil type and risk of oral micronucleus frequency in Chinese nonsmokers

Household animal fat has been linked to increased incidence of cancers compared with vegetable fat. However, few epidemiological studies have associated these two cooking oil types with precancerous genotoxic effects, such as occurrence of micronuclei (MN). This study aimed to explore the association between oral MN frequency and household cooking oil type and whether the association can be attributed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). We collected information about individual cooking oil use, measured genotoxic effects by MN tests and urinary PAHs metabolites (OHPAHs) in 245 nonsmokers. The associations between household cooking oil type and MN frequency and OHPAHs were analyzed using generalized linear models (GLMs) and logistic regression models, evaluating odds ratios and coefficient (95% confidence intervals) (ORs, 95% Cls; β, 95% Cls). The odds of animal fat consumers, rather than vegetable fat consumers, was positively associated with higher MN frequency (OR = 1.94, P < 0.05). The associations were discovered in participants only using kitchen ventilation (OR = 2.04, P < 0.05). Animal fat consumers had higher total OHPAHs than vegetable fat consumers (1.58 ± 0.22 mg/mol, Cr vs 1.20 ± 0.12 mg/mol, Cr; P = 0.028). Significant correlations were observed between total OHPAHs quartiles and increased MN frequency (β = 0.38, P-trend = 0.026). After stratifying by household cooking oil type, sensitivity analyses showed that the positive association between total OHPAHs quartiles and increased MN frequency was only observed in animal fat consumers (β = 0.61, P-trend = 0.030). In conclusion, usage of household animal fat was associated with an increased odds of oral MN frequency in Chinese nonsmokers and the odds correlated with increased PAHs exposure. This finding supplemented evidence associating cooking oil type with genotoxic effects and explained its association with PAHs exposure.

Organic pollutant exposure and health effects of cooking emissions on kitchen staff in food services

This study was conducted to determine the exposure and health risk to cooking fumes of a total of 88 volunteer kitchen staff aged between 18 and 65 years working in five different kitchens in Ankara. Gas- and particle-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and volatile organic compound (VOCs) concentrations were evaluated in the indoor air of 5 kitchens. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were analyzed to determine the oxidative damage as a result of the exposure to cooking fumes among the cooks and waiters. Significant positive relationships were found between serum MDA levels of the hot kitchen workers and indoor chrysene (Chr), indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene (Ind), and total VOC levels. Although the carcinogenic risks estimated for the exposed population were between the acceptable/tolerable levels, the hazard quotient (HQ) estimated for the exposure to indoor benzene exceeded the safe level. The results of the study revealed that exposure to organic pollutants in indoor air may be a risk factor for the development of oxidative stress, especially in hot kitchen workers. The importance of efficient ventilation in the kitchen has been pointed out to reduce health risks caused by cooking fumes.

Assessing the cooking oil fume exposure impacts on Chinese women health: an influential mechanism analysis

Oil fume is always considered as a major source of indoor air pollution. This article aims to examine the effects of cooking oil fume as environmental pollution on the health of Chinese women by using the data obtained from China Labor force Dynamic Survey (CLDS). In order to estimate the effect of environmental pollution on the human health, we utilize probit model approach and baseline regression method. The results showed that oil fume has a significant negative impact on the health indicators of "physical pain, health impact on work and injury." By conducting endogeneity analysis, our results show the robustness and indicate that oil fume has a robust effect on the women health. Heterogeneity analysis show that heavier oil fume has a negative impact on the subjective health of middle-aged and young women, while it has  a significant negative impact on the objective health of middle-aged women. Analysis of the impact mechanism reveal that heavier oil fumes will reduce women's sleep quality and will lead to the poorer health. Based on our study findings, this study proposes policy recommendations from the perspectives of the use of smoke extraction equipment, cooking methods, and sleep quality to reduce the negative impact of cooking fumes on women's health.

Oxidative potential of solvent-extractable organic matter of ambient total suspended particulate in Bangkok, Thailand

Oxidative stress is a key mechanism by which ambient particulate matter induces adverse health effects. Most studies have focused on the oxidative potential (OP) of water-soluble constituents, while there has been limited work on the OP of solvent-extractable organic matter (EOM OP). In this study, the EOM OP of ambient total suspended particulate (TSP) from Bangkok, Thailand, was determined using the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay. Positive matrix factorization (PMF), combined with chemical analysis of molecular markers, was employed to apportion the contributions of various emission sources to EOM OP. The volume-normalized OP initially increased with organic carbon (OC) concentration and plateaued gradually, while the mass-normalized OP fitted well with OC concentration using a power function. Fossil fuel combustion (62%) and plastic waste burning (23%) were the major contributors to EOM OP, while biomass burning demonstrated only a limited contribution. EOM OP correlated well with each group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), suggesting that secondary formation of quinones associated with fossil fuel combustion and plastic waste burning could be an important pathway of TSP toxicity. This study underscores the importance of considering different emission sources when evaluating potential health impacts and the implementation of air pollution regulations.

Effects of architecture structure on volatile organic compound and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon diffusion in Singapore's Integrated Transport Hubs

Millions of passengers wait for buses at Integrated Transport Hubs (ITH) daily in metropolitan cities. Environmental exposure and associated risk for passengers is of great public concern. In this study, eight volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the 16 EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in airborne samples collected from indoor waiting areas (Indoor) and bus parks of nine Singapore ITH, which comprises of two types of architectural structure (i.e., fully sheltered and open/partially enclosed). The median concentrations of total VOCs (TVOCs), total gaseous PAHs (TgPAHs) and total airborne particles-adsorbed PAH (TpPAHs) concentrations in Indoor were 30.42 μg/m³, 18.99 ng/m³ and 1.38 ng/m³; respectively. A strong correlation (r ≥ 0.75, p < 0.001) was observed between Indoor and bus parks air compounds. The "Indoor" to bus park pollutant concentration ratio (I/B ratio) showed lower values in the bus interchanges with fully sheltered bus parks (TVOCs: 0.98; TgPAHs: 0.76; TpPAHs: 0.71) than those with open/partially enclosed ones (TVOCs: 1.28; TgPAHs: 1.31; TpPAHs: 0.90). This result suggests that fully sheltered structure may cause the accumulation of air pollutants. The daily VOC and PAH exposure for commuters were further estimated by considering inhalation and dermal doses using Monte Carlo simulation (n = 100,000). Overall, the result showed that the risk is still within international guideline values. In sum, the effect of architecture structure on the migration of air pollutants should be taken into consideration in future transport hub design to reduce pollutant exposure to commuters.

DNA damage, DNA repair and carcinogenicity: Tobacco smoke versus electronic cigarette aerosol

The allure of tobacco smoking is linked to the instant gratification provided by inhaled nicotine. Unfortunately, tobacco curing and burning generates many mutagens including more than 70 carcinogens. There are two types of mutagens and carcinogens in tobacco smoke (TS): direct DNA damaging carcinogens and procarcinogens, which require metabolic activation to become DNA damaging. Recent studies provide three new insights on TS-induced DNA damage. First, two major types of TS DNA damage are induced by direct carcinogen aldehydes, cyclic-1,N2-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (γ-OH-PdG) and α-methyl-1, N2-γ-OH-PdG, rather than by the procarcinogens, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aromatic amines. Second, TS reduces DNA repair proteins and activity levels. TS aldehydes also prevent procarcinogen activation. Based on these findings, we propose that aldehydes are major sources of TS induce DNA damage and a driving force for carcinogenesis. E-cigarettes (E-cigs) are designed to deliver nicotine in an aerosol state, without burning tobacco. E-cigarette aerosols (ECAs) contain nicotine, propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. ECAs induce O6-methyl-deoxyguanosines (O6-medG) and cyclic γ-hydroxy-1,N2--propano-dG (γ-OH-PdG) in mouse lung, heart and bladder tissues and causes a reduction of DNA repair proteins and activity in lungs. Nicotine and nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone (NNK) induce the same types of DNA adducts and cause DNA repair inhibition in human cells. After long-term exposure, ECAs induce lung adenocarcinoma and bladder urothelial hyperplasia in mice. We propose that E-cig nicotine can be nitrosated in mouse and human cells becoming nitrosamines, thereby causing two carcinogenic effects, induction of DNA damage and inhibition of DNA repair, and that ECA is carcinogenic in mice. Thus, this article reviews the newest literature on DNA adducts and DNA repair inhibition induced by nicotine and ECAs in mice and cultured human cells, and provides insights into ECA carcinogenicity in mice.

Characteristics and health risks of personal exposure to particle-bound PAHs for Hong Kong adult residents: From ambient pollution to indoor exposure

Research on individual level polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure is scarce. Moreover, the independent contribution of ambient- and indoor-origin PAHs to personal exposure remains poorly studied. We performed simultaneous ambient, residential indoor, and personal exposure measurements in a panel of healthy adults to investigate particle-bound PAHs, focusing on their carcinogenic congeners (cPAHs). Average PAH concentrations were much higher in ambient and residential indoor than personal exposure, with distinct seasonal variations. We employed chrysene as a tracer to investigate residential indoor and personal PAHs exposure by origin. Personal cPAH exposure was largely attributable to ambient-origin exposures (95.8%), whereas a considerable proportion of residential indoor PAHs was likely attributable to indoor emissions (33.8%). Benzo[a]pyrene equivalent (BaPeq) concentrations of cPAH accounted for 95.2%-95.6% of total carcinogenic potential. Uncertainties in estimated PAHs (and BaPeq) exposure and cancer risks for adults were calculated using the Monte Carlo simulation. Cancer risks attributable to ambient, residential indoor, and personal cPAH inhalation exposures ranged from 4.0 × 10^-6 to 1.0 × 10^-5 . A time-activity weighted model was employed for personal PAH exposure estimations. Estimated cPAH exposures demonstrate high cancer risks for adults in Hong Kong, suggesting that exposure to indoor-generated PAHs should be of great concern to the general population.

Levels of urinary metabolites of benzene compounds, trichloroethylene, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their correlations with socioeconomic, demographic, dietary factors among pregnant women in six cities of China

Maternal exposure to benzene and related compounds, trichloroethylene, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons has been suggested as risk factors for reproductive and developmental problem. In different countries and groups, there are differences in socioeconomic circumstances, consumer products, dietary habits, lifestyles, and so on, resulting in different exposure risks from these chemicals. This study investigated the correlation between their metabolite concentrations and socioeconomic, demographic, and dietary factors to explore the possible exposure source of the concerned pollutants in pregnant women. We conducted biological monitoring to assess the exposure of these chemicals using urine samples from 590 to 639 pregnant women during 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy in six cities of China. Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and dietary habits were collected from questionnaires. The detection rate was over 74% of the urine samples for all metabolites. Compared with the Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemical concentrations for females (FNRHEEC, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the metabolite concentrations of benzene compounds and trichloroethylene, excluding MA reported here, were higher. Principal component analysis results showed that SBMA and MHA could be proxy of the principal sources of metabolites for benzene compounds. The concentrations of SBMA and MA were higher in Fuzhou and Wuhan, respectively. The concentration of DCVMA was higher in Shenzhen, Xi'an, and Nanning, and the concentration of PGA was higher in Fuzhou, Wuhan, and Xi'an. Also, the 1-OHPG concentration in Wuhan is higher than that in Fuzhou and Shenzhen. Unhealthy dietary habits, using cosmetics and indoor exposure, contacting chemical solvent during pregnancy were associated with increased benzene compounds, trichloroethylene, and PAH exposure. There were significant positive associations between 1-OHPG level and maternal BMI, low education status, and cooking without a range hood. Pregnant women in China may be at a greater risk of exposure to most of the target compounds than US females, and their exposure levels varied in different regions. Some adverse environmental and behavioral factors may increase the exposure of environmental toxins, which can urge people to take measures to reduce the health risk to pregnant women during pregnancy.

Hazard Levels of Cooking Fumes in Korea schools

Background and Purpose

In 2021, lung cancer in school food workers was first recognized as an occupational cancer. The classification of the carcinogenicity of cooking fumes by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) was based on Chinese epidemiological data. This study aimed to determine the hazard levels of school cooking fumes in Korea.

Materials and Methods

Based on public school cafeterias in one area, 25 locations were selected for the survey according to the number per school type, ventilation states, and environmental pre-assessments of cafeterias. Two inside cooking areas using a heat source and one outside cooking area were selected as control measurement points. Measurements of CO, CO₂, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), including benzene, formaldehyde, and particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, PM1, respectively), were taken. The concentrations and patterns of each substance in the kitchens were compared with the outdoor air quality.

Result

Known carcinogens, such as the concentrations of PAHs, formaldehyde, TVOC (benzene), and particulate matter in school cooking fumes, were all detected at similar or slightly higher levels than those found outside. Additionally, substances were detected at relatively low concentrations compared to the Chinese cooking fumes reported in the literature. However, the short-term exposure to high concentrations of CO (or composite exposure with CO₂) and PM2.5 in this study were shown.

Conclusion

The school cooking fumes in South Korea was a relatively less harmful than Chinese cooking fumes, however short-term, high exposure of toxic substances can cause a critical health effect.

Toxic organic pollutants in Greek house dust: Implications for human exposure and health risk

Organic contaminants often documented in house dust include mainly chemicals released from construction materials and consumer products and compounds emitted from indoor combustion activities. The occurrence of major chemical classes of toxic organic pollutants, included polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs), was for the first time investigated in house dust in Greece. The mean concentrations of ∑₁₆PAHs, ∑₂₀PBDEs, ∑₇NPAHs and∑₁₅PCBs in house dust were 4650 ng g^-1, 564 ng g^-1, 7.52 ng g^-1, and 6.29 ng g^-1, respectively. Exposure to dust organic contaminants via ingestion, inhalation and dermal absorption was estimated for two age classes (adults and children) and carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were assessed. The hazard index (HI) for adults and children for PBDEs, PCBs, PAHs and NPAHs in all samples was less than 1 suggesting a very low level of concern for all human age group due to exposure to those chemicals. Total carcinogenic risk via the three exposure pathways (ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact) was within the safe range of 10^-6 to 10^-4.

The exposures and health effects of benzene, toluene and naphthalene for Chinese chefs in multiple cooking styles of kitchens

Commercial cooking has higher intensity and more severe instantaneous cooking pollution from volatile organic chemicals compared to home cooking, making health risk assessment of occupational exposure for chefs a priority. In this study, chefs from three cooking styles of kitchens, including steaming, frying, and grilling, were selected to investigate the external and internal exposures, health risks and effects of several typical aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene and naphthalene). Naphthalene was found to be the most concentrated contaminant in air samples among the different kitchens, while benzene had the lowest concentration. The concentration of toluene in frying kitchens was significantly higher than that in steaming kitchens. Air concentrations of toluene in frying kitchens, as well as benzene concentrations in grilling kitchens exceeded the standard level according to indoor air quality standard (GB/T18883-2002). Regarding the metabolites of pollutants in urine, the content of S-benzylmercapturic acids (S-BMA) for frying chefs was significantly higher than that for other cooking styles of chefs, which was consistent with the relatively higher air concentrations of toluene. There was a good correlation between internal and external exposure of the pollutants. The level of oxidative stress was influenced by 2-hydroxynaphthalene (2-OHN) and S-BMA, indicating the potential health risks of these occupational exposed chefs. This study indicates the need to improve the monitoring of typical aromatic hydrocarbons, as well as to investigate their potential health effects in large-scale groups, and improve the ventilation in kitchens.

The chemical composition and toxicological effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emitted from different cooking styles

The mass, chemical composition and toxicological properties of fine particulates (PM_2.5) emitted from cooking activities in three Hong Kong based restaurants and two simulated cooking experiments were characterized. Extracts from the PM_2.5 samples elicited significant biological activities [cell viability, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA damage and inflammation effect (TNF-α)] in a dose-dependent manner. The composition of PAHs, oxygenated PAHs (OPAHs) and azaarenes (AZAs) mixtures differed between samples. The concentration ranges of the Σ30PAHs, Σ17OPAHs and Σ4AZAs and Σ7Carbonyls in the samples were 9627-23,452 pg m^-3, 503-3700 pg m^-3, 33-263 pg m^-3 and 158 - 5328 ng m^-3, respectively. Cell viability caused by extracts from the samples was positively correlated to the concentration of benzo[a]anthracene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene and 1,4-naphthoquinone in the PM_2.5 extracts. Cellular ROS production (upon exposure to extracts) was positively correlated with the concentrations of PM_2.5, decaldehyde, acridine, Σ17OPAHs and 7 individual OPAHs. TNF-α showed significant positive correlations with the concentrations of most chemical species (elemental carbon, 16 individual PAHs including benzo[a]pyrene, Σ30PAHs, SO₄^2-, Ca²⁺, Ca, Na, K, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn). The concentrations of Al, Ti, Mn, Σ30PAHs and 8 individual PAHs including benzo[a]pyrene in the samples were positively correlated with DNA damage caused by extracts from the samples. This study demonstrates that inhalation of PM_2.5 emitted from cooking could result in adverse human health effects.

Benzo[a]pyrene aggravates atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in mice

Background: Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) affects the immune system and causes mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the effects of systemic exposure to BaP on mite allergen-induced atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions in mice. Methods: Mite allergen (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; Dp) was injected intradermally into the right ears of NC/Nga male mice on eight occasions every 2-3 days. Benzo[a]pyrene was administered intraperitoneally in the equivalent doses of 0, 2, 20, 200, or 2000 μg/kg/day, once a week on four occasions. Results: AD-like skin inflammation related to mite allergen worsened by BaP exposure at 2, 20 µg/kg/day doses; this was in parallel with eosinophil and mast cell infiltration and mast cell degranulation. A trend was also observed toward increased proinflammatory molecule expression, including macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, and IL-18, in the ear tissue. However, 200 or 2000 µg/kg/day BaP attenuated the enhancing effects. In the regional lymph nodes, 2 µg/kg/day BaP with Dp enhanced antigen-presenting cell and T cell activation compared with Dp alone. Conclusions: This suggests that BaP exposure can aggravate Dp-induced AD-like skin lesions through T_H2-biased responses in the inflamed sites and the activation of regional lymph nodes. Therefore, BaP may be responsible for the recent increase in AD incidence.

Cooking activities in a domestic kitchen: Chemical and toxicological profiling of emissions

To obtain emission factors and cooking-related chemical signatures, a monitoring campaign was carried out in a modern kitchen where different dishes of the Latin cuisine were prepared. Particulate matter (PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and PM₁) and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) were continuously measured. Passive tubes for carbonyls and a high volume PM₁₀ sampler were simultaneously used. PM₁₀ filters were analysed for organic and elemental carbon and for multiple organic compounds, including polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The toxic potential of PM₁₀ was evaluated using a bioluminescence inhibition bioassay. Acrolein was never detected, while formaldehyde and acetaldehyde levels were comparable to those in the background air. The protection limit for TVOCs was always exceeded. Fine particles comprised more than 86% of the PM₁₀ mass concentrations. PM₁₀ emission rates ranged from 124 to 369 μg min^-1. Relatively low PAH concentrations were obtained. PM₁₀ encompassed alcohols, acids, plasticisers, alkyl esters, sterols, sugars, polyols, glyceridic compounds, phenolics, among others. Total concentrations were 1.9-5.3 times higher during cooking than in the background air but, for some compounds, differences of tens or hundreds of times were registered. PM₁₀ from grilled pork was found to contribute to non-negligible cancer risks and to be very toxic, while samples from other dishes were categorised as toxic.

Polycyclic and nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pollution characteristics and carcinogenic risk assessment of indoor kitchen air during cooking periods in rural households in North China

Medium-flow atmospheric samplers were used to collect particulate (PM_2.5) and gaseous samples from the indoor kitchen of each of 35 randomly selected rural houses in North China while a meal was being cooked. The concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 9 nitro-PAHs (NPAHs) in the samples were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This study provided the real PAH and NPAH pollution characteristics and carcinogenic risk produced by cooking in rural indoor kitchens in North China. The mean PAH and NPAH concentrations in air in the indoor kitchens during cooking periods were 4049.1 and 1741.6 ng/m³, respectively. The PAH and NPAH concentrations were lower in the particulate phase than the gaseous phase. The mean PAH and NPAH concentrations were much higher for cooking using coal than for cooking using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or electricity. The PAH and NPAH benzo[a]pyrene toxic equivalent (TEQ_BaP) concentrations for cooking using coal were 1823.3 and 2760.9 ng/m³, respectively. Lower PAH and NPAH concentrations were found in kitchens with than without range hoods. Range hoods decreased the PAH and NPAH TEQ_BaP concentrations by 68.8% and 61.9%, respectively. Appropriate fuel and ventilation choice will improve air pollution in indoor kitchens during cooking. The results provide important evidence for changing cooking habits and developing policies for cooking in rural China.

Characterizations of PM2.5-bound organic compounds and associated potential cancer risks on cooking emissions from dominated types of commercial restaurants in northwestern China

Cooking emissions are both indoor and outdoor sources for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) but their contributions are often ignored. The PM2.5-bound organic compounds, including alkanols, alkanes, monocarboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in the emissions from the most popular types of restaurants in the capital city of northwestern China. The mean concentration of total quantified organic compounds (Σ_{PM_O}) ranged from 1112 to 32,016 ng m-3, with the maximum for the Chinese barbecue restaurants. The Σ_{PM_O} accounted for an average of 11% of PM_2.5 mass, demonstrating their significances in the cooking emissions. Hexadecanoic acid (C₁₆) and 1-hexadecanol (C₁₆) were considered as the tracers for stir-frying, steaming, and boiling which are usually applied in the traditional Chinese cuisines; 1-undecanol (C₁₁), 9-fluorenone, and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene were found to be potential markers for grilling and deep-frying which are widely applied in the Western style cooking method. The PAH diagnostic ratios also illustrated their representatives to distinguish the emissions from traditional Chinese cuisines and the Western-style restaurants. The estimated carcinogenic risks for the restaurants that consumed a large amount of oils and employed high temperature cooking methods (e.g., barbecuing and deep-frying) were 2.6-4.2 times exceeded the international safety limit. The organic profiles obtained in this study could be contributed to refine PM_2.5 source apportionment in urban areas in northwestern China. The estimations of potential cancer risks urge the establishment of more stringent legislations to protect the health of the catering staffs.

Quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in kitchen depositions by SUPRAS-LC-FLR and human health risk assessment

Concentration, composition and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in kitchen depositions from different sampling categories such as restaurants, university mess and houses were investigated, and associated human exposure risk through dietary intake, inhalation and dermal contact was determined. The PAHs in the samples were extracted by supramolecular solvent based microextraction (SUPRAS) method and the concentrations were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. The mean of Σ16PAHs concentration was found to be the highest (386.09 ± 413.17 mg kg^-1) for restaurants followed by mess (80.91 ± 92.81 mg kg^-1) and houses (24.65 ± 10.52 mg kg^-1). Traffic sources were found to be predominant contributors of PAHs in restaurants while cooking activities were the sources for mess and houses. Three- and five-ring PAHs were prominent in restaurants and mess samples while two- and three-ring PAHs contributed the most in houses samples. Non-cancer risk (hazard index) from exposure to these PAHs was found to be within safe limits i.e. 2.70E-09 to 7.46E-08. Estimated lifetime cancer risk was found to range from 2.46E-06 to 7.81E-04 from exposure to these PAHs and indicates significant risk due to exceeding the guideline value of 10^-6.

A new exposure route to trace elements in indoor particulate matter

Concentrations and emission rates of sixteen trace elements in emitted PM during heating soybean oil using three types of pans, including Teflon, granitium, and cast-iron, were investigated. Statistically significant decreases in Mn and Co emission rates were observed when the oil was heated in the cast-iron pan compared to Teflon and granitium pans. Among the released trace elements, Ni, Ba, Zn, and Cr had more contribution to the emission rate. The concentrations of Fe in the emitted PM₁ were found to be higher when cast-iron pan (8.49 ± 3.35 µg/m³ ) was utilized compared to Teflon (8.05 ± 2.27 µg/m³ ) and granitium (7.45 ± 1.38 µg/m³ ). However, these increases were statistically insignificant. The results of our study support the hypothesis that the trace elements translocate from cooking pans into the heated oil and subsequently to the particulate phase. This translocation creates a new inhalation exposure route to trace elements in indoor environments.

A modeling concept on removal of VOCs in wire-tube non-thermal plasma, considering electrical and structural factors

In this study, benzene was selected as an indicator of VOCs, and a modeling procedure was carried out on benzene removal (outflow concentration of benzene, C/inflow concentration of benzene, C₀), in DC and AC non-thermal plasma systems. Different diameters (18, 23, and 36 mm) of wire-tube plasma reactors were prepared, and models were raised based on the results of experiments with influencing factors of the used voltage, gap size inside the reactor, current density, and specific energy. The results showed correlation between the factors and benzene removal in both DC and AC discharge non-thermal plasma. The applied voltage as an electrical factor had negative correlation with C/C₀, and the correlation was stronger than for gap size which was positively correlated with C/C₀. Current density and specific energy were affected by the voltage and gap size of the reactor; the lowest C/C₀ values were obtained in the highest values of specific energy and current density. Regarding the raised models, multi-factor exponential model was the most reliable one with the results.

Impact of wood combustion on indoor air quality

The incomplete wood combustion in appliances operated in batch mode is a recognised source of both in- and outdoor airborne pollutants, especially particulate matter (PM). Data on pollutant levels and PM characteristics in households with wood burning devices in developed countries are scarce with most studies describing stove change out programmes or other intervention measures. The aim of the present study was to simultaneously evaluate indoor and outdoor concentrations of CO, CO₂ and PM₁₀ during the operation of wood burning appliances (open fireplace and woodstove) in unoccupied rural households. PM₁₀ samples were analysed for water soluble inorganic ions, major and trace elements, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and detailed organic speciation. The CO 8-hour average concentrations did not exceed the protection limit despite the sharp increases observed in relation to background levels. During the open fireplace operation, PM₁₀ levels rose up 12 times compared to background concentrations, while the airtight stove resulted in a 2-fold increase. The inhalation cancer risk of particulate bound PAHs in the room equipped with woodstove was estimated to be negligible while the long-term exposure to PAH levels measured in the fireplace room may contribute to the development of cancer. The excess lifetime cancer risk resulting from the particle-bound Cr(VI) exposure during the fireplace and woodstove operation was higher than 1.0 × 10^-6 and 1.0 × 10^-5, respectively. Levoglucosan was one of the most abundant individual species both indoors and outdoors. This study underlines air pollution hazards and risks arising from the operation of traditional wood burning appliances.

Semi-volatile organic compounds in infant homes: Levels, influence factors, partitioning, and implications for human exposure

While infants are developing, they are easily affected by toxic chemicals existing in their environments, such as semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs): phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organophosphate esters (OPEs). However, the specific living environment of infants, including increased plastic products and foam floor mats, may increase the presence of these chemicals. In this study, 68 air, dust, and window film samples were collected from homes, with 3- to 6-month-old infant occupants, to analyze phthalates, PAHs, PBDEs, and OPEs. High detection rates and concentrations suggest that these SVOCs are widespread in infant environments and are associated with cooking methods, smoking habits, the period of time after decoration, and room floors. The partitioning behavior of SVOCs indicates that the logarithms of the dust/gas-phase air partition coefficient (logK_D) and the window film/gas-phase air partition coefficient (logK_F) in homes are not at an equilibrium state when the logarithm of the octanol/air partition coefficient (logK_OA) is less than 8 or greater than 11. Considering the 3 exposure routes, ingestion and dermal absorption have become the main routes of infant exposure to phthalates and OPEs, and ingestion and inhalation have become the dominant routes of exposure to PAHs and PBDEs. The total carcinogenic risk of SVOCs, which have carcinogenic toxicities, via ingestion and dermal absorption for infants in homes exceeds the acceptable value, suggesting that the current levels of these SVOCs in homes might pose a risk to infant health.

Characteristics of cooking-generated PM10 and PM2.5 in residential buildings with different cooking and ventilation types

The fine particles (PM_2.5, PM₁₀) have worsened indoor air quality and have caused an adverse effect on health. While range hoods have been typically used to exhaust cooking-generated fine particles in residential buildings, it is difficult to remove the fine particles effectively. The present study analyzed the effect of cooking on indoor air quality through the on-site measurements of cooking-generated fine particles (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) in 30 residential buildings. The results of the field measurement showed that the fine particles occurred during the cooking and the concentration exceeded the Korean indoor fine particle concentration standards for PM₁₀ and PM_2.5. The particle decay rate constant in field measurement was 1.27-21.83 h^-1. The emission rates were 0.39-20.45 mg/min. In addition, the fine particles were measured in the experimental building by varying the cooking methods and ventilation types. Four different cooking methods were selected including broiling fish, meat, frying egg, and meat. By operating the range, hood system and the natural ventilation, the dispersion of the fine particle concentration, the particle emission rate, decay rate constant, and the Living-Kitchen (L/K) Ratio change was evaluated quantitatively. Based on the obtained results, the maximum concentrations of the fine particles were measured when broiling fish. Moreover, the range hood system was not able to decrease the cooking-emitted particle concentration effectively during the cooking period. The cooking-emitted particles were removed rapidly when both natural ventilation and the range hood system were operated simultaneously, where the particle decay rate constant was approximately 9 h^-1. Furthermore, the selection of cooking type was the most important factor that can significantly have an impact on indoor particle concentrations. Cooking - generated particles; Range hood; Particle decay rate constant; Living-Kitchen (L/K); PM2.5; Emission rate.

Monitoring of indoor polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using spider webs

Fifteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured in the spider webs prepared in the laboratory and exposed to indoor air pollution in a defined period of time. We have selected homes differing in location (rural area vs. city), type of room (living room, kitchen, basement), inhabitants' habits (smoking cigarettes vs. non-smoking) and type of heating/cooking devices used (natural gas, liquefied gas, coal- and wood-fuelled heating). Webs from two species, from Agelenidae and Pholcidae families, were prepared and used for monitoring of PAHs. PAHs were characterised based on concentration, profile distribution, source apportionment by cluster analysis and diagnostic ratios. The concentrations of sum of 15 PAHs (μg g^-1 dry weight) varied from 1.7 (bedroom in detached house in rural area) to 67.9 μg g^-1 (room with heavy smokers in detached house in the city), and were dominated by 3-ring (6.89-57.1%) and 2-ring compounds (5.05-48.3%). The result of cluster analysis (CA) suggested two distinct groups of PAHs. The dominant PAH source was found to be mixed petrogenic and pyrogenic consisting of a mixture of cooking, smoking, heating and neighbouring traffic activities.

Risk assessment of personal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aldehydes in three commercial cooking workplaces

Cooking-related emissions are associated with environmental pollution and adverse health effects. Of the various chemical species emitted during cooking, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and aldehydes are two chemical species with carcinogenic or tumor promoting characteristics. Although PAH exposure has been studied in commercial kitchen workers, few studies have investigated simultaneous exposure to PAHs and aldehydes in these workers. The aims of this study were to compare personal concentrations of PAH and aldehyde in three commercial cooking workplaces and to estimate their corresponding cancer risks. The three cooking workplaces included western fast food restaurant kitchens, Chinese cafeteria kitchens, and street food carts. Comparisons showed that workers in western fast food restaurant kitchens and Chinese cafeteria kitchens tended to have lower personal concentrations of these pollutants compared to workers in street food carts. The geometric mean (95% CI) cancer risks in the three workplaces were, from lowest to highest, 1.36 (1.12-1.67) × 10^-5 for western fast food restaurant kitchens, 1.52 (1.01-2.28) × 10^-5 for Chinese cafeteria kitchens, and 3.14 (2.45-4.01) × 10^-5 for street food carts. The percentage contributions of aldehyde species to cancer risk were very high (74.9-99.7%). Street food cart workers had high personal exposure to aldehyde probably due to lack of effective exhaust systems. Thus, their cancer risk was significantly higher than those of workers in western fast food restaurant kitchens (p < 0.001) and Chinese cafeteria kitchens (p = 0.013).

Environmental and behavioral determinants affecting the association of airway macrophages carbon load with distance to major roads and traffic density

Biomarkers are promising indicators to evaluate human exposure to air pollutants and to predict the health outcomes. Area of Airway macrophages that is occupied by Black Carbon could be used as a biomarker of personal long term exposure to traffic related air pollution. Association of airway macrophages carbon load with weighted average distance and environmental and subject-specific behavior are considered in this study. Sputum samples were taken from 160 healthy adult women and airway macrophages carbon load (AMCL) were determined in 93 subjects, which represent a success rate of 62% in sputum induction. Nearest distance of the subjects to major roads and average weighted distance were calculated for each subject. A questionnaire was field according to general and behavioral characteristics of the participants. There was not any significant difference (P-value >0.05) between induced and non-induced subjects. Subjects with indoor kitchen without separation wall, passive smokers and those with longer presence time in high traffic streets showed higher carbon area. Weighted average distance had a better association (β = -0.186, 95%CI: -0.139, -0.230, P-value = 0.00) with AMCL than nearest distance to major roads (β = -0.155, 95%CI: -0.109, -0.201, P-value = 0.19). Association of Weighted average distance with AMCL was interrupted in subjects with a garage connected to house environment, those with IK kitchen, those with a hood above the stove and passive smokers. The findings indicated that more generation and distribution of indoor air pollutants can completely enhance the internal exposure and indoor pollution has the same importance as outdoor pollution.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a bakery indoor air: trends, dynamics, and dispersion

Indoor air pollution assessment in work environments remains challenging due to a combination of logistic reasons and availability of costly instrumentation for data acquisition and post-processing. Existing literature focuses on energy production environments, hospitals, and less so on food production spaces. Studies on indoor air quality in bakeries are scarce or even absent. Motivated by this, the present study investigates indoor air quality in a bakery located in Bari province in South Italy, using a combination of approaches including analytical chemistry analyses and computational fluid dynamics to reconstruct the air ventilation in response to air temperature gradients within the working environment. PM_2.5 indoor samplings were collected every 6 h from 7 to 19 April 2013 in the proximity of two bakery ovens powered by gas and wood, respectively. For each sampling day, 4 PM_2.5 samples were collected: from 3:00 to 9:00 h (first), from 9:00 to 13:30 h (second), from 14:00 to 21:00 h (third), and from 21:00 to 3:00 h (fourth). In total, 40 samples were collected. On each sample, several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined such as benzo[a]anthracene (228), benzo[b]fluoranthene (252), benzo[k]fluoranthene (252), benzo[a]pyrene (252), benzo[g,h,i]perylene (276), indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene (276), and dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (278), the main compounds of 16 priority US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) PAHs in particulate phase. The PAH mean concentrations showed higher values during the first (from 3:00 to 9:00 h) and fourth (from 21:00 to 3:00 h) sampling intervals than the other two with benzo[a]pyrene mean values exceeding the Italian law limit of 1 ng/m³. Taking into account benzo[a]pyrene mean concentration for the first interval and the first plus the second one, which are the hours with the largest working activity, we have estimated that the baker and co-workers are exposed to a cancer risk of 4.3 × 10^-7 and 5.8 × 10^-7, respectively (these values are lower than US-EPA recommended guideline of 10^-6). Our study was complemented by numerical analyses using state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics to reconstruct at high resolution air movement from the various working places, i.e., the bakery and the selling area which were connected via a door. The numerical simulations were possible given that surface temperature using infrared thermography as well as air temperature was continuously recorded throughout the sampling acquisition. The use of this approach allowed us to estimate the transport and diffusion of benzo[a]pyrene from one area to the other thus complementing the point sampling information. Computational fluid dynamic simulation results confirm the presence of benzo[a]pyrene in the laboratory as obtained from the measurements and suggests its presence in the sales' area of the bakery with concentrations similar those found in the laboratory.

Contributions of burner, pan, meat and salt to PM emission during grilling

Grilling ground beef meat was conducted in two locations at Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan. The experiments were designed such that only particles from beef meat were isolated. A similar experimental protocol was applied at both locations. The average particle number and mass emission rates for grilling pure meat itself (excluding particles from pan and burner) were found to be 9.4 × 10¹²(SD = 7.2 × 10¹² particle min^-1 and 7.6 × 10 (SD = 6.3 × 10) mg.min^-1, respectively. The PM emissions (number and mass) from the burner were found to be negligible compared to the pan and meat emissions. Ultrafine particle (UFP) concentrations from the heated pan itself were comparable to those of grilled meat. However, the particle mass concentrations from the pan itself were negligible. Approximately an hour of continuous heating resulted in zero emissions from the pan.

The occurrence and fate of PAHs over multiple years in a wastewater treatment plant of Harbin, Northeast China

The occurrence and fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in wastewater, sludge and surrounding air from the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Harbin, Northeast China. The concentration of total PAHs in the influent, effluent and sludge were 4080ng/L, 864ng/L and 8200ng/gdw, respectively. The total concentration of PAHs showed a trend of first rising, and then decreasing over years in the influent, effluent and sludge, which was in agreement with the usage of coal and oil in Harbin. The level of PAHs was 26-560ng/m³ in air from site 1 (the top of the A/O tank), 62-608ng/m³ in air from site 2 (the vicinity of the WWTP) and 61-686ng/m³ in air from site 3 (the urban district of Harbin). In the influent and effluent, the mean concentration of PAHs followed the sequence of summer>winter>autumn>spring, while the sequence was winter>summer>autumn>spring in sludge and air. Rainfall may be the main reason for higher contamination in summer. Coal fired central heating and indoor dust may be reasons for higher PAHs in winter. The mean removal efficiency of total PAHs was approximately 85% (20% of which was adsorbed onto sludge, and 65% volatilized into air or degraded by biodegradation), and 15% of PAHs were discharged through the effluent. There was approximately 6240kg of PAHs imported into the WWTP every year, 1005kg discharged into the Songhua River through the effluent, and 327kg absorbed onto sludge and the rest was degraded or volatilized into air. PCA was applied to identify the sources of PAHs for both heating and non-heating seasons. In general, coal combustion was the main source of PAHs during the heating season and vehicle exhaust was the main source of PAHs during the non-heating season.

Characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in PM2.5 emitted from different cooking activities in China

Nineteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in PM_2.5 emitted from five different cooking activities were characterized, and their influencing factors were determined. The total quantified particle-bounded PAH concentrations (ΣPAHs) in the airs from the cooking activities were 4.2-36.5-fold higher than those in corresponding backgrounds. The highest ΣPAHs were seen in cafeteria frying (783 ± 499 ng/m³), followed by meat roasting (420 ± 191 ng/m³), fish roasting (210 ± 105 ng/m³), snack-street boiling (202 ± 230 ng/m³), and cafeteria boiling (150 ± 65 ng/m³). The main influencing factors on the PAH emissions were cooking methods, fat contents in raw materials, and oil consumptions. Four- to six-ringed PAHs had the highest contributions to the ΣPAHs (avg. 87.5%). Diagnostic ratios of individual PAH were similar between the two charbroiling and other three conventional Chinese cooking methods, respectively, demonstrating the dominance of cooking methods in the PAH emissions. Remarkably high benzo(b)fluoranthene/benzo(k)fluoranthene (BbF/BkF) ratio (8.31) was seen in the snack-street boiling, attributed to the coal combustion as cooking fuel. Both fluoranthene/(fluoranthene + pyrene) [FLT/(FLT + PYR)] and benzo(a)anthracene/(benzo(a)anthracene + chrysene) [BaA/(BaA + CHR)] ratios were higher for the oil-based cooking than those from the water-based ones. In addition, two ratios of indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene/(indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene + benzo(g,h,i)perylene) [IPY/(IPY + BPE)] and benzo(a)pyrene/(benzo(a)pyrene + benzo(g,h,i)perylene) [BaP/(BaP + BPE)] were higher for two charbroiling than the three conventional Chinese cooking methods. The characterization work in this study is particularly important since cooking is a potential contributor of atmospheric PAHs in urban China. Carcinogenic potencies of PAHs were assessed by comparison with the air quality guideline and health risk estimation. The BaP and BaP equivalent were higher for the oil-based than the water-based cooking activities.

Indoor air quality of everyday use spaces dedicated to specific purposes-a review

According to literature data, some of the main factors which significantly affect the quality of the indoor environment in residential households or apartments are human activities such as cooking, smoking, cleaning, and indoor exercising. The paper presents a literature overview related to air quality in everyday use spaces dedicated to specific purposes which are integral parts of residential buildings, such as kitchens, basements, and individual garages. Some aspects of air quality in large-scale car parks, as a specific type of indoor environment, are also discussed. All those areas are characterized by relatively short time use. On the other hand, high and very high concentration levels of xenobiotics can be observed, resulting in higher exposure risk. The main compounds or group of chemical compounds are presented and discussed. The main factors influencing the type and amount of chemical pollutants present in the air of such areas are indicated.

Levels of 1-hydroxypyrene in urine of people living in an oil producing region of the Andean Amazon (Ecuador and Peru)

PURPOSE

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are contaminants with carcinogenic effects but little is known about their presence in environments surrounding oil drilling operations and spills or exposure levels in nearby communities. The objective of this study was to characterize PAH levels in people living near oil drilling operations in relation to fish consumption, occupation, source of water and other socio-demographic characteristics.

METHODS

This pilot study examined PAH exposure by measuring 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) in urine samples using high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection from 75 women and men in the Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazon living near oil drilling operations and who answered a questionnaire collecting socio-demographic, occupational and dietary information. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression models.

RESULTS

The mean value of 1-OHP was 0.40 μmol/mol creatinine, 95% CI 0.32-0.46 μmol/mol creatinine. Women who used water from a surface source (for washing clothes or bathing) had almost twice the amount of 1-OHP in their urine (mean 1-OHP = 0.41 μmol/mol creatinine, 95% CI 0.28-0.54 μmol/mol creatinine, n = 23) as women who used water from either a well, a spring or rain (mean 1-OHP = 0.22 μmol/mol creatinine, 95% CI 0.11-0.34 μmol/mol creatinine, n = 6). Men who reported eating a bottom-dwelling species as their most commonly consumed fish (mean 1-OHP = 0.50 μmol/mol creatinine, 95% CI 0.36-0.64 μmol/mol creatinine, n = 31) had twice as much 1-OHP in their urine as men who reported a pelagic fish (mean 1-OHP = 0.25 μmol/mol creatinine, 95% CI 0.15-0.35 μmol/mol creatinine, n = 15), signaling either oral (fish consumption) or dermal (while standing in water fishing benthic species) exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

More contact with surface water and benthic fish may result in higher levels of 1-OHP in human urine among the study population. Reducing the amount of oil and wastes entering the waterways in Andean Amazonia would be one way to reduce exposure.

Chemical characteristic of PM2.5 emission and inhalational carcinogenic risk of domestic Chinese cooking

To illustrate chemical characteristic of PM_2.5 emission and assess inhalational carcinogenic risk of domestic Chinese cooking, 5 sets of duplicate cooking samples were collected, using the most used 5 types of oil. The mass abundance of 14 elements, 5 water-soluble ions, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC) and 11 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were calculated; the signature and diagnostic ratio of cooking in the domestic kitchen were analyzed; and carcinogenic risks of heavy metals and PAHs via inhalation were assessed in two scenarios. The analysis showed that OC was the primary composition in the chemical profile; Na was the most abundant element that might be due to the usage of salt; Cr and Pb, NO₃^- and SO₄^2-, Phe, FL and Pyr were the main heavy metals/water-soluble ions/PAHs, respectively. Phe and FL could be used to separate cooking and stationary sources, while diagnostic ratios of BaA/(BaA + CHR), BaA/CHR, BaP/BghiP and BaP/BeP should be applied with caution, as they were influenced by various cooking conditions. Carcinogenic risks of heavy metals and PAHs were evaluated in two scenarios, simulating the condition of cooking with no ventilation and with the range hood on, respectively. The integrated risk of heavy metals and PAHs was 2.7 × 10^-3 and 5.8 × 10^-6, respectively, during cooking with no ventilation. While with the usage of range hood, only Cr(VI), As and Ni might induce potential carcinogenic risk. The difference in the chemical abundance in cooking sources found between this and other studies underlined the necessity of constructing locally representative source profiles under real conditions. The comparison of carcinogenic risk suggested that the potentially adverse health effects induced by inorganic compositions from cooking sources should not be ignored. Meanwhile, intervention methods, such as the operation of range hood, should be applied during cooking for health protection.

PM2.5-bound PAHs in three indoor and one outdoor air in Beijing: Concentration, source and health risk assessment

Three indoor (residential home, dormitory, and office) and one outdoor concentrations of PM_2.5-bound Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in Beijing across four seasons. The highest and lowest concentration of total PAHs for outdoor appeared in winter and in summer with averages of 200.1 and 9.1ng/m³ respectively. The seasonal variations of total PAHs in three indoor sites were the same as outdoor. The correlation analysis between the indoor and outdoor samples showed that the annual mean I/O ratios of total PAHs in the three sites were lower than 1. Source apportionment showed vehicle exhaust, coal combustion, and biomass burning were the major contributors of indoor and outdoor PM_2.5-bound PAHs. Indoor source, such as camphor pollution, was identified in the dormitory, while camphor pollution and cooking sources were identified in the residential home. The annual averages of Benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentration (BaP_eq) were 7.6, 7.8, 7.7 and 12.7ng/m³ for the dormitory, office, residential home and outdoor samples respectively, far higher than the annual limit of 1ng/m³ regulated by European Commission. Life lung cancer risk (LLCR) in four sites across four seasons were over the acceptable cancer risk level, showing the cancer risk were at a high level in both indoor and outdoor sites in Beijing, and its level in indoor sites was much lower than in the outdoor site. The health risk assessment indicated the level of PAHs cancer risk on human for three indoor sites were similar. The results call for the development of more stringent control measures to reduce PAHs emissions.

Indoor air pollution and its association with poor lung function, microalbuminuria and variations in blood pressure among kitchen workers in India: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The present study is an attempt to explore the association between kitchen indoor air pollutants and physiological profiles in kitchen workers with microalbuminuria (MAU) in north India (Lucknow) and south India (Coimbatore).

METHODS

The subjects comprised 145 control subjects, 233 kitchen workers from north India and 186 kitchen workers from south India. Information related to the personal and occupational history and health of the subjects at both locations were collected using a custom-made questionnaire. Worker lung function was measured using a spirometer. Blood pressure was monitored using a sphygmomanometer. Urinary MAU was measured using a urine analyzer. Indoor air monitoring in kitchens for particulate matter (PM), total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) was conducted using indoor air quality monitors. The size and shape of PM in indoor air was assessed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to detect organic or inorganic compounds in the air samples.

RESULTS

Particulate matter concentrations (PM_2.5 and PM₁) were significantly higher in both north and south Indian kitchens than in non-kitchen areas. The concentrations of TVOC, CO and CO₂ were higher in the kitchens of north and south India than in the control locations (non-kitchen areas). Coarse, fine and ultrafine particles and several elements were also detected in kitchens in both locations by SEM and elemental analysis. The FTIR spectra of kitchen indoor air at both locations show the presence of organic chemicals. Significant declines in systolic blood pressure and lung function were observed in the kitchen workers with MAU at both locations compared to those of the control subjects. A higher prevalence of obstruction cases with MAU was observed among the workers in the southern region than in the controls (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Kitchen workers in south India have lower lung capacities and a greater risk of obstructive and restrictive abnormalities than their north Indian counterparts. The study showed that occupational exposure to multiple kitchen indoor air pollutants (ultrafine particles, PM_2.5, PM₁, TVOC, CO, CO₂) and FTIR-derived compounds can be associated with a decline in lung function (restrictive and obstructive patterns) in kitchen workers with microalbuminuria. Further studies in different geographical locations in India among kitchen workers on a wider scale are required to validate the present findings.