Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in vegetable oils from unconventional sources

The levels of 4 compounds from the group of light PAHs listed by the US EPA and 15 PAHs listed by the EU Scientific Committee on Food were determined in selected unconventional oils. PAHs determination was performed by high-pressure liquid chromatography with fluorescent and diode array detectors (HPLC-FLD/DAD). Similar quality profiles of PAHs, with light PAHs being predominant, were stated. Total content of 19 PAHs varied from 23.41 (poppy seed oil) to 234.30 mu g/kg (pumpkin seed oil). In most analyzed products, from the group of 15 PAHs benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene and benzo[k]fluoranthene were detected. Benzo[a]pyrene was detected in amaranth, pumpkin, sesame, blackseed and borage oil, whereas in pumpkin seed oil its concentration was about 8 times higher than the maximum tolerable limit (2 mu g/kg) stated in Commission Regulation (EU) No. 835/2011. The sum of benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene and chrysene, for which the maximum tolerable limit has been set in Commission Regulation (EU) No. 835/2011 at the level of 10 mu g/kg, were found in the range from 0.00 (linseed oil) to 35.03 mu g/kg (pumpkin seed oil). (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.