Relationship between total polar components and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fried edible oil

ABSTRACT

Deep-fried dough sticks (a Chinese traditional breakfast) were fried individually in peanut, sunflower, rapeseed, rice bran, soybean and palm oil without any time lag for 32 h (64 batches fried, each for 30 min) and fried oil samples were obtained every 2 h. The frying-induced changes in the levels of total polar compounds (TPC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated by edible oil polar compounds (EOPC) fast separation chromatographic system and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively. The correlations were analysed of TPC with benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), TPC and PAH4 (benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene and benzo[a]pyrene) as well as TPC with PAH16 (USEPA 16 PAHs). The results revealed that the levels of TPC and PAHs in fried oil considerably increased with frying time, and the type of oil affected their formation, which could inform the choice of oil for frying. The total BaP equivalents (∑BaPeq) concentrations in fresh oil and in oil whose TPC exceeded 27% were 2.14–13.48 and 5.78–10.80 μg kg^–1, respectively, which means that the carcinogenic potency of frying oil was more pronounced than that of fresh oil. In addition, the TPC concentration was significantly correlated with the concentrations of the sum of the 16 PAHs, PAH4 and BaP, so that the levels of PAHs could be predicted according to the levels of TPC in fried oil. In European standards, the rejection point for TPC in frying oil should be recalculated when considered PAHs. In all, the concentration of PAHs is a vital factor for ensuring the safety of frying oil.     

Benzo[a]pyrene and total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) levels in vegetable oils and fats do not reflect the occurrence of the eight genotoxic PAHs

Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in 115 samples of olive oil (extra virgin olive oil, virgin olive oil, olive oil, pomace olive oil and blended olive oil), cooking oil (corn oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, palm olein oil, soya oil, canola oil, mustard oil, peanut oil and mixed vegetable oil) and fat (butter and table margarine) collected from retail stores in Kuwait. Carcinogenic benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) was detected in 43% of the samples analyzed. Benz[a]anthracene and chrysene were detected in 37 and 45% of the samples, respectively, that did not contain BaP. Of the individual non-carcinogenic PAHs, naphthalene showed the highest mean concentration (14 µg kg^?1), while for the carcinogenic PAHs, BaP (0.92 µg kg^?1) and chrysene (0.87 µg kg^?1) showed the highest mean values. Approximately 20% of the samples within the olive oil and cooking oil sub-categories exceeded the EU maximum tolerable limit for BaP, with the highest level of 6.77 and 11.1 µg kg^?1, respectively. For the fat sub-category, 9% of the samples exceeded the tolerance limit, with the highest level of 3.67 µg kg^?1. The Kuwaiti general population's dietary exposure to the genotoxic PAHs (PAH8: benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene and benzo[ghi]perylene) was estimated to be 196 ng day^?1 (3.3 ng kg^?1 bw day^?1, assuming an average adult body weight of 60 kg). Results indicated that PAH8 and BaP_eq (total sum benzo[a]pyrene equivalents) are more reliable measures of the concentrations of other carcinogenic PAHs in oil and fat samples, while BaP and PAHs alone are not good indicators of the occurrence or degree of contamination by carcinogenic PAHs in these food products.     

Influence of collagen and natural casings on the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in traditional dry fermented sausage (Petrovská klobása) from Serbia

The aim of this study was to determine the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—PAHs (acenaphthylene, anthracene, fluorene, phenanthrene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, chrysene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, and benzo[ghi]perylene)—from Environmental Protection Agency list (United States Environmental Protection Agency) in traditional dry fermented sausage (Petrovská klobása) stuffed in collagen (C) and natural casings (N). Benzo[a]pyrene as well as PAH4 (benz[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, and chrysene) were not detected in all examined samples. Results obtained in this study indicated that at the end of drying, as well as at the end of storage period, total content of 13 US-EPA PAH was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in sausages with collagen casing (56.2 and 73.6 μg/kg, respectively) than in sausages with natural casing (137.1 and 206.2 μg/kg, respectively).     

Concentration profile of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) fractions in some processed meat and meat products

This study investigates the concentration profiles of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) fractions in selected processed meats, in order to evaluate their dietary and health implications. Smoked, grilled and boiled meat products were bought from different locations in Cape Town and Cape Town environs. PAHs were extracted from each meat sample according to standard methods. The concentrations of benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkP), benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), indeno[1, 2, 3-cd]pyrene (IP), and benzo[g, h, i]perylene(BghiP) in the processed meat extracts were determined using a gas chromatograph coupled with flame ionization detector. Total PAH concentrations in smoked, grilled and boiled chicken fillets, pork, and beef stripes were ranged 2.79, 0.99, 2.33 μg/kg; 19.11, 11.17, 15.04 μg/kg; and 14.84, 9.29, 7.20 μg/kg respectively. There were significant differences (p > 0.05) in the concentration levels of PAHs detected in different types, with the highest levels observed in smoked pork meat. The concentration of BkP, BaP, IP and BghiP detected in the various meat samples were below the EU and WHO dietary exposure limit.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels and risk assessment for food from service facilities in Korea

ABSTRACT

In this study, levels of benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene and indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene in 412 food items collected from food service facilities in Korea were analysed. The concentrations of the eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) ranged 0.13–0.48 μg/kg. The concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene in all food samples were <1 μg/kg, which is the lowest maximum limit in foods regulated by European Union legislation. PAH contents were employed to conduct exposure and risk assessment. The chronic daily intake of PAHs from 412 food samples was 5.48 × 10^–6-4.70 ×x 10^–4 µg-TEQ_BaP/kg/day with margins of exposure of 1.04 × 10⁹-1.16 × 10¹¹.     

Assessment of the dietary habits and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in primary school children

Thirty Italian children, 7–9 year aged, living in Naples were investigated on their dietary habits and on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure by a food diary-questionnaire and one week duplicate diet sample analyses. Daily total food consumption mean value was 632 ± 215 g day^?1, median value 613 g day^?1. The daily energy intake and the diet composition meanly agreed with the official guidelines for the Italian children. Sixteen PAHs were simultaneously detected and, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approach, benzo[a]pyrene; benzo[a]pyrene + chrysene (PAH2); PAH2 + benz[a]anthracene + benzo[b]fluoranthene (PAH4); PAH4 + benzo[k]fluoranthene + benzo[ghi]perylene + dibenz[a, h]anthracene + indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene (PAH8) were considered in evaluating the children's dietary exposure to PAHs. The benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) median concentrations in foods varied from 0.06 to 0.33 µg kg^?1. Only three samples of cooked foods (one fish and two meat samples) exceeded legal limits fixed by the European Union for BaP. Daily median intakes of benzo[a]pyrene, PAH2, PAH4, and PAH8 were 153; 318; 990; 1776 ng day^?1; their median exposure values were 5; 10; 28; 54 ng kg^?1 bw day^?1. The Margins of Exposure (MOEs) in median consumers agreed with the EFSA safety values except for PAH8.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Italian preserved food products in oil

A method based on gas chromatography/ tandem mass spectrometry was used to assess levels of 16 EU priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 48 preserved food products in oil including foods such as vegetables in oil, fish in oil and oil-based sauces obtained from the Italian market. The benzo[a]pyrene concentrations ranged from <0.04 to 0.40 µg kg^?1, and 72.9% of the samples showed detectable levels of this compound. The highest contamination level was observed for chrysene with three additional PAHs (benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene and benzo[c]fluorene) giving mean values higher than the mean value for benzo[a]pyrene. Chrysene was detected in all the samples at concentrations ranging from 0.07 to 1.80 µg kg^?1 (median 0.31 µg kg^?1). The contamination expressed as PAH4 (sum of benzo(a)pyrene, chrysene, benzo(a)anthracene and benzo(b)fluoranthene), for which the maximum tolerable limit has been set by Commission Regulation (EU) No. 835/2011, varied between 0.10 and 2.94 µg kg^?1.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in milk powders marketed in Argentina and Brazil

The aim of this study was to quantify polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels in milk powder samples commercialised in Argentina and Brazil during 2012. Thirty-one samples were available from the retail market. An HPLC method for the determination of PAHs was applied involving a clean-up step with silica cartridges. Recoveries were greater than 79% for all PAHs analysed. Reproducible determination with adequate detection and quantification limits (LOD and LOQ) were attained by HPLC with fluorescence detection for 14 PAHs. Acenaphthylene was determined with a UV–VIS detector. There is no significant difference in any PAHs or in the sum of them between the Argentinean and Brazilian samples. Therefore, the samples were evaluated together. The highest concentration of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) detected was 0.57 µg kg^?1 in milk powder. Contamination of samples expressed as the sum of 15 analysed PAHs varied between 11.8 and 78.4 µg kg^?1 and as PAH4 (BaP, chrysene, benzo(a)anthracene and benzo(b)fluoranthene) was between 0.02 and 10.16 µg kg^?1. The correlation coefficient for PAH2 (BaP and chrysene) and PAH4 groups was 0.95, for PAH2 and PAH8 it was 0.71, and for PAH4 and PAH8 it was 0.83. All the samples were below the regulatory limit for BaP, but 65% of commercial milk powders do not comply with the European Union limit for PAH4. This is the first report of PAH contamination in powder milk from Argentina and Brazil.     

Comparing d-SPE Sorbents of the QuEChERS Extraction Method and EMR-Lipid for the Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH4) in Food of Animal and Plant Origin

A Quick, Easy, Cheap, Rugged, Effective, and Safe (QuEChERS) method for the determination of benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene (PAH4 including the interfering PAHs triphenylene, cyclopenta[c,d]pyrene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[j]fluoranthene) was developed and validated with GC-MS/MS in foods of plant and animal origin. PAHs were extracted with acetonitrile, and different clean-ups with various compositions of sorbents, including zirconia-based sorbent (Z-Sep), primary-secondary amine (PSA), anhydrous magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄), octadecylsilane (C18 endcapped), and enhanced matrix removal (EMR)-lipid material, were tested. Another important focus of this study was the separation of critical pairs, which is essential for the qualification and quantification of PAH4. To investigate the developed methods, samples were spiked beneath their maximum levels (MLs) and recoveries and peak shapes were compared. The clean-up with 900 mg MgSO₄ + 150 mg PSA + 150 mg C18 was chosen to be validated in salmon, mussels, shrimps, bacon, cutlets, wheat flour, curry spice powder, infant formula, infant follow-up formula, and infant foods. Recoveries for all analytes were between 75 and 108%, combined with standard deviation between 2 and 20%. Limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) were between 0.04 and 0.34 μg/kg and between 0.1 and 1 μg/kg, respectively.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) from the Argentinean market

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) occurrence in 50 samples marketed in the main supermarkets from Argentina was surveyed. A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was applied with fluorescence detection (FLD) and UV—VIS diodes array detector (DAD) for the analysis of 16 PAHs in “yerba mate” (Ilex paraguariensis), with recoveries higher than 89% and limits of detection and quantification lower than that found by other methodologies in previous studies. Contamination expressed as the sum of 16 analysed PAHs ranged between 224.6 and 4449.5 μg kg^?1 on dry mass. The contamination expressed as PAH4 (sum of benzo(a)pyrene, chrysene, benzo(a)anthracene and benzo(b)fluoranthene) varied between 8.3 and 512.4 μg kg^?1. The correlation coefficient for PAH2 (sum of benzo(a)pyrene and chrysene) and PAH4 groups was 0.99, for PAH2 and PAH8 (sum of benzo(a)pyrene, chrysene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene and indeno(1,2,3cd) pyrene) 0.97 and for PAH4 and PAH8 0.98.     

Survey of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of vegetable oils and oilseeds by GC-MS in China

There is a lack of information regarding the occurrence and content of contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in edible vegetable oils and oilseeds used for oil production in China. By combining the advantages of ultrasound-assisted extraction, low temperature separation and silica SPE purification, a method for the determination of the USEPA, 16 PAHs was developed based on GC-MS to fill this gap. The method recoveries for oils and oilseeds were 84.4–113.8% and 84.3–115.3%, respectively. The LODs and LOQs for 16 PAHs were ranged from 0.06–0.17 and 0.19–0.56 μg kg^–1, respectively. Based on the established method, PAH concentrations in 21 edible oils and 17 oilseeds were determined. Almost all the PAHs were found in all the samples tested, especially the light PAHs (LPAHs). Three oil samples exceeded the maximum level of 10 μg kg^–1 for BaP set by China. However, five and six oil samples, respectively, exceeded the maximum limits of 2 and 10 μg kg^–1 set for BaP and PAH4 by the European Union. The concentrations of PAH16 in oilseed samples were 1.5 times higher than corresponding oil samples. The relationships between PAH4 and PAH8, PAH4 and PAH16 as well as PAH8 and PAH16 indicates that PAH4 is a sufficient surrogate for the contamination level of PAHs in edible oils when compared with PAH8.     

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in commercial roasted coffee beans

This study was conducted to investigate the presence of 7 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) [benzo[a]anthracene (BaA), chrysene (CRY), benzo[b] fluoranthene (BbF), benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkF), benzo[a] pyrene (BaP), dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (DahA), benzo [g,h,i]perylene (BghiP)] in roasted coffee beans from Korean market. In this study, the method for sample preparation involved liquid-liquid extraction after saponification with potassium hydroxide (KOH), followed by solid-phase extraction (SPE). The external standard method was used for measurement, and regression coefficients ranged from 0.9938 to 0.9995. To determine how much of the analyte remained in the samples after sample preparation, 3-methylcholanthrene was spiked into the samples for a recovery study. The limits of detection and quantification of the 7 PAHs ranged from 0.016 to 0.497 and 0.054 to 1.656 μg/kg, respectively. The concentrations of PAHs in the 10 coffee samples ranged from 0.62±0.08 to 53.25±9.38 μg/kg. According to the results, the critically harmful PAH, BaP, was presented at levels harmless to humans.     

Analytical Method Validation and Rapid Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Cocoa Butter Using HPLC-FLD

A simple, fast and ecological analytical method using a semi-automatic fat extractor and HPLC-FLD (fluorescence detection) for determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon markers i.e. benzo(a)anthracene (BaA), chrysene (Chr), benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF) in cocoa butter has been validated. Validation’s procedure performed out in concordance with French standard NF V03-110 (2010) was based on existing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) determination methods in various smoked foodstuffs and edible vegetable oils. Determination of correlation coefficients for specific PAHs ranged from 0.9992 to 0.9998. Respective values of limits of detection were 0.010, 0.011, 0.033 and 0.029 μg kg^?1 and those of quantification were 0.035, 0.038, 0.111 and 0.098 μg kg^?1 for BaA, Chr, BbF and BaP. Both values of repeatability and intermediary precision tests coefficients of variation were less than 5%. Recovery scores of four PAH markers matched EU standard 836/2011 recommendations. Sum of four PAH markers (BaA, Chr, BbF, BaP) contents varied from 5.42?±?0.58 to 11.37?±?0.01 μg kg^?1 whereas those of BaP was comprised between 0.26?±?0.00 and 1.75?±?0.13 μg kg^?1 in 20 cocoa butter samples extracted from raw cocoa bean stored at Ivorian cocoa farmer levels.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in traditionally smoked meat products from the Baltic states

A total of 77 traditionally smoked meat samples produced in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia were tested for the occurrence of four EU regulated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Levels of PAHs exceeding the EU maximum levels for benzo[a]pyrene and for the sum of four PAHs (PAH4) were detected in 46% and 48% of the samples originating from Latvia. The detected BaP levels in smoked meats ranged from 0.05 to 166 μg kg^?1, while the PAH4 content ranged from 0.42 to 628 μg kg^?1. The mean dietary exposure to PAHs was estimated at the levels of 5.4 ng BaP/kg bw/day and 36 ng PAH4/kg bw/day. The margin of exposure (MOE) approach was utilised to assess the risks to Latvian consumers due to PAHs and the obtained MOEs were in a range of 7205–24,434, thus indicating a potential concern for consumer health for specific population groups.     

Single-laboratory validation of a saponification method for the determination of four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in edible oils by HPLC-fluorescence detection

An analytical method is reported for the determination of four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), benz[a]anthracene (BaA), benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF) and chrysene (CHR)) in edible oils (sesame, maize, sunflower and olive oil) by high-performance liquid chromatography. Sample preparation is based on three steps including saponification, liquid–liquid partitioning and, finally, clean-up by solid phase extraction on 2 g of silica. Guidance on single-laboratory validation of the proposed analysis method was taken from the second edition of the Eurachem guide on method validation. The lower level of the working range of the method was determined by the limits of quantification of the individual analytes, and the upper level was equal to 5.0 µg kg^?1. The limits of detection and quantification of the four PAHs ranged from 0.06 to 0.12 µg kg^?1 and from 0.13 to 0.24 µg kg^?1. Recoveries of more than 84.8% were achieved for all four PAHs at two concentration levels (2.5 and 5.0 µg kg^?1), and expanded relative measurement uncertainties were below 20%. The performance of the validated method was in all aspects compliant with provisions set in European Union legislation for the performance of analytical methods employed in the official control of food. The applicability of the method to routine samples was evaluated based on a limited number of commercial edible oil samples.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in traditionally smoked Slavonska kobasica

ABSTRACT

The traditional smoking procedure, which is the use of open fire, can lead to the formation of PAHs in sausages. The aim of this paper was to assess the types and concentrations of 16 PAHs in 30 samples of Slavonska kobasica, a traditional smoked sausage. In general, some samples showed high values of anthracene and acenaphthylene. In one sample, acenaphthylene reached the value of 1050 µg/kg and in another 1491 µg/kg anthracene was measured. Cancerogenic benzo(a)pyrene content was little above the maximum limit of 5 µg/kg in four samples, but mainly remained below the limit of quantification. PAH4 (i.c. benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and benzo(a)pyrene) were above the maximum limit of 30 µg/kg in three samples. Generally, it can be noted from the results that samples with high PAH4 and benzo(a)pyrene concentrations also have high PAH16 concentrations.     

大豆油精炼过程中多环芳烃的迁移规律

明确大豆油精炼过程多环芳烃（polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,PAHs）风险成分的迁移规律,以便于食品中PAHs的风险防范和控制。通过对大豆油精炼生产中脱胶油、脱酸油、脱色油、脱臭油和对应加工助剂磷酸、烧碱、活性白土以及精炼副产物油脚、皂脚、废白土、脱臭馏出物样品中PAHs组分含量的检测,分析PAHs在大豆油精炼生产中的迁移规律。结果显示：大豆油精炼用加工助剂中均含有PAHs,磷酸、烧碱和活性白土中苯并[a]芘（benzo[a]pyrene,BaP）含量分别为0.95、1.84?μg/kg和0.71?μg/kg,欧盟限量控制的4?种PAHs（PAH4）（苯并[a]蒽、?、苯并[b]荧蒽和BaP）含量为2.81、16.81?μg/kg和8.85?μg/kg,美国优先控制的16?种PAHs（PAH16）含量为26.18、112.61?μg/kg和111.85?μg/kg;在大豆油水化脱胶、碱炼脱酸、蒸馏脱臭过程BaP的脱除率分别为7.57%、23.57%、91.65%,水化脱胶、碱炼脱酸、吸附脱色、蒸馏脱臭过程PAH4的脱除率分别为15.93%、10.41%、19.31%、50.91%,PAH16的脱除率分别为15.45%、11.59%、6.66%、52.99%;大豆油精炼副产物油脚、皂脚、废白土、脱臭馏出物中BaP含量分别为0.45、0.90、0.52、12.49?μg/kg,PAH4含量分别为10.14、7.39、9.69、300.50?μg/kg,PAH16含量分别为261.60、434.49、156.29、2?775.15?μg/kg。     

远红外烤制对烤鱼品质及多环芳烃含量的影响

为了改善烤鱼的质构特性等食用品质,减少多环芳烃的形成,以草鱼为对象,研究传统炭烤和远红外烤制方式对烤鱼质构特性及多环芳烃含量的影响。结果表明：传统炭烤和远红外烤制对烤鱼的食用品质有不同影响,与传统炭烤鱼肉相比,远红外烤制鱼肉硬度显著降低（P＜0.05）,且剪切力均显著低于传统炭烤组（P＜0.05）,能够显著改善烤制鱼肉的嫩度;相对而言,远红外烤制鱼肉具有更优的质构特性;远红外烤制能显著降低烤鱼肉中PAH4（苯并(a)蒽、?、苯并(k)荧蒽、苯并(a)芘）和PAH16（萘、苊烯、苊、芴、菲、蒽、荧蒽、芘、苯并(a)蒽、?、苯并(b)荧蒽、苯并(k)荧蒽、苯并(a)芘、茚苯(1,2,3-c,d)芘、二苯并(a,h)蒽、苯并(g,h,i)芘）的生成量（P＜0.05）,与传统炭烤鱼肉相比,PAH4和PAH16总生成量分别下降39.07%和44.07%。     

Concentrations and health hazards of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in selected commercial brands of milk

The concentrations and profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in twenty popular commercial brands of milk in the Nigerian market after saponification with ethanolic KOH and cyclohexane extraction and clean up using a gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. The concentrations of the Σ16 PAHs in these brands of milk ranged from 15.6 to 1,711.8 μg kg^?1. The dominant PAH compounds in these brands of milk were 3-and-4-rings PAHs. The dietary intake of BaP, PAH2, PAH4 and PAH8 were 0–53.9 and 0–369.6 ng kg^?1 bw day^?1 respectively. Using these indicators for occurrence and effects (BaP, PAH2, PAH4 and PAH8) PAHs in food, the margin of exposure were <10,000 in 15–30 % of the brands.     

Effects of grilling and roasting on the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in beef and pork

The concentrations of seven polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) viz. chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene, and indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene in 150 samples of commercial meat products were determined. The PAHs were extracted with hexane, purified with Sep-Pak Florisil cartridges and determined by high-performance liquid chromatography using a fluorescence detector. Levels of PAHs were dependent on the method of cooking and type of heat source used. Relatively high levels of PAHs, 10.2 μg/kg on average, were found in charcoal-grilled pork samples. Average PAH levels in beef did not exceed 0.80 μg/kg. Charcoal grilling of pork samples resulted in extremely high levels of benzo(a)pyrene (3.0 μg/kg), while the average benzo(a)pyrene levels in charcoal-grilled beef samples were 0.15 μg/kg. These data can be used to estimate the dietary exposure of consumers to PAHs and to assess any potential risk associated with the ingestion of these foods.