Effect of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) on Respiratory Diseases and the Risk Factors Related to Cancer

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a large group of organic compounds that have 2–7 benzene rings. PAHs causes many complications in humans, including respirations and increased risk of cancer. The most important fixed and mobile sources (PAHs) include food, industrial pollution, and car exhaust. The most common ways of entering the body (PAHs) are through direct contact, seafood, grilled meat, inhalation of PAHs, and contaminated water. From various studies and many publications in the field, the major issue with PAHs is increased risk of cancer, such as cancer of lungs if inhaled or skin if in contact with skin, cancer of stomach or gastrointestinal in smoked or barbecued fish and meat products. The purpose of this review study was to the epidemiological literature on the side effect of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on respiratory diseases and the risk factors related to Cancer. Six hundred and fifty-five articles according to different databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, BMJ, Springer, and Science Direct were retrieved. Forty-two studies were screened after review and, 27 full-text articles were entered into the analysis process. Finally, 15 articles were selected for this study. Studies have shown the effects of PAHs in increasing the risk of infection in the respiratory system, including asthma, lung dysfunction, and various cancers, such as skin, digestive tract, lung, and blood. The results showed that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons could increase the probability and risk incidence of cancers of the lung, skin, bladder, and respiratory diseases, such as asthma and lung dysfunction. Reducing the emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) due to activities, such as cooking, car exhaust, wildfire, and power plant can be a very influential factor in reducing the health endpoint of this pollutant, especially respiratory diseases, and Cancer.