323
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license
to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. S. H. Akash et al. (eds.), Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals-induced
Metabolic Disorders and Treatment Strategies, Emerging Contaminants
and Associated Treatment Technologies,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45923-9_19
Chapter 19
Role of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
as EDCs in Metabolic Disorders
Ajab Khan, Anam Ahsan, Muhammad Asim Farooq, Muhammad Naveed,
and Hongquan Li
Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are universal toxic chemicals
produced mainly due to improper combustion of organic substances like wood,
coal, petrol, oil, etc. Release of these pollutants into the environment is because of
various activities including open air burning, natural losses, leakage of various
chemicals, accidental fire, and many more. The most common sources of PAH production are household heating systems, plants using coal for gasification and liquefaction, various industries and factories manufacturing different livelihood products,
petroleum refineries, and automobile exhaust. In the environment, PAHs exist in
gaseous-phase and sorbet to aerosols. The movement of PAH from atmosphere to
humans is strongly dependent on its phase in the air and the route of entry to human
body. Soil and water are the main sources of PAHs deposition in the ecosystem.
Many PAHs act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) having a strong blow on
the regulation of endocrine dependent functions including metabolism, growth,
reproduction, immune system, and may also have toxic and carcinogenic properties.
After exposure, PAHs enter into the human body through different routes, get
absorbed, and metabolized via cytochrome P450 oxidation system. PAHs are obesogens causing dysregulation of hormonal network controlling appetite and endocrine tissues which changes insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism. The time of
obesogens exposure (prenatal, postnatal, early childhood, and young) possesses
A. Khan · A. Ahsan · H. Li (*)
College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University,
Taigu, Shanxi, People’s Republic of China
M. A. Farooq
Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University,
Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
M. Naveed
Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy,
Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license
to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. S. H. Akash et al. (eds.), Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals-induced
Metabolic Disorders and Treatment Strategies, Emerging Contaminants
and Associated Treatment Technologies,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45923-9_19
Chapter 19
Role of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
as EDCs in Metabolic Disorders
Ajab Khan, Anam Ahsan, Muhammad Asim Farooq, Muhammad Naveed,
and Hongquan Li
Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are universal toxic chemicals
produced mainly due to improper combustion of organic substances like wood,
coal, petrol, oil, etc. Release of these pollutants into the environment is because of
various activities including open air burning, natural losses, leakage of various
chemicals, accidental fire, and many more. The most common sources of PAH production are household heating systems, plants using coal for gasification and liquefaction, various industries and factories manufacturing different livelihood products,
petroleum refineries, and automobile exhaust. In the environment, PAHs exist in
gaseous-phase and sorbet to aerosols. The movement of PAH from atmosphere to
humans is strongly dependent on its phase in the air and the route of entry to human
body. Soil and water are the main sources of PAHs deposition in the ecosystem.
Many PAHs act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) having a strong blow on
the regulation of endocrine dependent functions including metabolism, growth,
reproduction, immune system, and may also have toxic and carcinogenic properties.
After exposure, PAHs enter into the human body through different routes, get
absorbed, and metabolized via cytochrome P450 oxidation system. PAHs are obesogens causing dysregulation of hormonal network controlling appetite and endocrine tissues which changes insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism. The time of
obesogens exposure (prenatal, postnatal, early childhood, and young) possesses
A. Khan · A. Ahsan · H. Li (*)
College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University,
Taigu, Shanxi, People’s Republic of China
M. A. Farooq
Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University,
Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
M. Naveed
Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy,
Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China