title: Estimation of nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in foods.
abstract: A method is described for the sample clean-up and estimation of nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAH) in foods. The analysis involves the novel use of a coupled capillary gas chromatograph/thermal energy analyser and provides a detection limit for 1-nitropyrene of 12 pg (equivalent to 0.02 micrograms/kg for a 50-g sample). Only 3 out of 24 samples contained detectable quantities of nitro-PAHs; these were in the range 0.2-2.0 micrograms/kg. In contrast to the widespread occurrence of the parent PAHs in foodstuffs, the presence of nitro-derivatives appears to be minimal.
mesh_terms: D000873:Anthracenes / Q000032:analysis; D001937:Brassica / Q000032:analysis; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D005506:Food Contamination; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000032:analysis; D013662:Tea / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds; D011721:Pyrenes; D013662:Tea; C035016:9-nitroanthracene; C032668:1-nitropyrene