A critical review of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their adverse effects on human health: insights from the past six years

Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants of global concern due to their widespread occurrence, environmental persistence, and well-documented adverse effects on human health. In recent years, a rapidly expanding body of literature has reported PAH contamination across diverse environmental matrices, necessitating an updated and integrative evaluation of current knowledge. This review critically synthesizes PAH-related studies published between 2020 and 2026, with a focus on their occurrence, environmental distribution, and associated health risks in air, water, soil, sediments, and food. Emphasis is placed on comparing reported concentration levels, dominant sources, and transport behavior of PAHs across different environmental compartments, as well as on evaluating human exposure pathways and toxicological implications. In addition, recent progress in PAH detection and determination methods, including chromatographic, spectroscopic, and sensor-based approaches, is critically discussed with respect to analytical performance, applicability, and limitations. By identifying current research trends, methodological challenges, and knowledge gaps, this review provides a consolidated reference for environmental monitoring and risk evaluation of PAHs and offers perspectives to guide future research and regulatory efforts. Graphical abstract