Simultaneous Determination of 18 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Daily Foods (Hanoi Metropolitan Area) by Gas Chromatography⁻Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Multivariate Optimization and Validation of a Modified QuEChERS Method for Determination of PAHs and PCBs in Grilled Meat by GC-MS

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are recognized as carcinogens and mutagenic food contaminants that threaten public health. As for food safety aspects, control of these contaminants in processed and fatty food is necessary. In this study, eleven factors were screened by the Plackett-Burman design, and four variables were chosen to optimize with the central composite design (CCD) for the improvement of extraction and cleanup procedures of these food contaminants. The optimized variables include 5 g of sample, 2 mL mixture of 2/2/1 ethyl acetate/acetone/isooctane, 1.6 g of ammonium formate, 0.9 g of sodium chloride, and 0.25 g of sorbent Z-Sep+. A 5 min cleanup vortex time with the spike calibration curve strategy, analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), led to the validated limits of quantification (LOQs) for 16 PAHs and 36 PCBs of 0.5-2 and 0.5-1 ng/g, respectively, and recoveries of 72-120%, with an average relative standard deviation (%RSD) of 17, for PAHs, and 80-120%, with an %RSD of 3, for PCBs. The method introduces excellent accuracy, precision, and efficiency, and minimizes matrix effects, and ensures a control procedure, adopted with international standards, for food authorities to determine the contaminants of interest in processed meat, and consequently, prevent food-borne disease to improve public health indices.

Occurrence, biomagnification, and risk assessment of parabens and their metabolites in marine fish: The case study of Vietnam

Parabens have emerged as the primary preservative of choice in numerous consumer goods, prompting growing apprehension regarding their potential for human exposure. The study employed the optimized QuEChERs sample extraction method and the UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS system to generate the initial contamination profiles of seven parabens and their four metabolites in a total of 114 fish samples found along the coastline of Vietnam. The findings of the study indicated that methylparaben was the predominant substance detected, exhibiting the highest concentration in the largehead hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus) species at 32.8 ng g-1 dry weight (dw). Additionally, the metabolites with the highest detectable concentrations in the largehead hairtail were found to be 4-HB and 3,4-DHB, with levels of 8822.0 ng g-1 dw and 3490.8 ng g-1 dw, respectively. Besides, the study reveals notable variations in paraben concentrations across three distinct regions in Vietnam, namely the Central, North, and South (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.05). The trophic magnification factors (TMF) for methylparaben, ethylparaben, ethyl protocatechuate, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid exhibited values exceeding 1, indicating substantial biomagnification of these substances within the marine food web of Vietnam. Additionally, noteworthy positive associations have been observed between methylparaben and ethylparaben, as well as their respective metabolites. Based on the findings of the study, it can be concluded that there is no direct impact of seafood consumption on human health in Vietnam.

Effect of Smoking and Grilling on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Ghanaian Tilapia

The study assessed 18 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in O. niloticus (Nile tilapia) sampled from an aquaculture cage (farm) and a wild catch. The PAHs in fish samples were analysed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Four PAHs (in order of levels: Indeno [1,2,3-cd] pyrene > Anthracene > Perylene > Pyrene; 100-0.8 µg/kg) and only one PAH (Pyrene: 4 µg/kg) were detected in raw samples from the cage and wild catch respectively. Chargrilling significantly increased Pyrene levels after cooking (wild: 4-11 µg/kg; cage: 5-23 µg/kg, p < .05), and likewise Anthracene levels in cage samples (13-153 µg/kg) but decreased Indeno [1,2,3-cd] pyrene levels from 100 ± 20 to 1.2 ± 0.2 µg/kg in cage samples. Smoking significantly increased 13 to 15 PAH congeners' levels (from < 1.0 up to 340 µg/kg) and total PAHs (wild: 4 to 840 µg/kg; cage: 110 to 560 µg/kg), and decreased Indeno [1,2,3-cd] pyrene (100 to 1.3 µg/kg) in cage samples but showed no effect on Benzo [g, h, i] perylene and Dibenzo [a, h] anthracene levels in all samples. For smoked samples, Benzo [a] pyrene and PAH4 (Benzo [a] anthracene, Chrysene, Benzo [b] fluoranthene, and Benzo [a] pyrene) exceeded the respective maximum permissible limits of 2 µg/kg and 12 µg/kg, and significantly influenced the levels of carcinogenic PAHs (CPAH, 135-170 µg/kg). Nevertheless, the Excess Cancer Risk (ECR) estimates, from a conservative approach, were far below the threshold (10-4), implying that consuming smoked or grilled tilapia from the study site is safe.

Association of food intake with a risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: a cross-sectional study

Background

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a common liver disease, the risk of which can be increased by poor diet. The objective of this study was to evaluate the associations between food items and MAFLD, and to propose reasonable dietary recommendations for the prevention of MAFLD.

Methods

Physical examination data were collected from April 2015 through August 2017 at Nanping First Hospital (n = 3,563). Dietary intakes were assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The association between food intake and the risk of MAFLD was assessed by using the inverse probability weighted propensity score.

Results

Beverages (soft drinks and sugar-sweetened beverages) and instant noodles were positively associated with MAFLD risk, adjusting for smoking, drinking, tea intake, and weekly hours of physical activity [adjusted odds ratio (ORadjusted): 1.568; P = 0.044; ORadjusted: 4.363; P = 0.001]. Milk, tubers, and vegetables were negatively associated with MAFLD risk (ORadjusted: 0.912; P = 0.002; ORadjusted: 0.633; P = 0.007; ORadjusted: 0.962; P = 0.028). In subgroup analysis, the results showed that women [odds ratio (OR): 0.341, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.172-0.676] had a significantly lower risk of MAFLD through consuming more tubers than men (OR: 0.732, 95% CI: 0.564-0.951).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that reducing consumption of beverages (soft drinks and sugar-sweetened beverages) and instant noodles, and consuming more milk, vegetables, and tubers may reduce the risk of MAFLD.

Reducing the Risk of Acrylamide and Other Processing Contaminant Formation in Wheat Products

Wheat is a staple crop, consumed worldwide as a major source of starch and protein. Global intake of wheat has increased in recent years, and overall, wheat is considered to be a healthy food, particularly when products are made from whole grains. However, wheat is almost invariably processed before it is consumed, usually via baking and/or toasting, and this can lead to the formation of toxic processing contaminants, including acrylamide, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Acrylamide is principally formed from free (soluble, non-protein) asparagine and reducing sugars (glucose, fructose and maltose) within the Maillard reaction and is classified as a Group 2A carcinogen (probably carcinogenic to humans). It also has neurotoxic and developmental effects at high doses. HMF is also generated within the Maillard reaction but can also be formed via the dehydration of fructose or caramelisation. It is frequently found in bread, biscuits, cookies, and cakes. Its molecular structure points to genotoxicity and carcinogenic risks. PAHs are a large class of chemical compounds, many of which are genotoxic, mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic. They are mostly formed during frying, baking and grilling due to incomplete combustion of organic matter. Production of these processing contaminants can be reduced with changes in recipe and processing parameters, along with effective quality control measures. However, in the case of acrylamide and HMF, their formation is also highly dependent on the concentrations of precursors in the grain. Here, we review the synthesis of these contaminants, factors impacting their production and the mitigation measures that can be taken to reduce their formation in wheat products, focusing on the role of genetics and agronomy. We also review the risk management measures adopted by food safety authorities around the world.

Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Tea Leaves Using Magnetic Approach

A rapid and efficient method using an alkyl-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles-based extraction technique combined with Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography was developed for the detection of trace amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in tea leaves. As a popular coating for chromatographic column packing materials, C₁₈-alkyl has been demonstrated to be effective in separating polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Additionally, the magnetism of the nanomaterials accelerates the extraction process while their high surface ratio enables desirable dispersity in the sample matrix. Meanwhile, the adsorbents can be washed and reused 30 times without compromising recovery, which greatly reduces the budget. The effects of various parameters were investigated and optimized, and the recoveries for five analytes were in the range of 84.8-105.4%. The RSD of intra-day and inter-day were below 11.9% and 6.8%, respectively. The limits of detection and limits of quantification ranged from 1.69-9.97 ng g^-1 and 5.12-30.21 ng g^-1, indicating satisfactory sensitivity. Thus, the proposed methodology is rapid, highly efficient, and economical, and it expands the application of magnetic cleanup approaches in complex food matrices.

Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography as a Bioanalytical Platform for Drug Discovery and Analysis

Over the last decades, comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) has emerged as a significant separation tool for high-resolution analysis of disease-associated metabolites and pharmaceutically relevant molecules. This review highlights recent advances of GC×GC with different detection modalities for drug discovery and analysis, which ideally improve the screening and identification of disease biomarkers, as well as monitoring of therapeutic responses to treatment in complex biological matrixes. Selected recent GC×GC applications that focus on such biomarkers and metabolite profiling of the effects of drug administration are covered. In particular, the technical overview of recent GC×GC implementation with hyphenation to the key mass spectrometry (MS) technologies that provide the benefit of enhanced separation dimension analysis with MS domain differentiation is discussed. We conclude by highlighting the challenges in GC×GC for drug discovery and development with perspectives on future trends.

Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Vietnamese takeaway coffee: effects of coffee variety, roasting temperature and time

The research goal was to estimate the level of risk to human health posed by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Vietnamese takeaway coffee. A variety of roasted coffee beans were collected and tested for the presence of PAHs in various takeaway locations throughout Vietnam. Furthermore, the effect of roasting conditions on PAH concentrations in Vietnamese Robusta coffee was also studied and demonstrated. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, a modern, accurate, and fast method, was used to determine the research results. Six PAHs, namely naphthalene, anthracene, pyrene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and benz[a]anthracene, were found in the 100 collected samples, with average concentrations (μg/kg dry weight) of 943.7 ± 40.3, 195.1 ± 4.9, 36.1 ± 1.1, 33.3 ± 2.2, 28.2 ± 1.7, and 2.0 ± 0.1, respectively. It was found that the tested samples were almost free of PAH4 contamination. The research showed that the total value of PAH quantifications in Robusta coffee increased with increasing roasting temperature and decreased with increasing roasting time. In addition, the calculated value of the total hazard quotient (THQ) was less than 1, and the obtained value of the incremental lifetime carcinogenic risk (ILCR) did not exceed 1·10^-5, meaning that coffee consumers in Vietnam are safe from exposure to PAHs present in the investigated coffee beans.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): Updated aspects of their determination, kinetics in the human body, and toxicity

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are legacy pollutants of considerable public health concern. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons arise from natural and anthropogenic sources and are ubiquitously present in the environment. Several PAHs are highly toxic to humans with associated carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. Further, more severe harmful effects on human- and environmental health have been attributed to the presence of high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs, that is PAHs with molecular mass greater than 300 Da. However, more research has been conducted using low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs). In addition, no HMW PAHs are on the priority pollutants list of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), which is limited to only 16 PAHs. However, limited analytical methodologies for separating and determining HMW PAHs and their potential isomers and lack of readily available commercial standards make research with these compounds challenging. Since most of the PAH kinetic data originate from animal studies, our understanding of the effects of PAHs on humans is still minimal. In addition, current knowledge of toxic effects after exposure to PAHs may be underrepresented since most investigations focused on exposure to a single PAH. Currently, information on PAH mixtures is limited. Thus, this review aims to critically assess the current knowledge of PAH chemical properties, their kinetic disposition, and toxicity to humans. Further, future research needs to improve and provide the missing information and minimize PAH exposure to humans.

Recent advances in the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in food and water

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a class of harmful and persistent organic contaminant, are widely distributed in the environment and eventually accumulated in water and food. Also, they are formed in different varieties and varying amounts during processing of food depending on the food composition, cooking method and processing condition. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), various PAHs are classified under Group 1 to 3 category, with Group 1 designated as carcinogenic to humans, Group 2A as probable carcinogen, Group 2B as possible carcinogen and Group 3 as noncarcinogenic. Therefore, it is imperative to develop rapid and highly sensitive analytical methods for determination of PAHs in food and water. This article aims to overview the recent advances of various chromatographic methods as well as electrochemical and SERS-based optical sensing methods for analysis of PAHs in food and water. Initially, several conventional sample preparation methods along with the advanced extraction for isolation of PAHs were summarized, followed by reviewing various gas chromatographic methods coupled with various detection techniques for PAHs analysis in various food products including meat/meat products, seafood, oil, milk/milk products, baby foods, honey, vegetable, cocoa products, tea/coffee, juice, rice, flour, noodle and cake. In addition, high performance liquid chromatographic methods coupled with fluorescence, diode array or mass/tandem mass detection techniques as well as an emerging supercritical fluid chromatographic technique employed for determination of PAHs in different food and water matrices were also overviewed. Finally, various electrochemical sensors and SERS-based optical sensors developed recently for onsite detection of PAHs were tabulated and discussed. Thus, this review article can provide a research update on chromatography and sensor-based analytical methods for PAH analysis as well as enable elucidation of research gaps for future studies.

Simultaneous Determination of Multi-Class Pesticide Residues and PAHs in Plant Material and Soil Samples Using the Optimized QuEChERS Method and Tandem Mass Spectrometry Analysis

New analytical approaches to the simultaneous identification and quantification of 94 pesticides and 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in five representative matrices (pepper, apple, lettuce, wheat, and soil) were developed. The analyses were based on gas chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The procedure was optimized by changing the solvent used during the extraction, from acetonitrile to the acetone: n-hexane mixture at a volume ratio of 1:4 (v/v), as well as the use of a reduced amount of water during the extraction of compounds from cereals. An additional modification was the use of florisil instead of GCB in the sample cleanup step. A full method validation study was performed, at two concentration levels (LOQ and 1000 × LOQ), which showed satisfactory results for all analytes from the PAHs group, with recoveries ranging from 70.7-115.1%, and an average RSD of 3.9%. Linearity was tested in the range of 0.001-1.000 mg/kg and showed coefficients of determination (R2) ≥ 0.99 for all PAHs. Satisfactory recovery and precision parameters (LOQ and 100 × LOQ) were achieved for almost all analytes from the pesticide group in the range of 70.1-119.3% with the mean RSD equal to 5.9%. The observed linearity for all analytes in the concentration range of 0.005-1.44 mg/kg was R2 ≥ 0.99, with the exception of famoxadone, chizalofop-p-ethyl, prothioconazole, spirodiclofen, tefluthrin, and zoxamid. The extended uncertainties were estimated, using a top-down approach of 9.9% (average) and 15.3% (average) for PAHs and pesticides samples, respectively (the coverage factor k = 2, the 95% confidence level). Ultimately, the method was successfully applied to determine pesticide residues in commercial samples of fruit, vegetables and grain, and soil samples for PAHs, which were collected from selected places in the Podkarpacie region. A total of 38 real samples were tested, in which 10 pesticides and 13 PAHs were determined. Proposed changes allow us to shorten the sample preparation time (by 20%) and to reduce the consumption of organic solvents (by 17%). The use of florisil for sample cleanup, instead of GCB, improves the recovery of compounds with flat particles.

Processing contaminants in wheat-based foods - a systematic review, meta-analysis and bibliometric analysis

Wheat is one of the main cereals grown around the world and is the basis for several foods such as bread, cakes and pasta. The consumption of these foods raises a concern with food safety, as toxic substances such as acrylamide, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are formed during their processing. To assess the occurrence of processing contaminants in wheat-based foods, a systematic search was carried out in four databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus. Of the 1479 results, 28 were included for a meta-analysis. Most studies (69.7%) evaluated acrylamide in bread, cookies, and pasta, while PAHs (26.2%) were determined mainly in wheat grains and pasta. HMF was the least determined contaminant (4.1%), with only four studies on cookies included in the meta-analysis. The highest concentration was for acrylamide (136.29 µg·kg-1) followed by HMF (70.59 µg·kg-1) and PAHs (0.11 µg·kg-1). Acrylamide is the main processing contaminant researched, and no studies on the subject have been found in commercial samples in some regions of the world. This result shows a gap in the dates available about process contaminants in wheat-based foods and how the levels can change depending on the process parameters and the ingredients used.

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.

Honeybees as a biomonitoring species to assess environmental airborne pollution in different socioeconomic city districts

Honeybees have been used in Europe as environmental bioindicators for heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, their potential has been little explored in North America, especially between environments which have similar pollution levels. Many urban residents and stakeholders are concerned with air quality, mainly in regard to gradients of exposure to industrial pollution between deprived and privileged subpopulation. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the use of honeybees as bioindicators to assess exposure to heavy metals and PAHs in Québec City, Canada, in different socioeconomic districts of Quebec City (deprivation index). Honeybees were sampled over a 5-month period (May to September) at six locations distributed in two urban areas that are distinct geomorphologically and socioeconomically (lower town socio-economically deprived and upper town socioeconomically privileged) and two control rural locations. Six PAHs were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), while four heavy metals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Arsenic was the only measured pollutant that showed a significant gradient of exposure between rural and urban environments, but also between the two urban areas. Furthermore, we were able to detect significant differences at certain sampling times for heavy metals and PAHs. Overall, the results show that honeybees are sensitive enough to detect differences between the differential urban environments of a city presumed to have similar pollution levels and therefore could be used when potential socio-environmental inequalities are present.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in grilled foods from Kermanshah province

Grilling is one of the most traditional ways of cooking foods, especially meat, which can produce a number of carcinogenic compounds. This study was to identify the pattern of kebab consumption and its PAHs among a selection of the Iranian population. Kebab consumption pattern were assessed using a validated questionnaire. A sample of three types of popular kebabs, including Koobideh (minced meat), Barg (crushed meat pieces), and Juje (chopped chicken pieces), was collected from each restaurant and then transferred to a laboratory to measure PAHs. The median benzo[a]pyrene concentrations (7.85 μg/kg) and the sum of benzo[a]pyrene, chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene, and benzo[b]fluoranthene concentrations (15.74 μg/kg) were higher than the maximum level imposed by the Commission of the European Communities. A significant relationship between Barg kebab prepared with charcoal and the amounts of anthracene, benzo[a]anthracene, dibenzo[a,h]pyrene, and benzo[g,h,i]perylene was found. The highest PAHs produced in samples prepared with charcoal was dibenzo[a,h]pyrene.

In-a-syringe surfactant-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in supramolecular solvent from tea infusion

In this work, an automated surfactant-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction approach based on in-a-syringe concept was developed for the first time. The procedure assumed mixing aqueous sample phase and hydrophilic emulsion containing hexanoic acid and sodium hexanoate in a syringe of flow system. Sodium hexanoate acted as an emulsifier in dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction process and it was required for the formation of supramolecular solvent phase. After spontaneous separation of phases in the syringe, the upper supramolecular solvent phase containing target analytes was withdrawn and analyzed. The procedure was applied to the determination of 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in tea infusion by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. It was shown that the supramolecular solvent provided effective extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and fast phase separation in the syringe without centrifugation. The enrichment factors were in the range of 38-46. The automated microextraction procedure lasted 4 min including syringe cleaning. Under optimal experimental conditions the linear detection ranges were found to be 0.05-50.00 μg L^-1 with limits of detection calculated from a blank test, based on 3σ, 0.02-0.04 μg L^-1. Recovery values in the range of 85-105% were achieved for tea infusion with a reproducibility expressed as RSD less than 4.1%.

Concentration and health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in commercial tea and coffee samples marketed in Iran

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the probabilistic health risk and the concentration of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in commercial tea and coffee samples. For determining the mentioned contaminants in sixty-four samples, a reliable and sensitive technique was validated and developed. The technique is established on magnetic solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (MSPE/GC-MS). The maximum mean of ƩPAHs in coffee samples was 13.75 ± 2.90 μg kg^-1, while the minimum mean ƩPAHs in tea samples was 4.77 ± 1.01 μg kg^-1. The mean concentration of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in samples ranged from 0.64 to 2.07 μg kg^-1 which was lower than that of standard levels (10 μg kg^-1) established by the European Union (EU). The Monte Carlo simulation results showed that the actual target hazard quotient (THQ) for the adult and children was equal to 1.63E-04 and 1.67E-04, respectively; hence, non-carcinogenic health risk for consumers is negligible. The result of actual incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) was lower than the limits of safe risk (1E-4), indicating no notable possibility of cancer risk due to the digestion of tea and coffee for children and adults. Therefore, it can be concluded that the amount of contamination of popular commercial coffee and tea available in the Iranian market with PAHs is often similar to that found in other countries and was lower than the standard of EU. Thus, the processing conditions of these products must be controlled to prevent the formation of PAHs due to the suspicion of carcinogenicity and mutation.