Quantitative Analysis and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry from Herbs and Spices Distributed in South Korea

Résumé fourni par la source

In this study, four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (4PAHs: benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)) were quantified in 110 herb and spice products marketed in South Korea. A validated gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method achieved high sensitivity with limits of detection (LOD) ranging from 0.08 to 0.18 µg/kg and limits of quantification (LOQ) ranging from 0.24 to 0.55 µg/kg, with recoveries consistent with the Association of Official Analytical Chemists guidelines. Among the tested items, oregano contained the highest BaP concentrations with 7.13 µg/kg, while overall concentrations of the sum of 4PAHs remained below European Union limits. The BaP-based toxic equivalent (TEQBaP) and the toxic equivalent for the sum of 4PAHs (TEQΣ4PAHs) were 7.13 and 7.50 µg/kg, respectively, with oregano showing the highest values. Risk assessment using the margin of exposure (MOE) showed all values exceeded 106, indicating negligible health concern. These findings provide a basis for continuous monitoring and regulatory management of PAHs in herbs and spices.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.