Human exposure to parent and halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons via food consumption in Shenzhen, China

Human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and halogenated PAHs (HPAHs) via food consumption is still not clear in south China so far. The goals of this work are to assess human exposure to parent and halogenated PAHs via food ingestion and the cancer risk for population in Shenzhen, a new urban center in south China. Sixteen PAHs and nine HPAHs were determined in vegetable, pork and rice samples collected from Shenzhen. In general, the population in Shenzhen was exposed to higher levels of PAHs via food ingestion in comparison to that reported for other countries in recent years, but lower than that estimated for two northern cities in China. The cancer risk values induced by exposure to PAHs and HPAHs for male and female on each subgroup were between the serious risk level (10− 4) and the acceptable risk level (10− 6). Children faced the highest cancer risk, followed by adolescents, seniors and adults.

► Dietary exposure to parent and halogenated PAHs for Shenzhen population was higher than that in other countries. ► The cancer risks induced by parent and halogenated PAHs were between 10− 6 and 10− 4. ► Children faced the highest cancer risk, followed by adolescents and adults. ► Given all human exposure routes were considered, the cancer risk would be greater.