title: Development of a QuEChERS-Based Method for Determination of Carcinogenic 2-Nitrofluorene and 1-Nitropyrene in Rice Grains and Vegetables: A Comparative Study with Benzo[a]pyrene.
abstract: Nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants attracting increasing attention because of their potent mutagenicity to humans. Previous studies of nitro-PAHs focused on investigating their formation mechanisms and detecting them in atmospheric environment; however, few studies have reported their occurrence in food samples, and regulations on nitro-PAHs are still lacking. We report in this study the development and application of a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method for determination of nitro-PAHs in rice and vegetable samples. Analysis of the collected samples by the validated method revealed 1-nitropyrene and 2-nitrofluorene were widespread food contaminants. A comparative study with benzo[a]pyrene, the commonly used marker for PAH exposure, showed that carcinogenic nitro-PAHs existed in rice and vegetables at similar concentrations. Dietary exposure risk, which was estimated based on the surveillance data, suggested 3.28-5.03 ng/kg/day of nitro-PAHs exposure for Hong Kong citizens from rice grains and vegetables.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Science Programs and ‡Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology , Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kailin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Environmental Science Programs and ‡Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology , Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Wan
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8479-3172
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D006723:Hong Kong; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005449:Fluorenes; D011721:Pyrenes; C019499:2-nitrofluorene; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; C032668:1-nitropyrene
keywords: HPLC-FLD; QuEChERS; dietary exposure; nitro-PAHs; rice; vegetables