Exposure to Tobacco-Related 16 Epa Priority Pahs: A Comprehensive Systematic Review Publisher



A Momen ALI ; A Taherkhani ALI ; K Shahabi KOSAR ; R Rostami ROOHOLLAH
Source: Air Quality, Atmosphere and Health Published:2025

Abstract

Research aims to assess indoor air quality effects on human health and the environment due to high levels of polycyclic aromatic compounds. Settings include residential and office buildings, medical-social centers, and educational institutions. Thorough searches of databases such as ScienceDirect, PubMed, Springer, and Taylor & Francis Online were conducted, covering data from inception to November 22nd, 2023, with a focus on English-language sources. The search terms included PAHs, Waterpipe, Hookah, Shisha, Tobacco, “Electronic cigarette, “E-cigarette,” and Cigarette. From a pool of 1251 studies, 13 reported PAH concentrations in nanograms per cubic meter, and 3 reported concentrations in nanograms per gram. The findings reveal that indoor PAH concentrations in residential buildings was higher compared to the outdoor environments (16,000.000 ± 421,000.000 vs. 5,660.000 ± 35,700.000 ng/m3). Moreover, the concentration of total PAHs in nanograms per cubic meter in residential buildings exceeded that in office buildings (116,000.000 ± 421,000.000 vs. 258.000 ± 252.000 ng/m3). Additionally, the concentration of total PAHs in nanograms per gram in residential buildings was observed to be lower than in educational buildings (111.000 ± 673.000 vs. 274.000 ± 157.000 ng/g). The calculated carcinogenic risk (CR) of both Total Equivalent Quotient (TEQ) and Mutagenic Equivalent Quotient (MEQ) indices for all studies with concentrations exceeding permissible limits, indicated a significant health risk. Meta-analysis results underscore a high level of heterogeneity in observations (I2: 100%). © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.