Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic pollutants produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels and biomass. They are highly persistent and can accumulate in the food chain. Honey, a natural product susceptible to atmospheric deposition, has recently been recognized as an important bioindicator for monitoring environmental pollution. This systematic review examined 29 articles published from 2000 to 2025 analyzing the global presence, concentrations, and potential health risks of PAHs in honey. Results showed that the sum of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (ΣPAHs) concentrations in honey ranged from below the detection limit to 166.83 µg/kg. Higher levels were observed in urban and industrial areas. Seventeen studies analyzed 16 PAHs prioritized by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) being the most frequently detected, a highly toxic compound. Although most samples met international food safety standards, levels exceeding European regulatory limits were detected in some areas, raising concerns about local health risks. The results of this study emphasize the need for standardized analytical methods and routine monitoring to more accurately assess the exposure risk of PAHs in honey.

Pesticide residues in food and agricultural products continue to constitute a significant concern for food safety, particularly when rapid decision-making is required across production and supply chains. Although chromatographic methods such as GC-MS and LC-MS/MS remain essential for confirmatory analysis, their dependence on central laboratories limits their applicability for field screening. Consequently, portable biosensor-based detection platforms have attracted increasing attention as rapid screening tools. This review synthesizes 26 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2025 on portable biosensor-based screening tools for pesticide detection in food and agricultural matrices, including electrochemical sensors, immunoassays, aptamer-based systems, paper-based lateral flow devices, and smartphone-assisted platforms. Given the heterogeneity of analytes, sensing mechanisms, and study designs, a narrative synthesis approach was applied. Overall, the evidence suggests a shift from laboratory-centered detection toward field-deployable technologies that may support preliminary screening within food safety monitoring frameworks. Paper-based lateral flow assays are widely reported as deployable formats, while electrochemical and affinity-based platforms are often positioned as intermediate solutions for mobile or semi-controlled testing environments. However, most platforms remain at the proof-of-concept or early validation stage, and challenges related to matrix interference, long-term stability, reproducibility, standardization, and large-scale implementation persist. This review highlights the potential role of portable biosensor technologies as complementary tools within tiered food safety monitoring systems and outlines key priorities for further development before wider regulatory integration can be considered.

Northern Thailand experiences seasonal surges in PM₂.₅ pollution, posing significant respiratory health risks. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate associations between PAHs exposure and early health biomarkers. In April 2024, 127 rural residents in Chiang Mai were recruited during a high-exposure period (mean monthly PM_2.5 = 41.7 μg/m³). Participants reporting eye irritation and pneumonia showed significantly higher 8-iso-PGF₂α levels (p = 0.010 and 0.012, respectively). Smokers exhibited elevated CC16 levels (130.0 ± 65.3 ng/mL) compared to non-smokers (96.3 ± 39.9 ng/mL, p < 0.05). CC16 was also significantly associated with self-reported symptoms, including fatigue, poor sleep quality, and activity limitation. For example, participants who reported difficulty performing daily activities (i.e., disagreed with the statement “I can do things at home without any restrictions”) had significantly higher CC16 levels (108 ± 47 ng/mL) than those without such limitations (74 ± 35 ng/mL; p < 0.001). A weak but significant positive correlation was observed between respiratory rate and CC16 (R² = 0.334, p = 0.001). Interestingly, serum 8-iso-PGF₂α was inversely associated with diabetes (OR = 0.965; 95% CI: 0.935–0.997; p = 0.033), potentially indicating a compensatory or phenotype-specific oxidative stress response. In addition, CC16 levels were positively associated with diabetes (p = 0.022), suggesting altered epithelial responses in individuals with metabolic disease. CC16 and 8-iso-PGF₂α demonstrated significant associations with respiratory symptoms and metabolic status, suggesting their potential as early indicators for environmental health surveillance in haze-affected populations.