External and internal exposure to PM2.5-bound PAHs from household solid fuel combustion: health effects mediated by urinary metabolites.

Integrating microbial bioremediation, multi-omics, and emerging technologies for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) detoxification.

Beyond solubilization: Interface PAH biodegradation in nonaqueous-phase liquids treated with a plant biosurfactant.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic pollutants widely abundant in multi-stressed coastal environments worldwide. Herein, seawater (dissolved phase/suspended particles) and sediment samples were collected during a survey on June 2024 across five stations, reflecting multiple anthropogenic stressors, at the heavily impacted Saronikos Gulf, Greece. In the collected samples, 47 PAH homologues were monitored by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry, resolved into source-related profiles by employing the EPA's Positive Matrix Factorization model and examined in relation to bacterial community composition inferred from eDNA metabarcoding sequencing. Our aim was to assess the potential links of PAH sources to microbial diversity and community structure, providing a targeted tool to support coastal monitoring of complex PAHs mixtures in multi-stressed environments. Total PAHs (TPAH₄₇) concentrations ranged between 127 and 462ngL-1 in the dissolved phase with alkylated 2- and 3-ring compounds dominating, 5.78-10.4ngL-1 in suspended particles and 860-5450ngg-1 in sediments, dominated by high-MW 4- to 7-ring compounds. Bacterial community composition based on 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding differed between seawater and sediments. In seawater, community co-varied with physicochemical gradients (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a), while PAH source profiles showed weaker associations. In sediments, bacterial assemblages exhibited a stronger statistical association with source-resolved PAH profiles based on the constrained ordination framework. In the dissolved phase the taxa Flavobacterium, Sulfitobacter, and Labedella gwakjiensis, in the suspended particles the genus Algiphilus, and in sediments the species Parahaliea maris were identified as source-associated candidate indicator taxa, highlighting compartment-specific potential bioindicators that require functional validation with -omics tools.

Investigation of EU-priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wheat flour and baked products: Implications for food safety.

Assessment of PAH-associated health risk and food safety in high-value fish species following one of the largest and most extensive oil spills on the Atlantic Coast of South America (Coast of Ceará State, Brazil).

From mechanisms to machine learning: an AI-enabled framework for biochar-based remediation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Association of urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites with idiopathic membranous nephropathy: Evidence from case-control and network toxicology.

Online IT-SPME-HPLC analysis based on durable carbon fibers for determining polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in seawater.

Associations of PM2.5 and PAHs from wildland fires with pregnancy outcomes: evidence based on high-resolution exposure assessment.

Seasonal dynamics and interfacial exchange of parent and alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a subtropical lake: Overlooked alkylated derivatives involved a shift in ecological risk assessment.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous air pollutants, where their genotoxic potential raises significant public health concerns. This study evaluated the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of an environmentally relevant mixture of 11 PAHs measured in indoor air from Zagreb households. Biological responses were assessed in three human-derived models: peripheral blood cells (PBCs), lung epithelial cells (A549), and liver carcinoma cells (HepG2). Short-term exposure scenarios were designed to mimic indoor inhalation over 1, 8, and 16h, with treatments lasting 4 or 24h. Cytotoxicity was evaluated via acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining in PBCs and the MTT assay in A549 and HepG2 cells, while genotoxicity was assessed using the alkaline comet and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assays. Overall, A549 and HepG2 cells displayed nonsignificant cyto- and genotoxic responses across all concentrations and exposure durations. In contrast, PBCs exhibited statistically significant, time- and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity. Genotoxic analyses revealed a biologically relevant, though statistically non-significant, threefold increase in micronuclei formation at the highest PAHs concentration after 4h. A statistically significant increase in nucleoplasmic bridges was observed at the medium (8-h) concentration after 24h, compared with controls. The limited biological responses align with the mixture's low toxic- (TEF) and genotoxic equivalency factor (GEF)-weighted toxicity derived from literature values, as the most abundant PAHs were low-potency compounds. Accordingly, under the experimental conditions applied, exposure did not result in detectable DNA or chromosomal damage. In silico analysis indicated that the mixture's toxicity is largely driven by the AHR-CYP-NQO1 axis.

Mechanistic insights into cardiovascular toxicity induced by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) as an example.

This review highlights a significant gap in the multi-pollutant characterisation of ultrafine particulate matter (PM <0.1 µm), focusing on metal(oid)s and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Fractionation mechanisms, sampling protocols and analytical methods are examined with an emphasis on integrating quality assurance measures to ensure high-quality data and facilitate cross-study comparability. Based on studies published between 2010 and 2025, research has largely focused on the analysis of pollutants bound to PM 2.5 or PM 10 . Only 5% of the studies addressed ultrafine particles (UFPs), which have the greatest toxicological impacts. The measurement of both pollutant groups within a single sampling campaign was rare (14% of the studies). The reliability of analytical data was rarely evaluated. Only 33% of the studies employed certified reference materials for quality control and method validation. Microwave-assisted digestion and ultrasound-assisted extraction were commonly used for sample preparation prior to the determination of metal(oid)s and PAHs, by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, respectively. Both pollutant groups exhibited strong seasonal variability, with elevated concentrations observed during heating periods in cold seasons, as well as associated with fine PM and UFPs, fractions that exhibit high bioaccessibility. Smaller PM fractions were associated with anthropogenic sources, including fossil fuel and biomass combustion, traffic and industrial emissions, while coarse PM reflected naturally-derived crustal material. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of uniform and comprehensive protocols for sampling UFPs and quantifying associated pollutants, which are essential for reliable data and effective urban air quality control strategies aimed at mitigating emissions. • Chemical assessment of ultrafine particles is limited, despite their high toxicity • Simultaneous analysis of metal(oid)s and PAHs-bound PM is uncommon • Use of certified reference materials for analytical validation is rare • Strong seasonal variability was observed globally • (Ultra)fine PM links to anthropogenic sources, while coarse PM reflects crustal origin

Stagnant oxidative potential in declining agricultural fleets: Evidence from key particulate matter composition despite fleet renewal.

Sources and fate of parent and derivative PAHs in urban-industrial watersheds: A case study in Changzhou, China

Brown carbon light absorption and radiative forcing: Associations with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban northern Taiwan

Evolution of the energy gaps of stacked polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Impact of smoked gelatin on the physicochemical characteristics and volatile compound profile of emulsified sausage.

Profiling hydrophobic organic pollutants in serum from vulnerable populations in Dalian, China.