The mechanisms of pH regulation on promoting volatile fatty acids production from kitchen waste.

The anaerobic acid production experiments were conducted with the pretreated kitchen waste under pH adjustment. The results showed that pH 8 was considered to be the most suitable condition for acid production, especially for the formation of acetic acid and propionic acid. The average value of total volatile fatty acid at pH 8 was 8814 mg COD/L, 1.5 times of that under blank condition. The average yield of acetic acid and propionic acid was 3302 mg COD/L and 2891 mg COD/L, respectively. The activities of key functional enzymes such as phosphotransacetylase, acetokinase, oxaloacetate transcarboxylase and succinyl-coA transferase were all enhanced. To further explore the regulatory mechanisms within the system, the distribution of microorganisms at different levels in the fermentation system was obtained by microbial sequencing, results indicating that the relative abundances of Clostridiales, Bacteroidales, Chloroflexi, Clostridium, Bacteroidetes and Propionibacteriales, which were great contributors for the hydrolysis and acidification, increased rapidly at pH 8 compared with the blank group. Besides, the proportion of genes encoding key enzymes was generally increased, which further verified the mechanism of hydrolytic acidification and acetic acid production of organic matter under pH regulation.

Demonstrating the Key Role of Bacillus in Poly Lactic Acid Film Degradation through Statistical Analysis and Strain Screening.

Plastic films are extensively utilized in agriculture, construction, and manufacturing, with their annual production reaching staggering figures. Addressing the global plastic pollution crisis is imperative. One promising approach is the augmentation of plastic films degradation through microbial agents. Consequently, we undertook composting experiments employing various plastics, including Polyethylene (PE), Poly lactic acid (PLA), and a treatment without plastic films addition (CK), mixed with kitchen waste. Employing bipartite association networks and difference significance analysis methods, we scrutinized the impact of different plastics on the microbial community within the compost piles. There were significant disparities in the microbial community composition among three composting piles. To pinpoint the key microorganisms responsible for PLA degradation, we conducted a comparative analysis of microbial species present on PLA compost piles and PLA film surfaces (PLAS), utilizing variance analysis, co-occurrence network analysis, and Spearman's correlation analysis. Our findings identified Bacillus as the pivotal microorganism involved in PLA degradation. Furthermore, employing function prediction by PICRUSt 2, we identified K00016 as the crucial gene facilitating PLA degradation by Bacillus. Subsequently, employing strain screening techniques, we isolated a highly effective PLA-degrading bacterium, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain ML274. The PLA films degradation rate of ML274 reached 3.18%. and other strains was lower than 3.0%. Thus, Bacillus emerges as the primary microorganism driving PLA degradation, emphasizing the significance of focusing on Bacillus genus microorganisms in the development of plastic-degrading bacterial agents for future endeavors.

New insights into the stages of cadmium remediation in ryegrass enhanced by kitchen compost-derived dissolved organic matter: Activation, absorption, and storage.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) regulates plant behavior in both agricultural and environmental fields. However, the regulatory mechanisms by which DOM influences soil-plant system interactions during the phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soils remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the enhanced effect of kitchen compost-derived DOM on the Cd remediation capability of ryegrass across three phases of phytoremediation. The main pathways and mechanisms of DOM-assisted phytoremediation were identified through the analysis of changes in soil microbial communities and metabolism functions. The results revealed that DOM increased the bioavailability of soil Cd and significantly enhanced the Cd enrichment capacity of ryegrass, regardless of the application rate. The application of 20 % DOM to soil with a 20 mg/kg Cd content increased the bioconcentration factors of ryegrass roots and shoots by up to 38.19 and 11.08 times, respectively, compared with the control group. The direct or indirect optimizing effects of DOM on Cd fraction transformation, microbial communities, and their metabolism functions significantly enhanced the Cd enrichment capacity of ryegrass. Notably, DOM exhibited dual effects on ryegrass growth, mainly influenced by changes in soil physicochemical properties, optimization of microbial communities, and alterations in nitrogen metabolic functions. Additionally, the Cd reserves in ryegrass, which serve as a vital indicator of phytoremediation, exhibited a positive response to DOM. This study provides insights into the various reinforcing roles of kitchen compost-derived DOM in Cd-contaminated soil phytoremediation. These findings support the development of effective agronomic strategies for precise Cd regulation.

The potential role of iron-carbon micro-electrolysis materials in curtailing lag-phase stimulates kitchen waste anaerobic digestion at different solid contents: Performance, synergistic effect and microbial response.

High-solid anaerobic digestion (HSAD) of kitchen waste was generally faced to the common problems such as systemic acidification, prolonged lag-phase time and low methane production. Iron-carbon micro-electrolysis (ICME) materials exhibited advantages that porous structure, large specific surface area and excellent conductivity. It was beneficial for organic compounds to hydrolysis. Moreover, ICME materials could establish direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) pathway between bacteria and methanogens. ICME materials were commonly used to enhance the AD of wastewater, but they were rarely applied to HSAD of kitchen waste. In this study, ICME materials were utilized to enhance HSAD of kitchen waste at different solid content conditions. The results showed that the highest cumulative biogas yield (705.23 mL/g VS) was obtained in the experimental group (TS = 10%), which was 94.15% higher than that of the control group. At the same time, the addiction of ICME could shorten lag-phase time. Electrochemical characteristics and XPS analysis showed that ICME materials promoted the release of Fe2+ in the AD system and acceleration of direct interspecies electron transfer between microorganisms. Microbial community analysis showed that ICME materials enriched electroactive bacteria (Proteiniphilum), Methanosarcina, Methanobrevibacter and Methanofollis. Functional gene prediction revealed that ICME materials increased the relative abundance of carbohydrate transport and metabolism and coenzyme transport and metabolism. It provided a potential measure to treat kitchen waste.

Terra Preta production from Ghanaian and Zambian soils using domestic wastes.

Quests for productive soils to close yield gaps call for innovative strategies. This study tested an off-site formation of the Amazonian Terra Preta (TP) in a potential modern analogon under coastal savannah climatic conditions of Ghana. Four Ghanaian and two Zambian soils; two types of biochar (i.e., rice husk biochar and charcoal residues); domestic wastes (i.e., kitchen leftovers, animal manures, human urine, and kitchen ash) were mixed with the soils wetted to 100% water holding capacity, and incubated under aerobic conditions for nine months. Indicators of the TP include total carbon (C), pH, base saturation, basic cations, and plant-available P, which were measured using standard methods of soil analysis. The TP formation enhanced soil pH by 0.02 to 2.9, ranging from pH 7.2 to 8.2, with charcoal residues having the highest effect on pH. The modern TP was characterized by relatively high total C, pH, K, Ca, Mg, Na, base saturation, and plant-available P. These properties reflect unique interactions between the chars, wastes, and soils, suggesting the potential for on-site TP formation. It calls for further studies, commitment, and perseverance in their formation in the future.

Sustainable valorisation of kitchen waste through greenhouse solar drying and microwave pyrolysis- technology readiness level for the production of biochar.

This study proposes an integrated and sustainable approach for the effective conversion of kitchen waste into valuable products through a two-step process. The primary step involves the implementation of greenhouse solar drying to reduce the moisture content of kitchen waste. The secondary step implies microwave pyrolysis for effective degradation of kitchen waste to biooil, biogas and biochar. Biooil and biogas can be used as renewable fuel source. Biochar can be used as soil amendment. Selection of atmospheric conditions for biochar preparation is discussed, highlighting its crucial role in biochar characteristics. This article highlights, technology readiness level of biochar production from kitchen waste to assess the economic viability for the scalability of the process. In this entirety, the conversion of kitchen waste to valuable products through microwave pyrolysis has significant potential to address the challenges posed by high moisture content and heterogenous nature. With continued research and innovation, it is possible to develop a wide array of value-added products from kitchen waste, ultimately leading to a more eco-friendly and economic approach to waste management.

Exposure to cooking fumes in cafeteria workers in Korean schools: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: This study measured cooking fumes to which workers in school cafeterias may be exposed. METHODS: The measurement items were respirable dust, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide. A total of 111 samples were obtained from 55 schools. Data on variables such as school size and daily cooking oil usage were collected. Correlation and association analysis were performed. RESULTS: The median of concentrations of respirable dust was 38.37 µg/m3 (min-max: 20.73-49.71 µg/m3). The concentrations of formaldehyde and carbon monoxide also showed levels that did not exceed 20% for occupational exposure limits. The increase in school size was significantly correlated with the increase in daily cooking oil usage and had a significant correlation with respirable dust concentration (Spearman's correlation coefficient, 0.36; P <0.05). The linear regression test results adjusting for other variables were also similar. CONCLUSIONS: Cooking food by frying at high heat using cooking oil can increase the exposure of kitchen workers to respirable dust.

Recycling of domestic sludge cake as the inoculum of anaerobic digestion for kitchen waste and its benefits to carbon negativity.

Organic waste recovery has been a concerning issue in line with resource conservation. In the present study, the kitchen waste of vegetables, fish, and beef was digested anaerobically using domestic sludge as the inoculum, the methane and carbon dioxide were monitored, and the environmental benefits of the anaerobic digestion (AD) process were evaluated. AD using sludge cake as the inoculum was shown to treat kitchen waste effectively. Raw beef was found to produce more gas than raw fish or vegetables. Investigations also indicated that celluloses within vegetables were not as readily biodegradable as the proteins in beef and fish. Moreover, cooking altered the protein structures in beef and fish, thus increasing methane production. Meanwhile, oil inhibited methane generation as carbon dioxide generation remained, implying that the hydrolysis and acedogenesis still proceeded in the digestion process containing oil. Anaerolineaceae and Synergistaceae are the two most abundant microbial species observed in an anaerobic digestion system. However, the carbon conversions to liquid (i.e., leachate), solid (i.e., digestate), and gaseous (i.e., methane and carbon dioxide) occurred in the AD process, showing a diverse transforming process from waste to reusable valuables. Moreover, the kitchen waste treatment by domestic sludge cake was shown to have positive effects on reducing carbon dioxide emissions compared to the conventional treatment of kitchen waste and domestic sludge. More environmental benefits could be expected if the resulting products (i.e., methane gas, leachate, digestate) were applied as an energy source, liquid fertilizers, and soil conditioners.

Homogeneous fluorescence immunoassay based on AuNPs (AgNPs) quenching multicolor QDs@hydrogel beads for the simultaneous ultra-sensitive determination of aflatoxin B1 and capsaicinoids in food.

A capsaicinoids (CPCs) broad spectrum monoclonal antibody with same recognition ability to capsaicin (CPC), dihydrocapsaicin (DCPC), nordihydrocapsaicin (NDCPC), and N-vanillylnonanamide (NV) is prepared. Chitosan (CS) hydrogel is used as the carrier of multicolor quantum dots (QDs) to prepare fluorescence hydrogel beads, CPCs and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) antibody are coupled with fluorescence hydrogel beads to prepare signal probes. Using AuNPs (or AgNPs) as fluorescence quenching agent to prepare quenching probes followed forming a fluorescence quenching test system. Based on optimal group of signal and quenching probes, a novel, simple, convenient, and ultra-sensitive homogeneous fluorescence immunoassay for the simultaneous detection of CPCs and AFB1 is constructed. The limit of detection (LOD) of assay for AFB1 and CPC is 0.00064 µg L-1 and 0.00049 µg L-1, respectively. This method can realize the simultaneous rapid detection of AFB1 and CPCs in food, which provides a new strategy for the identification of kitchen waste oil.

Effect of thermophilic bacterial complex agents on synergistic humification of carbon and nitrogen during lignocellulose-rich kitchen waste composting.

This work reported the effects of thermophilic bacterial agents on degrading persistent lignocellulose and reducing the loss of valuable nitrogen in kitchen waste (KW) composting. The results showed that thermophilic bacterial compound agents improved the high temperature period by 8 days, and increased the ligninase activity by 0.5-3 times during the composting process. The activity of cellulase increased up to 1 time in agent A (Geobacillus, Clostridium caenicola, Haloplasma) adding group by improving the microbial activity of lignocellulosic degradation metabolic pathways. Nitrogen storage increased to 70% in group added with agent B (Clostridium caenicola, Geobacillus, Clostridium sp. TG60-81) by increasing the population abundance of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms such as Bacillus, Hungateiclostridium and Herbaspirillum, and changed amino acid metabolic pathways. In general, agents A and B could increase the thermophilic phase, optimize the microbial community structure, realize the synergistic humification of carbon and nitrogen, and convert KW into mature and high quality fertilizers.

Applying kitchen compost promoted soil chrysene degradation by optimizing microbial community structure.

Chrysene, as a high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), has become an important factor in degrading soil quality and constraining the safe production of food crops. Compost has been widely used to amend contaminated soil. However, to date, the main components of kitchen compost that enhance the biodegradation of chrysene in the soil remain unidentified. Thus, in this study, the enhancing effect and mechanisms of kitchen compost (KC) and kitchen compost-derived dissolved organic matter (KCOM) on chrysene removal from soil were investigated through cultivation experiments combined with high-throughput sequencing technology. Additionally, the key components influencing the degradation of chrysene were identified. The results showed that KCOM was the main component of compost that promoted the degradation of chrysene. The average degradation rate of chrysene in 1% KC- and 1% KCOM-treated soil increased by 27.20% and 24.18%, respectively, at different levels of chrysene pollution compared with the control treatment (CK). KC and KCOM significantly increased soil nutrient content, accelerated humification of organic matter, and increased microbial activity in the chrysene-contaminated soil. Correlation analyses revealed that the application of KC and KCOM optimized the microbial community by altering soil properties and organic matter structure. This optimization enhanced the degradation of soil chrysene by increasing the abundance of chrysene-degrading functional bacteria from the genera Bacillus, Arthrobacter, Pseudomonas, Lysinibacillus, and Acinetobacter. This study provides insight into the identification of key components that promote chrysene degradation and into the microbial-enhanced remediation of chrysene-contaminated soil.

Evolution of the Black solider fly larvae gut antibiotic resistome during kitchen waste disposal.

Kitchen waste (KW) is an important reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Black solider fly larvae (BSFL) are extensively employed in KW disposal, closely linking to their robust gut microbes. However, antibiotic resistome in BSFL gut during the KW disposal processes and the mechanism remain unclear. In the present study, the antibiotic resistome in BSFL gut within the 12 days KW disposal processes were investigated. Results showed that, ARGs abundance initially increased and subsequently decreased, the five most prevalent core ARG classes were tetracycline, aminoglycoside, cephalosporin, lincosamide and multidrug. A total of 7 MGE types were observed and the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs was predominantly mediated by plasmids. Host microbes were mainly categorized into Proteobacteria (98.12 %) and their assemblies were mainly classified into the deterministic processes. To elucidate the driving mechanisms, the mantel test and the structural equation model (SEM) were developed. Results indicated that microbial functions (0.912, p < 0.0001) and microbial community (1.014, p = 0.036), consistently showed very significant relationships with the patterns of ARGs, which presented higher direct effects than indirect effects. Overall, this study makes an initial contribution to a more deepgoing comprehension of the gut antibiotic resistome of BSFL during KW disposal.

Odor emission pattern of the waste storage workshop of kitchen waste treatment plant and control strategy study with CFD simulation.

Odor emission has become a great issue for kitchen waste management plants. Among all, unorganized emission source such as waste storage tank is the key cause. It is necessary to understand the odor emission characteristics and provide a proper control solution. In this study, a typical kitchen waste treatment plant located in Guangdong Province of China was selected to investigate the odor emission characteristics. According to the survey, the main complaint due to odor emission is on waste storage workshop. Hence, its odor emission has been investigated in this study. The gas samples were collected from the workshop in different season. According to the results, the odor emission during summer is the worst. In total, 105 odorous gases were detected from the waste storage workshop. The main odorous gases can be categorized into sulfur compounds, oxygen-containing organic compounds and terpenes. In specific, ethanol, acetic acid, methylmercaptan, α-pinene, methioether and limonene were the major odorous pollutants. Based on grey correlation, principal component analysis (PCA) and step-up regression analysis, methylmercaptan contributes the most to the odor concentration. It suggests that the odor emission control should pay more attention on methylmercaptan. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) stimulation was employed to investigate the odor distribution with applying air blowing as a curtain to separate the inside and outside atmosphere or suction to vacuum the inside air to prevent the odor emission. It was found that it could efficiently prevent odor emission by setting a 45° inclined air suction port at the top of the entrance gate. The study provides a theoretical basis on odor control for the waste storage workshop of kitchen waste management plants.

A study of quantifying the influence of kitchen human activity on indoor air quality dynamics.

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is increasingly recognised as one of the critical factors influencing human health, particularly given the amount of time people spend indoors. This study investigated the impact of real-life kitchen human activity (KHA) on IAQ. We used low-cost sensors to measure real-time concentrations of smoke, carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) in the kitchen of a household with three adults, analysing KHAs by dividing them into five categories. The fixed effect model was employed to analyse the data, explaining the impact of different KHAs on IAQ. The results showed that compared to other KHAs, using the gas stove had the greatest impact on IAQ, with average increases of 13% in smoke, 24.4% in CO, 9.8% in PM10, and 5.34% in PM2.5. The study also found that without windows and with insufficient ventilation, only using the range hood cannot effectively and obviously reduce PM levels. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive IAQ management strategies and further research. Despite its limitations, this study also validated the potential of low-cost sensors in IAQ monitoring.

Innovative high-performance and energy-positive Co-treatment of organic kitchen waste and domestic wastewater using a fluidized bed ceramic membrane bioreactor.

The aim of the study was to efficiently treat organic kitchen waste (FW) and domestic wastewater (DWW) together in an anaerobic fluidized bed bioreactor equipped with a ceramic membrane (AnFCMBR) through a sustainable approach considering energy recovery. The system operated continuously for 519 days at room temperature, and different filtration fluxes (1.7 and 5 L/m2/h), hydraulic retention times (HRTs) (22 h and 7 h), and organic loading rate (OLRs) (0.46, 1.52, 3.42, 6.08 kg/m3.d) were tested. The amount of organic matter in DWW may be insufficient for feasible gas production, but this challenge can be resolved through the addition of food waste. Influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 500 ± 143 mg/L gradually increased to 2000 ± 196 mg/L by increasing the portion of FW. The COD removal ranged from 92 to 98% throughout the study, with the membrane and the cake layer contributing 5-8% to the performance. Average supernatant SMP and EPS concentrations increased from 5 ± 1 to 45 ± 5 mg COD/L and from 54 ± 7 to 254 ± 26 mg COD/g VSS, respectively, when the highest amount of FW was added to the synthetic wastewater. This significant increase in SMP and EPS concentrations due to the addition of FW negatively impacted the filtration performance. SRF and CST values also increased with rising OLR, especially with the supplementation of synthetic wastewater with FW. After FW started to be mixed with DWW, the methane production increased approximately 5.5 times. With the use of AnFCMBR for the co-treatment of FW and DWW, it is possible to achieve energy-positive treatment with high-quality effluent that can be reused for various applications, such as irrigation. The methane produced provided 12 times more energy than was needed to operate the bioreactor. This is the first study evaluating the co-treatment of FW and DWW in AnFCMBR under varying operational parameters.

The Growth Performance and Nutrient Composition of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae Fed Slaughtered Bovine Blood.

The disposal of slaughterhouse blood poses significant environmental challenges due to its biological instability and high nutrient content. We used a gradient of 10% blood increments (0-100%) to feed BSFL, and the correlation between the proportion of bovine blood and the BSFL weight gain, mortality rate, fatty acid content, and amino acid content was researched. Results indicate a positive correlation between the bovine blood content and BSFL mortality, with survival rates above 95% for blood proportions below 60%. Larval weight exhibited a negative correlation as the bovine blood content increased. Nutritional analysis revealed that the crude protein content in BSFL increased proportionally with bovine blood (14.75-25.45 g/100 g), while the crude fat content decreased correspondingly (10.70-4.66 g/100 g). The sugar content remained relatively constant across groups. Fatty acid analysis showed increased levels of C16:0, C14:0, and C16:1 and decreased levels of C18:1, C18:2, and C18:3 with higher bovine blood contents. The amino acid content generally increased with higher blood proportions. This study highlights the bioconversion potential of BSFL for bovine blood and underscores the impact of protein, lipid, and sugar concentrations in feed on BSFL growth. These findings provide valuable insights for utilizing slaughterhouse waste in BSFL rearing, contributing to the development of more sustainable waste management and animal feed production methods.

Culinary Home Empowerment for Food Waste Prevention and Minimization: Feasibility and Efficacy Protocol.

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a household food-waste prevention and minimization intervention, titled the Culinary Home Empowerment for Food Waste Prevention and Minimization (CHEF-WPM), which consists of a culinary education video series for home cooks. The specific aims are to (1) assess the effects of the intervention at a population level across process (feasibility, usage, acceptability, satisfaction) and preliminary efficacy (motivation, opportunity, ability) metrics and (2) assess the effects of the intervention at a community level across process (feasibility, usage, acceptability, satisfaction) and preliminary efficacy (motivation, opportunity, ability, household food waste, sustainable dietary practices) metrics. The intervention includes eight modules, each containing three to five brief videos, as well as downloadable recipes and worksheets. The evaluation will explore the effects of the program through two distinct investigations, namely (1) voluntary access to the intervention content in a population-based setting and (2) intensive delivery of the intervention content as part of a remote class in a community setting. Evaluation of the intervention in the population-based setting will use a single-arm, quasi-experimental post-test only study design. All home cooks who access the videos will be invited to answer a five-question post-video survey about acceptability, satisfaction, and potential implementation of the learning. A separate sample of individuals will be recruited to participate in a more in-depth evaluation (pre- and multiple post-test survey). Evaluation of the community-based intervention will use a mixed methods study design. Findings from the two distinct evaluation studies will be jointly discussed and triangulated to support larger conclusions about the intervention's desirability, impact on motivation, opportunity, ability, and food waste, and the potential directions for further improvement.

Recent Advances in Food Waste Transformations into Essential Bioplastic Materials.

Lignocellulose is a major biopolymer in plant biomass with a complex structure and composition. It consists of a significant amount of high molecular aromatic compounds, particularly vanillin, syringeal, ferulic acid, and muconic acid, that could be converted into intracellular metabolites such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and hydroxybutyrate (PHB), a key component of bioplastic production. Several pre-treatment methods were utilized to release monosaccharides, which are the precursors of the relevant pathway. The consolidated bioprocessing of lignocellulose-capable microbes for biomass depolymerization was discussed in this study. Carbon can be stored in a variety of forms, including PHAs, PHBs, wax esters, and triacylglycerides. From a biotechnology standpoint, these compounds are quite adaptable due to their precursors' utilization of hydrogen energy. This study lays the groundwork for the idea of lignocellulose valorization into value-added products through several significant dominant pathways.

Thermophilic bacterial agent inoculation enhances biodrying of kitchen waste: Insights into process properties, organic degradation, bacterial communities and metabolic pathways.

The high moisture content of kitchen waste (KW) restricts the future treatment and resource utilization. Biodrying is an effective approach to remove the water of KW. However, conventional biodrying only uses the heat generated by the indigenous microorganisms to remove water, which has long treatment cycle and low moisture removal rate. Microbial bioaugmentation is an emerging approach to improve the biodrying efficiency of KW. In this study, a thermophilic bacterial agent (TBA) composed of Bacillus, Geobacillus and Acinetobacter was used to promote water evaporation during the biodrying process. Based on the results, the moisture removal rate of experimental group inoculated with TBA was 82.20 %, which was notably higher than CK group without inoculation. Moreover, TBA significantly increased the amount of organic matter degradation. Microbial community analysis revealed that TBA could promote the proliferation of thermophilic bacteria and make bacterial community more tolerant to high temperature environment. Further analysis of metabolic pathways showed that quorum sensing and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism were enhanced by TBA inoculation, which can help microorganisms to better adapt to high temperature environment and release more energy to facilitate the water evaporation. This study offers a fresh approach to improve the water removal efficiency in biodrying process.

Review of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pollution characteristics and carcinogenic risk assessment in global cooking environments.

In recent years, research on air pollution in cooking environments has gained increasing attention, particularly studies related to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution. Hence, it is crucial and urgent to conduct a comprehensive review of research findings and further evaluate their carcinogenic risks. This study adopts a comprehensive literature review approach, systematically integrating and deeply analyzing the conclusions and data from 62 selected relevant studies. It focuses on the impact of different factors on PAHs concentrations, considers the indoor-outdoor PAHs concentration ratio, and conducts carcinogenic risk assessments for PAHs. The results show that Africa has the highest average PAHs pollution concentration globally at 14.74 µg/m³, exceeding that of other continents by 1.5-160.9 times. Among various influencing factors, fuel type has the most significant impact on PAHs concentrations. Existing research data indicate that cooking with charcoal as fuel produces the highest PAHs concentration at 223.52 µg/m³, with high molecular weight PAHs accounting for 58.16%, significantly higher than when using clean energy. Furthermore, efficient ventilation systems have been proven to substantially reduce PAHs concentrations, with a reduction rate of up to 88.1%. However, cooking methods and food types also have a small but non-negligible impact on PAHs production. Using mild cooking methods such as steaming and selecting low-fat foods can also reduce PAHs to some extent. Additionally, through the analysis of the Indoor/Outdoor ratio, it was found that cooking is the primary source of indoor pollution, and the average concentration of PAHs in cooking environments in Asia and Africa is much higher than in Europe and America. The Total Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (TILCR) exceeds 10⁻4, indicating a high level of carcinogenic risk.