Beyond the obvious: Environmental health implications of polar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
The genotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects of polar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (polar PAHs) are believed to surpass those of their parent PAHs; however, their environmental and human health implications have been largely unexplored. Oxygenated PAHs (oxy-PAHs) is a critical class of pola...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2019-02-01
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| Series: | Environment International |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412018323456 |
| _version_ | 1818275468530417664 |
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| author | Oluyoye Idowu Kirk T. Semple Kavitha Ramadass Wayne O'Connor Phil Hansbro Palanisami Thavamani |
| author_facet | Oluyoye Idowu Kirk T. Semple Kavitha Ramadass Wayne O'Connor Phil Hansbro Palanisami Thavamani |
| author_sort | Oluyoye Idowu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The genotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects of polar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (polar PAHs) are believed to surpass those of their parent PAHs; however, their environmental and human health implications have been largely unexplored. Oxygenated PAHs (oxy-PAHs) is a critical class of polar PAHs associated with carcinogenic effects without enzymatic activation. They also cause an upsurge in reactive oxygen species (ROS) in living cells. This results in oxidative stress and other consequences, such as abnormal gene expressions, altered protein activities, mutagenesis, and carcinogenesis. Similarly, some nitrated PAHs (N-PAHs) are probable human carcinogens as classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Heterocyclic PAHs (polar PAHs containing nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen atoms within the aromatic rings) have been shown to be potent endocrine disruptors, primarily through their estrogenic activities. Despite the high toxicity and enhanced environmental mobility of many polar PAHs, they have attracted only a little attention in risk assessment of contaminated sites. This may lead to underestimation of potential risks, and remediation end points. In this review, the toxicity of polar PAHs and their associated mechanisms of action, including their role in mutagenic, carcinogenic, developmental and teratogenic effects are critically discussed. This review suggests that polar PAHs could have serious toxicological effects on human health and should be considered during risk assessment of PAH-contaminated sites. The implications of not doing so were argued and critical knowledge gaps and future research requirements discussed. Keywords: Polar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Environmental health, Mutagenesis, Carcinogenesis, Human health |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T22:30:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-11affb5bccb44867a6aaff70d77a77bd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0160-4120 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T22:30:14Z |
| publishDate | 2019-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environment International |
| spelling | doaj.art-11affb5bccb44867a6aaff70d77a77bd2022-12-22T00:09:38ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202019-02-01123543557Beyond the obvious: Environmental health implications of polar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsOluyoye Idowu0Kirk T. Semple1Kavitha Ramadass2Wayne O'Connor3Phil Hansbro4Palanisami Thavamani5Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, AustraliaLancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United KingdomGlobal Innovative Centre for Advanced Nanomaterials (GICAN), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, AustraliaPort Stephens Fisheries Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens, AustraliaCentre for Inflammation, Centenary Institute, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia; University of Technology Sydney, Faculty of Science, Ultimo, NSW 2007, AustraliaGlobal Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Corresponding author at: Global Centre for Environmental Remediation, the University of Newcastle, 2258, NSW, Australia.The genotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects of polar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (polar PAHs) are believed to surpass those of their parent PAHs; however, their environmental and human health implications have been largely unexplored. Oxygenated PAHs (oxy-PAHs) is a critical class of polar PAHs associated with carcinogenic effects without enzymatic activation. They also cause an upsurge in reactive oxygen species (ROS) in living cells. This results in oxidative stress and other consequences, such as abnormal gene expressions, altered protein activities, mutagenesis, and carcinogenesis. Similarly, some nitrated PAHs (N-PAHs) are probable human carcinogens as classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Heterocyclic PAHs (polar PAHs containing nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen atoms within the aromatic rings) have been shown to be potent endocrine disruptors, primarily through their estrogenic activities. Despite the high toxicity and enhanced environmental mobility of many polar PAHs, they have attracted only a little attention in risk assessment of contaminated sites. This may lead to underestimation of potential risks, and remediation end points. In this review, the toxicity of polar PAHs and their associated mechanisms of action, including their role in mutagenic, carcinogenic, developmental and teratogenic effects are critically discussed. This review suggests that polar PAHs could have serious toxicological effects on human health and should be considered during risk assessment of PAH-contaminated sites. The implications of not doing so were argued and critical knowledge gaps and future research requirements discussed. Keywords: Polar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Environmental health, Mutagenesis, Carcinogenesis, Human healthhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412018323456 |
| spellingShingle | Oluyoye Idowu Kirk T. Semple Kavitha Ramadass Wayne O'Connor Phil Hansbro Palanisami Thavamani Beyond the obvious: Environmental health implications of polar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons Environment International |
| title | Beyond the obvious: Environmental health implications of polar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons |
| title_full | Beyond the obvious: Environmental health implications of polar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons |
| title_fullStr | Beyond the obvious: Environmental health implications of polar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons |
| title_full_unstemmed | Beyond the obvious: Environmental health implications of polar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons |
| title_short | Beyond the obvious: Environmental health implications of polar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons |
| title_sort | beyond the obvious environmental health implications of polar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412018323456 |
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