Evidence mapPaperPMID 40137477Full record

ReviewToxics2025

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Environment: Occupational Exposure, Health Risks and Fertility Implications.

Luigi Montano, Giorgio Maria Baldini, Marina Piscopo, Giovanna Liguori, Renato Lombardi, Maria Ricciardi, Gennaro Esposito, Gabriella Pinto, Carolina Fontanarosa, Michele Spinelli and 8 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Toxics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 47 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
47citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

47 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Luigi MontanoAndrology Unit and Service of Lifestyle Medicine in Uro-Andrology, Local Health Authority (ASL) Salerno, 84124 Salerno, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5670-9439
Giorgio Maria BaldiniUnit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine (DIM), University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy.
Marina PiscopoDepartment of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Naples, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0560-6952
Giovanna LiguoriTerritorial Pharmaceutical Service, Local Health Authority (ASL), 71121 Foggia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3031-345X
Renato LombardiTerritorial Pharmaceutical Service, Local Health Authority (ASL), 71121 Foggia, Italy.ORCID 0009-0005-7759-2141
Maria RicciardiDepartment of Chemistry and Biology, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4668-2380
Gennaro EspositoUOSM Nola ASL Napoli 3 Sud, 80035 Napoli, Italy.
Gabriella PintoDepartment of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Naples, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-9169-3452
Carolina FontanarosaDepartment of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Naples, Italy.
Michele SpinelliDepartment of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Naples, Italy.
Ilaria PalmieriDepartment of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy.ORCID 0009-0009-6686-3777
Daniele SofiaResearch Department, Sense Square Srl, 84084 Salerno, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9712-6018
Carlo BrognaDepartment of Research, Craniomed Group Facility Srl, 20091 Bresso, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-6252-0595
Cosimo CaratiStudent of Department of Medicine Surger, University Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito, 1, 00168 Roma, Italy.
Mauro EspositoIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Dipartimento Coordinamento di Chimica, Via della Salute, 2, 80005 Portici, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-0558-0185
Pasquale GalloIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Dipartimento Coordinamento di Chimica, Via della Salute, 2, 80005 Portici, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9676-2290
Angela AmoresanoDepartment of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Naples, Italy.
Oriana MottaDepartment of Medicine Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-1088-6741

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of organic compounds with fused aromatic rings, primarily derived from combustion processes and environmental pollutants. This narrative review discusses the most relevant studies on PAHs, focusing on their sources, environmental and occupational exposure, and effects on human health, emphasizing their roles as carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic agents. The primary pathways for human exposure to PAHs are through the ingestion of contaminated food (mainly due to some food processing methods, such as smoking and high-temperature cooking techniques), the inhalation of ambient air, and the smoking of cigarettes. Coke oven workers are recognized as a high-risk occupational group for PAH exposure, highlighting the need for appropriate strategies to mitigate these risks and safeguard worker health. PAHs are metabolized into reactive intermediates in the body, which can lead to DNA damage and promote the development of various health conditions, particularly in environments with high exposure levels. Chronic PAH exposure has been linked to respiratory diseases, as well as cardiovascular problems and immune system suppression. Furthermore, this review underscores the significant impact of PAHs on reproductive health. The results of the reported studies suggest that both male and female fertility can be compromised due to oxidative stress, DNA damage, and endocrine disruption caused by PAH exposure. In males, PAHs impair sperm quality, while, in females, they disrupt ovarian function, potentially leading to infertility, miscarriage, and birth defects. Fetal exposure to PAHs is also associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Given the extensive and detrimental health risks posed by PAHs, this review stresses the importance of stringent environmental regulations, occupational safety measures, and public health initiatives to mitigate exposure and safeguard reproductive and overall health.

Indexed as

bioaccumulation and metabolizationenvironmentfertilityhealth effectsoccupational exposurepolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Identifiers

PMID40137477
PMCPMC11946043

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.