Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Occurrence and Toxicity in Camellia sinensis and Herbal Tea

ABSTRACT

This study describes a survey of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in 23 green, herbal, and black tea brands widely consumed in Nigeria by determining the levels of benzoa]pyrene, chrysene (PAH2), benzoa]pyrene, chrysene, benza]anthracene, benzob]fluoranthene (PAH4), benzoa]pyrene, benza]anthracene, benzok]fluoranthene, chrysene, benzob]fluoranthene, dibenzah]anthracene, benzoghi]per-ylene and indeno1,2,3-cd]pyrene (PA-H8). Toxic equivalence factor and mutagenic equivalence factor were applied to evaluate the toxic equivalence and mutagenic equivalence quotients relative to benzoa]pyrene. The concentrations of PAHs indicate that Regulation 835/2011/EC was not fulfilled by benzoa]anthracene, Ba]A, benzoa]pyrene, Ba]P, benzob]fluoranthene, Bb]F, and chrysene, CHR. The PAH4 levels ranged from 1.28 to 44.57, 4.34 to 11.20, and 0.76 to 34.82 µg/kg in green, black, and herbal tea products, respectively. On the other hand, the PAH8 concentration varied between 1.63 and 65.73, 5.02 and 68.83, and 12.43 and 24.92 µg/kg in green, herbal, and black tea samples. The PAH4 and PAH8 provide more reliable indicators for determination of PAH contamination and risk characterization in food than PAH2.