title: Determination of benzene in soft drinks and other beverages by isotope dilution headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
abstract: An automated, simple, and reproducible method was developed for the determination of benzene in soft drinks, based on isotope dilution headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the selected-ion monitoring mode. The method was used to assess benzene levels in samples of 124 soft drinks and beverages. Benzene was not detected in 60% of the 124 products. The average benzene levels in 6 products exceeded the Canadian maximum acceptable concentration of 5 microg/L for benzene in drinking water, and 2 of the 6 products had benzene levels above the World Health Organization guideline of 10 microg/L. The highest level of benzene, 23 microg/L, was found in a soft drink product specifically marketed to children.
authors.affiliation: Food Directorate, Health Canada, Food Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Banting Building, AL: 2203D, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0L2, Canada.
authors.forename: Xu-Liang
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seaman
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tague
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Becalski
mesh_terms: D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis*; D001628:Beverages; D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D005506:Food Contamination; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D007221:Industry; D007477:Ions; D007554:Isotopes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D007554:Isotopes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water; D001554:Benzene