![Benzo[a]pyrene in Cooking Oil](/english/consumer_zone/images/Cooking_Oil_e.jpg "Benzo[a]pyrene in Cooking Oil")
Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a kind of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are ubiquitous in the environment, being present in air, soil, water, sediment and food. Sources of B[a]P contamination of food-stuffs include contaminated air, water, soil, sediment, and formation and deposition of B[a]P during heat processing (e.g. roasting, smoking, and grilling). These contaminants, if present in cooking oil, may be concentrated upon prolonged heating.