title: 2-acetyl-4-tetrahydroxybutylimidazole and 4-methylimidazole in caramel colours, vinegar and beverages in China.
abstract: A survey of 2-acetyl-4-tetrahydroxybutylimidazole (THI) and 4-methylimidazole (4-MeI) concentrations in caramel colours, vinegar and beverages from the Chinese market were performed by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). In total, 117 samples, 78 caramel colour samples, 23 vinegar samples and 16 beverage samples, were investigated. The results indicated that 4-MeI was found in all samples. THI was found in a part of the samples and also the level range was lower compared to 4-MeI. In caramel colour samples, the concentration level range of THI was 1.0-74.3 mg/kg and of 4-MeI was 1.5-1291.8 mg/kg. In vinegar samples, the concentration level range of THI was 13.3-119.2 µg/L and for 4-MeI 111.2-2077.8 µg/L. In beverage samples, THI was only found in two samples and the concentration level range of 4-MeI was 10.8-307.1 µg/L. THI and 4-MeI levels in vinegar and beverages were rather low compared with those in caramel colour samples. These observations can be helpful for evaluating individual exposure to THI and 4-MeI from caramel colours, vinegar and beverages in China.
authors.affiliation: a Hebei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention , Shijiazhuang , China.
authors.forename: Liying
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Beibei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Yinping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Fengqi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000592:standards; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis*; D002681:China; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003212:Condiments / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D005506:Food Contamination; D005513:Food Inspection / Q000379:methods; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000032:analysis*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D015416:Maillard Reaction; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D002273:Carcinogens; D007093:Imidazoles; C569050:caramel coloring; C049929:2-acetyl-4(5)-tetrahydroxybutylimidazole; D019342:Acetic Acid; C023439:4-methylimidazole
keywords: 2-acetyl-4-tetrahydroxybutylimidazole; 4-methylimidazole; UPLC-MS/MS; beverage; caramel colour; vinegar