Occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in human diet - exposure and risk assessment to consumer health
Authors: Starski Andrzej , Kukielska Anna , Postupolski Jacek 
Published: September 2021

Background. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental pollutants, they are also present in food, in which their presence results from environmental pollution and food processing processes. Many compounds from this group, such as benzo(a)pyrene show important toxicity, including genotoxic carcinogenicity. In food heavier PAHs significantly toxic are observed.
Objective. The aim of the study was assessment of consumers exposure to PAHs from the diet of surveyed respondents.
The assessment of contaminants content in daily food rations is characterized by less uncertainty factor than the assessment based on data on the contamination of individual foodstuffs and their consumption by humans.
Material and methods. Research material consisted of daily diets obtained from respondents participating in the study.
Content of 22 PAHs (fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(c)fluorene, benz(a)anthracene, chrysene, 5-methylchrysene, perylene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(j)fluoranthene, benzo(e) pyrene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(ghi)perylene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, dibenzo(a,e)pyrene, dibenzo(a,l)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)pyrene, dibenzo(a,i)pyrene) in each of diets was tested using liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector. The samples were purified by saponification, size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and solid phase extraction (SPE).
Results. 52 respondents (n=52) took part in the study. The highest median of PAHs were found for pyrene (1.412 μg/kg), phenantrene (1.276 μg/kg), fluorene (1.151 μg/kg) and fluoranthene (1.087 μg/kg), they were about 10-80 higher than the levels of heavier PAHs. In group of heavy PAHs quantitatively prevailed benzo(e)pyrene (0.109 μg/kg), benzo(b) fluroanthene (0.070 μg/kg), benzo(ghi)perylene (0.065 μg/kg) and perylene (0.059 μg/kg). Generally the median level of contamination with light PAHs was 6.045 μg/kg, while with heavy ones 0.504 μg/kg, in the case of the sum of 4 PAHs regulated in EU law content was 0.301 μg/kg. In the tested samples average 24% of the PAH content was pyrene, light PAHs with a lower toxicity potential accounted for 92% of the content of tested compounds. Sum of 4 regulated PAHs accounted for 58% of content compounds selected by the EU as significant for the assessment of food contamination by PAHs. The composition of the participants' diets was analyzed in terms of determining factors influencing on high levels of PAHs. They were high fat level and presence of smoked or grilled meat and fish products. The mean exposure to benzo(a)pyrene was 0.52 ng/kg b.w. per day, while for the sum of 4 PAHs 3.29 ng/ kg b.w. per day. For light PAHs high exposure was 90.6 ng/kg b.w. per day, while for heavy PAH it was 10.7 ng/kg b.w. per day. Risk assessment was performed by calculating the value of margin of exposure (MoE), which for benzo(a)pyrene and for sum of 4 PAHs were above 25,000 in both considered: mean and high exposure scenario.
Conclusions. Studied diets were a source of exposure to PAHs. Higher levels have been reported for light, less toxic PAH as compared to heavy PAH. In both considered scenarios margin of exposure were >25 000. In case of studied diets no risk for consumer was found.