FOOD. Science. Technology. Quality

Food. SCIENCE. Technology. Quality

Food. Science. TECHNOLOGY. Quality

Food. Science. Technology. QUALITY

Authors

MARTA CIECIERSKA, MIECZYSŁAW W. OBIEDZIŃSKI, MARTA ALBIN

Title

Teas’ contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Abstract

The objective of this research was to perform studies dealing with contamination of teas by PAHs: 4 compounds from the group of light PAHs listed by EPA and 15 compounds listed by The Scientific Committee on Food UE. The material investigated were popular brands of green, red and black teas. Methodology applied for the study consisted of PAHs’ isolation from the food matrix, extract’s clean up from interfering compounds using GPC – gel permeation chromatography and qualitative-quantitative PAHs’ determination by liquid chromatography with selective detectors (HPLC–FLD/DAD). Significant differences in contamination level of particular brands of teas in all analyzed kinds of teas (green, red, black) were stated. Similar quality profiles of PAHs with very high level of light PAHs in summary content of these compounds were obtained. Among all teas under investigation, benzo[a]pyrene and the most carcinogenic polyarenes, namely dibenzopyrenes were not detected.

Keywords

tea, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), food contaminants

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