Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Vegetable Oils: A Review and Meta-analysis and Health Risk Assessment

Individuals’ daily diets include a wide variety of vegetable oils worldwide. Our study assessed the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in several vegetable oils (corn, sunflower, olive, soybean, sesame, and canola). A search of major international databases was conducted to find published studies on PAHs in vegetable oils between May ۱۲, ۱۹۸۶, and June ۲۰, ۲۰۲۱. Based on the results of ۱۳ research articles, out of ۷۱۳ retrieved studies, the most common PAHs found in corn, sunflower, olive, sesame, soybean, and canola were fluoranthene (۳۳.۶ µg/kg), dibenz[a,h]anthracene (۷.۱۳ µg/kg), phenanthrene (۲۲.۴۵ µg/kg), benz[a]anthracene (۱۶.۴۹ µg/kg), naphthalene (۳.۹۲ µg/kg), and pyrene (۸.۰۱ µg/kg), respectively. However, the lowest concentrations of PAHs in the mentioned oils were associated with benzo[b]fluoranthene (۱۱ µg/kg), benzo[b]fluoranthene (۰.۲۸ µg/kg), dibenz[a,h]anthracene (۰.۱۳ µg/kg), benzo [b]fluoranthene (۰.۲۲ µg/kg), acenaphthene (۰.۰۵ µg/kg), and benzo(g,h,i)perylene (۰.۱۵۰ µg/kg), respectively. According to the continent type, PAHs in vegetable oils were detected in countries of the European Region, Eastern Mediterranean Region, and Western Pacific Region. Based on the findings, there is a country-to-country variation in the carcinogenic and mutagenic risks of PAHs. As a result, vegetable oils pose no threat to human health.