Occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their hydroxylated metabolites in infant foods

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) accumulation in selected medicinal plants: a mini review

The use of plant-based products in healthcare systems has experienced a tremendous rise leading to a substantial increase in global demand. However, the quality and effectiveness of such plant-based treatments are often affected due to contamination of various pollutants including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Like other plants, medicinal plants also uptake and accumulate PAHs when exposed to a contaminated environment. The consumption of such medicinal plants and/or plant-based products causes negative effects on health rather than providing any therapeutic advantages. Unfortunately, research focusing on PAH accumulation in medicinal plants has received very limited attention. This review discusses a sizable number of literature regarding the concentration of sixteen priority PAH pollutants as recognised by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in different medicinal plants. The review also highlights the risk assessment of cancer associated with some medicinal plants in terms of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) equivalent concentrations.

Target Analysis of Polychlorinated Naphthalenes and Nontarget Screening of Organic Chemicals in Bovine Milk, Infant Formula, and Adult Milk Powder by High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry

Infant formula is intended as an effective substitute for breast milk but is the main source of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) to nonbreastfed infants. We performed target and nontarget analyses to determine PCNs and identify other organic contaminants in infant formula. The mean PCN concentrations in infant formula, milk powder, and bovine milk were 106.1, 88.8, and 78.2 μg kg-1 of dry weight, respectively. The PCN congener profiles indicated that thermal processes and raw materials were probably the main sources of PCNs in infant formula. A health risk assessment indicated that PCNs in infant formula do not pose health risks to infants. Using gas chromatography-Orbitrap mass spectrometry, 352, 372, and 161 organic chemicals were identified in the infant formula, milk powder, and bovine milk samples, respectively. Phthalate esters were detected in all four plastic-packed milk powder samples. The results indicated milk becomes more contaminated with organic chemicals during manufacturing, processing, and packaging.

The effect of flavorings on PAHs level in the roasted sunflower seeds

The amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be reduced by food additives. In this study, the impact of various flavors was investigated on the formation of PAHs in roasted sunflower seeds. PAHs was measured in the shell and kernel of sunflower with the flavors of lemon, golpar (hogweed), salt, ketchup and raw sunflower. Measuring the amount of PAHs was analyzed by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). PAHs with low molecular weight were detected. The total of PAHs of sunflower seeds were in the range of 0.4-3.2 mg kg-1. The lowest amount was related to the hogweed kernel, and the highest amount was related to the lemon. High molecular weight PAHs were not detected because the temperature did not rise above 100 °C during roasting. Some flavors, such as hogweed can reduce the amount of PAHs because of their antioxidant properties. On the contrary, the PAHs level with lemon juice was higher than other flavors.

Benzo (a) pyrene in infant foods: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and health risk assessment

Exposure of infants to chemicals during their development will have major effects on their health. One of the major exposures of infants to chemicals is through their food. The main structure of infant food is milk, which is high in fat. There is a possibility of accumulation of environmental pollution, including benzo (a) pyrene (BaP). In this systematic review, the amount of BaP in infant milk was surveyed for this purpose. The chosen keywords were: benzo (a) pyrene, BaP, Infant formula, dried milk, powdered milk, and baby food. A total of 46 manuscripts were found in the scientific database. After initial screening and quality assessment, 12 articles were selected for extraction of data. By meta-analysis, the total estimate of BaP in baby food was calculated to be 0.078 ± 0.006 μg/kg. Estimation of daily intake (EDI) and Hazard Quotient (HQ) for noncarcinogenic risk and Margin of exposure (MOE) for carcinogenic risk were also calculated for three age groups 0-6 months, 6-12 months, and 1-3 years. HQ was lower than 1 and MOE was more than 10,000 for three age groups. Therefore, there is no potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk for infant health.

Measurement of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Baby Food Samples in Tehran, Iran With Magnetic-Solid-Phase-Extraction and Gas-Chromatography/Mass-Spectrometry Method: A Health Risk Assessment

Baby food is one of the most sensitive foods available, which is closely monitored for carcinogens. In this study, 16 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds were evaluated by using the method of magnetic-solid-phase-extraction and gas-chromatography/mass-spectrometry (MSPE/GC-MS). The recovery, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ) of PAH compounds were 93.4–101.6%, 0.06–1.12, and 0.18–3.38 μg/kg, respectively. The results indicated the mean of total PAHs in all samples was 3.73 ± 0.8 μg/kg, and the mean of Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) was 0.29 ± 0.14 μg/kg that were lower than the USA-Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) standard level (1 μg/kg, BaP in baby foods). In addition, our results showed that mixed five cereal-based baby food had a maximum mean of ΣPAHs (5.06 ± 0.68 μg/kg) and mixed wheat and date-based baby food had a minimum mean of ΣPAHs (3.03 ± 0.41 μg/kg). The carcinogenic risk due to PAH in the tested baby foods sold in Iran was adequately low, and all examined products were safe for consumers. Therefore, it can be said that the consumption of baby foods does not pose a threat to consumers.

Urinary monohydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the general population from 26 provincial capital cities in China: Levels, influencing factors, and health risks

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) derived from the incomplete combustion of organic materials are associated with adverse health effects. However, little is known about PAH exposure levels and their influencing factors on a large scale in developing countries. In this study, urinary monohydroxylated metabolites of PAHs (OH-PAHs), including the metabolites of naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, pyrene, chrysene, and benzo[a]pyrene, were measured in 1154 samples in the general population nationwide from 26 provincial capitals in China. Concentrations of OH-PAHs ranged from 1.39 to 228 μg/L. OH-Nap, metabolite of naphthalene, was the predominant compound, accounting for 65.1% of totals. People in eastern, southwest and northeast China, such as Shanghai, Kunming, Nanning, and Changchun, suffered more PAH exposure than other regions which might associate with sampling time, living habits of the subjects, and the imbalance of economic development and energy consumption across regions. Urinary OH-PAH concentrations were associated with body mass index, gender, and age, and smoking was the main correlating factor. Inhalation and diet might be the main exposure route of human exposure to PAHs, especially for smokers by inhalation. Hazard indices showed that no subject was exposed to PAHs with potential non-carcinogenic risk. Furthermore, the carcinogenic risk was the most significant health effects, with almost all subjects having carcinogenic risk values higher than the acceptable level of 10^-6. Naphthalene and phenanthrene were the main contributors. The results also suggested a possible relationship between PAH exposure and lung cancer in the Chinese population. This first nationwide study on human internal exposure to PAHs provides a large body of scientific information for governmental decision-making about associated human health and the prevention of human exposure to PAHs.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Sample Preparation and Analysis in Beverages: A Review

The monitoring of food contaminants is of interests to both food regulatory bodies and the consumers. This literature review covers polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with regard to their background, sources of exposures, and occurrence in food and environment as well as health hazards. Furthermore, analytical methods focusing on the analysis of PAHs in tea, coffee, milk, and alcoholic samples for the last 16 years are presented. Numerous experimental methods have been developed aiming to obtain better limits of detections (LODs) and percent recoveries as well as to reduce solvent consumption and laborious work. These include information such as the selected PAHs analyzed, food matrix of PAHs, methods of extraction, cleanup procedure, LOD, limits of quantitation (LOQ), and percent recovery. For the analysis of tea, coffee, milk, and alcoholic samples, a majority of the research papers focused on the 16 US Environmental Protection Agency PAHs, while PAH4, PAH8, and methylated PAHs were also of interests. Extraction methods range from the classic Soxhlet extraction and liquid–liquid extraction to newer methods such as QuEChERS, dispersive solid-phase microextraction, and magnetic solid-phase extraction. The cleanup methods involved mainly the use of column chromatography and SPE filled with either silica or Florisil adsorbents. Gas chromatography and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry or fluorescence detectors are the main analytical instruments used. A majority of the selected combined methods used are able to achieve LODs and percent recoveries in the ranges of 0.01–5 ug/kg and 70–110%, respectively, for the analysis of tea, coffee, milk, and alcoholic samples.

The influence of meteorological conditions during traditional smoking on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content in traditional Polish pork ham

The aim of the study was to examine the influence of meteorological conditions observed during the process of traditional smoking on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content in traditional Polish pork ham. The material of the study comprised traditional Polish pork ham, one of the most frequently purchased and consumed meat products in Poland. The analysed ham was smoked with the traditional method using beech chips and pieces. Smoking time was four hours. During laboratory research the basic chemical composition of the product was examined. Using the HPLC method, the level of 15 selected Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). The obtained results show that the level of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the examined material depended on atmospheric pressure and relative air humidity. Atmospheric pressure significantly influenced the content of benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(a)anthracene and indeno(c,d)pyrene. Relative humidity impacted the absorption level of 5-methylchrysene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene, benzo(j)fluoranthene and indeno(c,d)pyrene. An influence of air temperature during the smoking process on PAHs content in the product was not observed. The results indicate that traditional smoking should be conducted under conditions of high relative humidity – ideally above 75%, and high atmospheric pressure – above 1000 hPa.

Magnetic amino-functionalized metal-organic frameworks as a novel solid support in ionic liquids-based effervescent tablets for efficient extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in milks

Herein, a kind of novel multi-layer core-shell nanocomposites (NSPN) was prepared by employing SiO₂ and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) polymers as modifiers and amino-functionalized metal-organic frameworks (NH₂-MIL101(Fe)) as coating. It was referred to as the NSPN and ILs-based effervescence-assisted dispersive solid-phase microextraction, hereafter abbreviated as NIE-DSM. In terms of extraction efficiency, SiO₂ and PVP as modifiers and NH₂-MIL(Fe) as coating onto the surface of NiFe₂O₄ cores played a synergistically enhancing effect on adsorption/extraction. Effervescent tablets were prepared by integrating the NSPN magnetic nanoparticles as adsorbents with imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) as extractants as well as acidic and alkaline sources. Under vigorous dispersion of CO₂ bubbles, the NIE-DSM method realized the goal of rapidly diffusing and separating the adsorbent/extractant (~3 min) without needing conventional vortexing or centrifugation step. Consequently, the NIE-DSM approach combined dispersion and adsorption/extractant in a synchronous way. Under optimized conditions, the NIE-DSM/HPLC-FLD method gave low limits of detection (0.008-0.034 μg kg^-1) and satisfactory extraction recoveries (74.1-101.6%) for five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; fluorene, anthracene, pyrene, chrysene and benzo(a)pyrene) in milk samples. The intra-day and inter-day precision, expressed as relative standard deviations, was < 5.9% and 6.5%, respectively, demonstrating a high precision. Owing to no requirement for electrical power, this method shows great potential for outdoor monitoring of trace-level PAHs in food matrices.

Simultaneous Determination of Typical Chlorinated, Oxygenated, and European Union Priority Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Milk Samples and Milk Powders

An increasing number of studies have suggested that PAH contamination in dairy products demands high concern. This study established an efficient determination method for the European Union 15 + 1 PAHs and four PAH derivatives in dairy samples using a QuEChERS method coupled with GC-QqQ-MS. The optimized method obtained a recovery of 63.38-109.17% with a precision of 3.82-15.62%, and the limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.08-0.78 and 0.27-2.59 μg/kg, respectively. The validated method was then successfully applied to identify the 20 PAHs in 82 dairy samples, including 43 commercial milk samples and 39 milk powders. The total PAH concentrations ranged from 2.37 to 11.83 μg/kg, and benzo[a]pyrene was only quantified in one milk and one milk powder sample at 0.35 and 0.42 μg/kg, respectively. The concentrations of PAH4 in milk samples and milk powders were not quantified (nq)-3.99 and nq-4.51 μg/kg, respectively. The results confirmed the appreciable occurrence of PAHs in dairy products, especially in infant formula. The data in this study provide a scientific basis for assessment on origin tracing, dietary exposure, and health risk of PAHs and their derivatives.

Monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and probabilistic health risk assessment in yogurt and butter in Iran

This study was conducted to determine the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) levels and health risk of yogurt and butter samples collected from Tehran using MSPE/GC-MS (magnetic solid-phase extraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). The results revealed that the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were ranged from 0.040 to 0.060 and 0.121 to 0.181 μg/kg, respectively; with recoveries ranged from 86.1% to 100.3%. The highest mean of total PAHs was higher in butter (6.87 ± 1.21 μg/kg) than in yogurt (3.82 ± 0.54 μg/kg). The level of benzo (a)pyrene in all samples was lower than of standard levels of the European Union (EU). The highest value of all PAHs in samples was recorded in the winter season and also in the expiration date. The percentile 95% of the total hazard quotient (THQ) due to the consumption of yogurt and butter recorded 1.33E-02 and 3.69E-04 in adults and 6.12E-02 and 1.75E-03 in children, respectively. The percentile of 95% incremental lifetime of cancer risk (ILCR) due to the ingestion of yogurt and butter recorded 1.17E-06 and 2.02E-08 for adults and 5.51E-06 and 9.46E-08 for children, respectively. The rank order of 7 PAHs in adult and children based on P95% Hazard Quotient (HQ) in all samples was benzo(a)anthracene (BaA) > pyrene (P) > fluorene (F) > fluoranthene (Fl) > acenaphthylene (Ace) > anthracene (A) > naphthalene (NA). According to the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) method, health-risk assessment showed that children and adults are not at significant health risk.

Formation and mitigation of PAHs in barbecued meat - a review

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemicals, which can occur in barbecued or grilled foods, and particularly in meats. They originate from incomplete combustion of the heat source, pyrolysis of organic compounds, or fat-induced flame formation. This review therefore summarizes relevant parameters for mitigation of especially carcinogenic PAHs in barbecued meat. Consumption of PAHs increases the risk of cancer, and thus the relevance for the mitigation of PAHs formation is very high for barbecued meat products. Parameters such as heat source, barbecue geometry, and meat type as well as marinating, adding spices, and other antioxidants reduce the final benzo[a]pyrene and PAHs concentrations and minimize the exposure. Overall, mitigation of carcinogenic PAHs from barbecuing includes removal of visual charring, reducing fat pyrolysis by minimizing dripping from the meat onto the heat source, the use of acidic marinades or choosing leaner cuts of meat. Estimation of human exposure to barbecued meat, includes several challenges such as substantial differences in barbecuing frequencies and practices, heat sources and meat types used for grilling.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coffee samples: Enquiry into processes and analytical methods

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered to be potentially genotoxic and carcinogenic in humans. These ubiquitous environmental pollutants may derive from the incomplete combustion and pyrolysis of organic matter. Coffee is an extensively consumed drink, and its PAHs contamination is not only ascribed to environmental pollution, but mainly to the roasting processes. Although no fixed limits have yet been set for residual PAHs in coffee, the present review intends to summarise and discuss the knowledge and recent advances in PAHs formation during roasting. Because coffee origin and brewing operations may affect PAHs content, we thoroughly analysed the literature on extraction and purification procedures, as well as the main analytical chromatographic methods for both coffee powders and brews. With regards to the safety of this appreciated commodity, the control on the entire production chain is desirable, because of coffee beverage could contribute to the daily human intake of PAHs.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Foods: A Critical Review

Objective:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are well researched chemicals in foods that have been found to exhibit mutagenic and carcinogenic potentials. This study examined available literature on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in foods, sources, effects and remediation.

Methods:

Available literature on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in foods, sources, effects and remediation was critically reviewed.

Results:

The review showed that carcinogenicity of PAHs varies from the potent to moderately carcinogenic PAHs which include 3-methylcholanthrene, Benzo[a]pyrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, 5-methylchrysene, and dibenz[a,j]anthracene, whereas benzo[e]pyrene, dibenz[a,c]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[c]phenanthrene and fluoranthene are relatively weak or inactive carcinogens. Cooking processes have been found to be a major source of PAHs in foods. Although, PAHs can also be formed during curing and processing of raw food prior to cooking, several researchers in recent years have shown that the major dietary sources of PAHs are fish and meat especially where there is high consumption of meat cooked over an open flame. Several procedures and methods have been developed recently to assess and detect PAHs in foods and more recently, bio-monitoring procedures have also been developed to assess human exposure to PAHs. Numerous organizations such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IACR), the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF), the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS), and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have been involved in evaluating the occurrence and toxicity of PAHs.

Conclusion:

Conclusively, taking into consideration the sources of PAHs generation, adequate process and quality control of the processed foods could be a veritable mean to reduce PAHs ingestion in foods.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in edible oils and fatty foods: Occurrence, formation, analysis, change and control

Numerous studies have demonstrated that dozens of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are mutagenic, genotoxic and strongly carcinogenic. PAHs are found to be widely present in foods contaminated through multiple paths. Due to their lipophilic nature, these compounds easily accumulate in edible oils and fatty foods where they can range from no detection to over 2000μg/kg. Compared to precursor PAHs, researchers have seldom studied the presence of PAH derivatives, especially in food matrices. This chapter includes the physical and chemical characteristics of PAHs and their types, occurrence, sample pretreatment and instrumental determination methods, and their formation, change and control in edible oils and fatty foods. The occurrence and formation of PAH derivatives in foods are much less investigated compared to those of their precursor PAHs. Although the removal of matrix effects and accuracy remain difficult for current rapid determination methods, a prospective research direction of PAH analysis for large-scale screening is in demand. To date, physical absorption, chemical oxidation and biodegradation have been widely used in PAH removal techniques. Specific types of bacteria, fungi, and algae have also been used to degrade PAHs into harmless compounds. However, most of them can only degrade a range of LPAHs, such as naphthalene, anthracene and phenanthrene. Their ability to degrade HPAHs requires further study. Moreover, it is still a great challenge to maintain food nutrition and flavor during the PAH removal process using these methods.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in infant formulae, follow-on formulae, and baby foods in Iran: An assessment of risk

Twenty-seven samples of infant formulae and follow-on formulae and fifteen samples of baby food from Iranian markets were analyzed for concentrations of four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH4) determined by use of gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrophotometry. An assessment of risks posed to infants and toddlers was conducted by calculating the margin of exposure and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) by use of the Monte Carlo Simulation Method. Benzo (a) anthracene, was not detected in any of the samples, while approximately 64.3% samples contained detectable amounts of benzo (a) pyrene, while chrysene was observed in three samples and benzo (b) fluoranthene was detected in one sample. One of the samples contained 1.43 μg PAH4/kg, which was greater than the maximum tolerable limit (MTL; 1 μg/kg) stated in Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1125. Accordingly, the 95% ILCRs in the infants/toddlers due to ingestion of milk powder and baby foods were determined to be 1.3 × 10^-6 and 7.3 × 10^-7, respectively. Also, the 95th centiles of the MOEs, due to ingesting milk powder or baby foods by infants/toddlers were estimated to be 3.6 × 10⁴ and 7.2 × 10⁴, respectively. In Iran, infants and toddlers are not at serious health risk (MOE ≥ 1 × 10⁴ and ILCR < 1 × 10^-4).

Determination of benzo(a)pyrene in fried and baked foods by HPLC combined with vesicular coacervative supramolecular solvent extraction

A simple, rapid and low-cost determination method of benzo(a)pyrene in fried and baked foods was proposed by high performance liquid chromatography combined with vesicular coacervative supramolecular solvent (SUPRAS) extraction. The vesicular coacervate was composed of 1-octanol and tetrabutylammonium bromide. 200 mg of dried samples with 600 μL SUPRAS could be mixed to extract benzo(a)pyrene. Neither evaporation nor further clean-up steps for the extracts were needed. The overall sample treatment took approximately 30 min, and several samples could be simultaneously treated using conventional lab equipment. Then, benzo(a)pyrene was analyzed via liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection. Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were investigated and optimized. The results showed good linearity of benzo(a)pyrene with the coefficients of determination (R ²) of more than 0.9999 in the range of 0.1-50.0 µg/kg. The limit of detection of the method was 0.11 µg/kg. Recoveries for spiked samples in the range of 1-10 µg/kg were between 89.86 and 100.01%, with relative standard deviations from 1.20 to 3.20%. Benzo(a)pyrene was present in food samples (including instant noodles, biscuits, rice crust and fried bread stick) at concentrations in the range of 0.08-0.39 µg/kg according to the proposed method. The proposed pretreatment method significantly reduces the analysis time. Furthermore, the solventless approach is in accordance with the green chemistry development trend and has significant application prospects.

Environmental and lifestyle factors affecting exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the general population in a Middle Eastern area

The aim of this study was to investigate environmental and lifestyle factors affecting exposure to PAHs in the general population in a large city of the Middle East (Tehran) by measuring urinary monohydroxy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs) and establishing relationships between PAHs exposure and related factors. Urine samples were collected from 222 randomly chosen subjects who were living in the urban area of Tehran, Iran. Subjects were required to complete a detailed questionnaire aimed to document their personal and sociodemographic information, activities, cooking-related appliances, smoking history/exposure, and consumed foodstuff. Identification and quantification of six OH-PAHs was carried out using a gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The geometric means for 1-OHP, 1-NAP, 2-NAP, 2-FLU, 9-FLU, and 9-PHE for whole population study were 310, 1220, 3070, 530, 330, and 130 ng/g creatinine, respectively. The two naphthalene metabolites contributed on average 77% of the total concentration of six measured OH-PAHs, followed by the 2-FLU, 1-OHP, 9-FLU, and 9-PHE. The most important predictors of urinary PAHs were consumption of grilled/barbecued foods, smoking, and exposure to environmental tobacco smoking. Water pipe smoking was linked to urinary OH-PAH metabolite in a dose-response function. Residential traffic was also related with OH-PAH metabolite concentrations. Other factors including gender, age, exposure to common house insecticides, open burning, and candle burning were found to be statistically associated with the urinary levels of some OH-PAHs. High exposure to PAHs among general population in Middle Eastern large cities and its associated health implications calls for public health measures to reduce PAHs exposure.

Contamination of Scots pine forests with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the territory of industrial city of Siberia, Russia

Anthropogenic contamination with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) coming from a powerful aluminum smelter has been estimated by the accumulation of these substances (17 substances: phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, anthracene, fluorene, benz[а]anthracene, benz[b]fluoranthene, benz[k]fluoranthene, benz[а]pyrene, benz[е]pyrene, perylene, indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene, benz[g,h,i]perylene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene) in needles of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the residential areas of Bratsk, East Siberia, Russia. It has been found that the total PAH amount reaches the maximum values (982 ng/g) in the needles of trees growing in a residential zone, remote from the smelter up to 10 km (Central Urban District), where more than half of the city's population lives. On the territory remote up to 25 km (Padunsky District), PAH needle levels decline, but are still 14.5-17.5 times higher than the background ones and at a distance of 45 km (Pravoberezhny District), they still exceed background levels (30 ng/g) by 4.7-8.1 times. Qualitative analysis of PAH showed the prevalence (up to 90% of the total amount) of 3-4 ring PAHs in pine needles on the entire studied territory. PAH concentrations increase when approaching the smelter with the highest values in the Central City District. Within the urban area, the content of PAHs with 5-6 rings (benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), benz[a]anthracene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene) is also significantly increased. In the Central District, needle concentration of B[a]P, which is a class 1 carcinogen, exceeds the background one by 22 times, the Padunsky District-by 7 times, and the Pravoberezhny District-by 3 times. In the territories of the Central Districts, needle level of perylene, which is a marker of territory pollution by aluminum smelter emissions, is 18 times, the Padunsky District-by 10 times, Pravoberezhny District-by 2.5-3 times higher than in the background, where the perylene level is below the detection limit (< 0.2 ng/g).

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in baby food using QuEChERS combined with low-density solvent dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction

A sensitive GC-MS method is reported for the determination of twelve polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in baby food. The sample preparation involves QuEChERS extraction combined with low-density solvent dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (LDS-DLLME) and ultra-low temperature (-80 °C). Plackett-Burman screening design was employed to identify the main sample preparation variables that affect the extraction efficiency, such as the volume of toluene used in LDS-DLLME. The suitability of proposed method was verified by analytical selectivity, linearity in solvent and matrix-matched calibration curves and adequate recoveries (72-112%) and precision (RSD values ≤11%), under repeatability and within-laboratory reproducibility conditions. High analytical sensitivity was achieved for the monitoring of PAHs at the strict limit of 1 µg kg^-1 fixed by the European Commission for baby foods. The validated method was applied to thirty-two commercial baby food samples, and the investigated PAHs were not detected in any sample.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: A Critical Review of Environmental Occurrence and Bioremediation

The degree of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination of environmental matrices has increased over the last several years due to increase in industrial activities. Interest has surrounded the occurrence and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for many decades because they pose a serious threat to the health of humans and ecosystems. The importance of the need for sustainable abatement strategies to alleviate contamination therefore cannot be overemphasised, as daily human activities continue to create pollution from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and impact the natural environment. Globally, attempts have been made to design treatment schemes for the remediation and restoration of contaminated sites. Several techniques and technologies have been proposed and tested over time, the majority of which have significant limitations. This has necessitated research into environmentally friendly and cost-effective clean-up techniques. Bioremediation is an appealing option that has been extensively researched and adopted as it has been proven to be relatively cost-effective, environmentally friendly and is publicly accepted. In this review, the physicochemical properties of some priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, as well as the pathways and mechanisms through which they enter the soil, river systems, drinking water, groundwater and food are succinctly examined. Their effects on human health, other living organisms, the aquatic ecosystem, as well as soil microbiota are also elucidated. The persistence and bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are discussed as well, as they are important factors that influence the rate, efficiency and overall success of remediation. Bioremediation (aerobic and anaerobic), use of biosurfactants and bioreactors, as well as the roles of biofilms in the biological treatment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are also explored.

Presença de hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos em produtos alimentícios e a sua relação com o método de cocção e a natureza do alimento

Resumo Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos (HPA) podem estar associados à carcinogênese em humanos. Tais compostos penetram no organismo pelo trato gastrointestinal, o que faz da dieta uma importante via de contaminação. O objetivo desta revisão é analisar a relação entre a formação/ingestão desses compostos e a alimentação. Foi encontrada associação direta do método de cocção empregado com o aumento dos níveis de HPA nos alimentos e a formação de novos compostos. A fonte térmica aplicada, a composição do alimento, o tipo de óleo utilizado, especialmente nos processos de fritura, bem como o tipo de tratamento empregado ao alimento antes da cocção, são fatores que influenciam o teor de HPA no produto final. A legislação brasileira é pouco abrangente em relação a esses compostos e a necessidade de ampliação das normas nacionais se torna ainda mais evidente quando este tema é visto como uma questão de Segurança de Alimentos.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in milk powders marketed in Uruguay

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) occurrence in forty-four samples of milk powder, marketed in Uruguay, was determined. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was applied with fluorescence detector (FLD) and UV-VIS diodes array detector (DAD). Milk powder was fortified with PAHs at three levels producing average recovery higher than 78.6% for all levels. The highest concentration of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) was 2.85 μg kg^-1 in milk powder. Contamination of samples expressed as the sum of 16 analysed PAHs varied between 5.77 and 427.28 μg kg^-1 and as PAH4 (BaP, chrysene, benzo(a)anthracene and benzo(b)fluoranthene) was between below LOD and 11.54 μg kg^-1. Only one sample exceeded the maximum limit for BaP, but 84% of the commercial milk powders did not comply with the European Union maximum limit for PAH4.

Comparative study on the occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in breast milk and infant formula and risk assessment

The study compared the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) profile of human milk collected from Italian mothers and different brands of infant formula available on Italian market. Levels of 14 PAHs most frequently occurred in food, PAH markers listed by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006, and carcinogenic PAHs classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector. The average concentrations of total PAHs were 114.93 in breast milk and 53.68 μg kg^-1 in infant formula. Furthermore, Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and the sum of ∑PAH4 markers (BaP, Chrysene, Benzo(a,h)anthracene and Benzo(b)fluoranthene) were higher than the permissible limit of 1 μg kg^-1 in 43% and 86% for breast milk and in 10% and 76% for infant formula samples, respectively. Breast milk showed higher levels (P < 0.05) of carcinogenic, and possible carcinogenic hydrocarbons than infant formula samples. Both in human and commercial milk, data showed the occurrence of low and high molecular weight PAHs, respectively from petrogenic and pyrolytic environmental sources, characterizing the infant and mother exposure. Particularly, waste incineration could have represented an important exposure source for infants during breastfeeding, through exposition of mothers resident in some areas of Southern Italy. High PAH levels detected in infant formula enriched with LC-PUFA might be related to the contamination of the vegetable oils added as ingredients. Results showed a high percentage of samples of both breast milk and infant formulas with margin of exposure (MOE) value indicating a potential concern for consumer health.

Development of a QuEChERS-Based Method for Determination of Carcinogenic 2-Nitrofluorene and 1-Nitropyrene in Rice Grains and Vegetables: A Comparative Study with Benzo[a]pyrene

Nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants attracting increasing attention because of their potent mutagenicity to humans. Previous studies of nitro-PAHs focused on investigating their formation mechanisms and detecting them in atmospheric environment; however, few studies have reported their occurrence in food samples, and regulations on nitro-PAHs are still lacking. We report in this study the development and application of a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method for determination of nitro-PAHs in rice and vegetable samples. Analysis of the collected samples by the validated method revealed 1-nitropyrene and 2-nitrofluorene were widespread food contaminants. A comparative study with benzo[a]pyrene, the commonly used marker for PAH exposure, showed that carcinogenic nitro-PAHs existed in rice and vegetables at similar concentrations. Dietary exposure risk, which was estimated based on the surveillance data, suggested 3.28-5.03 ng/kg/day of nitro-PAHs exposure for Hong Kong citizens from rice grains and vegetables.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in commercial brands of dry whole soybeans for direct human consumption

A total of 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were surveyed in dry whole soybeans (Glycine max L.) sold for human consumption. The analysed samples were commercialised in vegetarian shops and food stores in Southern Brazil regions. The determination of PAHs levels was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)with fluorescence detection. PAHs were present in 89.7% of the samples. Chrysene (Chy) and 5 methyl chrysene (5MeChy) were the main PAHs detected (76.9% and 71.8%, respectively) followed by dibenzo(ai)pyrene (DaiP), however in a much less percentage of samples (23.1%). Apart from those PAHs, also benzo(a)antracene (BaA), benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF), benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkF) and benzo(a)pyrene(BaP) were found. The ΣPAH levels in the positive samples ranged from 0.80 to 38.78 µg kg-1, with exception of one sample that reached 204.46 µg kg-1 (ΣPAHs of six compounds). Despite the present contamination there are no maximum limits set for PAHs in soybeans.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and pesticides in milk powder

This Research Communication reports analysis of 37 compounds comprising polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides (OCPS and OPPS) in milk powder (one brand each of commercial infant formulae, follow-on formulae and baby formulae purchased from a local supermarket in Romania). The selected analytes were investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC-ECD) and gas chromatography with thermionic sensitive detection (GC-TSD). The estimated limits of detection for most target analytes were in the μg/kg level (range 0·001-0·320 µg/kg). The purpose of the study was to determine the selected analytes, to assess the exposure of babies and infants and to produce data for comparison with tolerable limits according to the European Union Regulations. In most of the samples the organochlorine pesticides values were under the limit of detection. Exceptions were heptachlor epoxide and endosulfan sulphate, the last of which was found in all analysed samples at low concentrations. We also found detectable levels of ethoprophos, parathion-methyl, chlorpyrifos, prothiofos, guthion, disulfoton and fenchlorphos in most of the analysed samples. Benzo[a]pyrene, which is used as an indicator for the presence of PAHs, was not detected in selected samples. The low level of exposure to contaminants indicates that there are no health risks for the infants and babies that consume this brand of milk powder formulae.

Adsorption characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from non-aqueous media using activated carbon derived from phenol formaldehyde resin: kinetics and thermodynamic study

Porous carbons were prepared by carbonization and activation of phenol formaldehyde resin by gasification with CO₂ at 900 °C. Prepared activated carbon from phenol formaldehyde was characterized by measuring thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), pH, surface area, porosity, and pore size distribution. The specific surface area (SSA) of these carbons ranges from 562 to 1904 m²/g, while their point of zero charge (pHPZC) varies from 2.6 to 8.8. The ability of the prepared activated carbon by gasification with CO₂ at 900 °C from phenol formaldehyde resin (PFAC) to remove a series of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), e.g., naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and fluoranthene, from mixtures of organic solvents with different polarities and chemical structures was tested. The adsorption capacity increases with the increasing the SSA and pHPZC of the carbons, confirming the roles of dispersive interactions. The kinetics and thermodynamics of the adsorption of phenanthrene as a model compound of PAH on PFAC in the organic solvent were studied. The adsorption capacity became notably greater with an increase in contact time and initial phenanthrene concentration.