QuEChERS Method Followed by dispersed Solid Phase Extraction Method for Gas Chromatographic-Mass Spectrometric Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Milk

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) commonly refers to a large class of organic compounds containing two or more fused aromatic rings made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms. PAHs are formed and released during incomplete combustion or pyrolysis (burning) of organic matter such as waste or food, during industrial processes, fuel burning and other human activities. PAHs are also formed in natural processes, such as carbonization. This study aimed to determine the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in both commercial packed milk and raw milk from several cities all over Egypt. It was found that the concentrations of PAHs in the raw milk was higher than commercial packed milk. A number of PAHs have shown carcinogenic effects in experimental animals and it has been concluded that benzo[a]pyrene is carcinogenic to humans. The analysis was carried using a modified QuEChERS procedure followed by injection on gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. The results showed that 88% of packaged milk contained one or more compound of PAH, and in raw milk 93% of the samples contained one or more compound of PAH. The specificity and sensitivity of GC/MS technique was highly significant of approximately 99%. The applicability of gas chromatography was clear, mostly allPAHs compounds were detected and analyzed properly.