Role of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons as EDCs in Metabolic Disorders (original) (raw)

2020, Emerging Contaminants and Associated Treatment Technologies

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are universal toxic chemicals produced mainly due to improper combustion of organic substances like wood, coal, petrol, oil, etc. Release of these pollutants into the environment is because of various activities including open air burning, natural losses, leakage of various chemicals, accidental fire, and many more. The most common sources of PAH production are household heating systems, plants using coal for gasification and liquefaction, various industries and factories manufacturing different livelihood products, petroleum refineries, and automobile exhaust. In the environment, PAHs exist in gaseous-phase and sorbet to aerosols. The movement of PAH from atmosphere to humans is strongly dependent on its phase in the air and the route of entry to human body. Soil and water are the main sources of PAHs deposition in the ecosystem. Many PAHs act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) having a strong blow on the regulation of endocrine dependent functions including metabolism, growth, reproduction, immune system, and may also have toxic and carcinogenic properties. After exposure, PAHs enter into the human body through different routes, get absorbed, and metabolized via cytochrome P450 oxidation system. PAHs are obesogens causing dysregulation of hormonal network controlling appetite and endocrine tissues which changes insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism. The time of obesogens exposure (prenatal, postnatal, early childhood, and young) possesses