EU marker polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in food supplements: analytical approach and occurrence

Several food supplements comprising botanical, oil and bee products collected from retail markets in different countries were tested for the occurrence of 4 EU marker PAHs (benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene and benzo[a]pyrene). A robust GC/MS based stable-isotope dilution method was used taken into account the differences in the type of matrices. Accuracy of the results was assessed by implementing several quality control tools. Sixty eight samples out of 94 analyzed products exceeded the level of 0.5 μg/kg for the sum of the four EU marker PAHs (ΣPAH4). Benzo[a]pyrene exceeded the limit of quantification in 49 samples. The PAH with the highest abundance in all products was chrysene. On average, propolis extracts and other bee products showed relatively high levels of ΣPAH4 (mean 188.2 μg/kg), whereas the contamination levels of fish oil supplements were very low or mostly undetectable. Considerably high ΣPAH4 amounts found in some samples could remarkably increase the daily exposure of consumers to PAHs, demonstrating the need for continuous monitoring of ΣPAH4 in food supplements.

WENZL Thomas;  ZELINKOVA Zuzana; 

2015-11-25

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

JRC92578

1944-0049,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC92578,   

10.1080/19440049.2015.1087059,