Formation, migration, derivation, and generation mechanism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during frying

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogenic and lipophilic, which can be found in frying system. This review summarized the formation, migration and derivation for PAHs, hypothesized the possible mechanism for PAHs generation during frying and presented the research prospects. Some factors like high oil consumption, high temperature, long time and oil rich in unsaturated fatty acids promoted the formation of PAHs and the presence of antioxidants inhibited the PAHs formation. The effect of proteins and carbohydrates in foods on the formation of PAHs is inconclusive. The formed PAHs were migrated into food and air. Moreover, some PAHs transformed into more toxic PAHs-derivatives during frying. The generation of PAHs may be related to lowbarrier free radical-mediated reaction and the unsaturated hydrocarbons may be precursors of PAHs during frying. In future, the isotope tracer technology and on-line detection may be applied to discover intermediates and provide clues for studying PAHs generation mechanisms.

Automated summary

This review summarizes the formation, migration, and derivation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in frying systems, hypothesizes possible mechanisms for PAHs generation during frying, and presents future research prospects. Factors such as high oil consumption, high temperature, long time, and oil rich in unsaturated fatty acids promote the formation of PAHs, while antioxidants inhibit their formation. The impact of proteins and carbohydrates in foods on PAHs formation remains inconclusive. PAHs formed during frying can migrate into food and air, and some may transform into more toxic derivatives. The generation of PAHs may be related to low barrier free radical-mediated reactions, and unsaturated hydrocarbons may serve as precursors. Isotope tracer technology and on-line detection may be employed in future studies to explore intermediates and elucidate PAHs generation mechanisms.