Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in the Italian diet

Abstract

The content of total and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Italian foods was measured. The highest levels of PAHs were found in pizza baked in wood-burning ovens and barbecued beef and pork. Relatively high levels were also found in beet greens and squash, apples and bread, fried beef, pork and rabbit, cured meats and chocolate. Conversely low levels were detected in potatoes and cooked fish, beverages and eggs. The daily intake of total and carcinogenic PAHs also was calculated by multiplying the average consumption of each food by its mean concentration of PAHs. Cereal and milk products, meat, vegetables and fruits were the highest contributors to total PAH intake, since these products are the most important dietary components in Italy. The calculated total dietary PAH intake was 3 micrograms/day per person. The calculated intake of carcinogenic PAHs was 1.4 microgram/day per person. The dietary intake of PAHs was high compared with the calculated respiratory intake (370 ng/day) owing to polluted city air in Italy. These results confirm that food is the major source of human exposure to PAHs, due in particular to the high consumption of contaminated cereal products.

Direct measurement of the glucuronide conjugate of 1-hydroxypyrene in human urine by using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

“…Addition of 0.1% HCOOH increased retention of the analyte and decreased the detection sensitivity because of the ionization suppression of the glucuronic acid moiety. Addition of 0.01% NH 4 OH to the mobile phase had little effect on retention and sensitivity, whereas the addition of NH 4 OH decreased the interfering peaks on the chromatogram derived from the urine samples. Therefore, a gradient elution using water and methanol containing 0.01% NH 4 OH was applied for the LC/MS/MS analysis.…”

“…Addition of 0.01% NH 4 OH to the mobile phase had little effect on retention and sensitivity, whereas the addition of NH 4 OH decreased the interfering peaks on the chromatogram derived from the urine samples. Therefore, a gradient elution using water and methanol containing 0.01% NH 4 OH was applied for the LC/MS/MS analysis. The instrumental detection limit of 1-OHP-G was 0.13 fmol/injection (signal-to-noise ratio >3).…”

“…In this study, a mixture of water and methanol was used as the mobile phase, and the effect of the addition of HCOOH or NH 4 OH on the sensitivity and retention time of the analyte was examined. Addition of 0.1% HCOOH increased retention of the analyte and decreased the detection sensitivity because of the ionization suppression of the glucuronic acid moiety.…”

“…PAHs are formed during the incomplete combustion of organic matter, and humans are exposed to PAHs from various sources, including occupational environments, dietary sources, cigarette smoking, fossil fuels and others [2][3][4]. PAHs are readily absorbed into the body through the skin, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract.…”

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) in Olive Oils and Other Vegetable Oils; Potential for Carcinogenesis

“…Since diet is considered to be the major non-occupational source of PAH for non-smokers (Lodovici et al, 1995), several studies have been carried out to determine the level of intake associated with a normal or average human diet. Meat and meat products, cereals, and oils and fats have been suggested to be PAH main sources in the diet (Dennis et al, 1991).…”