Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using different extraction methods and HPLC-FLD detection in smoked and grilled meat products

Effect of incorporation strategies of sesamol and chitosan nanoparticle-methylcellulose edible coating on the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels in deep-fried meatballs

This study investigated the impact of incorporation of sesamol and chitosan nanoparticle-methylcellulose (CSNP-MC) edible coating on the moisture loss, oil uptake, lipid and protein oxidation, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels in deep-fried meatballs. Sesamol was added to meatballs at either 0 mg/kg (control) or 30 mg/kg meat by three methods, i.e., (i) mixing sesamol into the meat mince without coating (SE), (ii) mixing sesamol into meat mince and followed by coating of the meatballs with 1 % CSNP-MC (SE-CT), and (iii) dissolving sesamol in CSNP-MC and the meatballs were coated with the mixture (SE-M-CT). Due to the barrier properties of the edible coating, meatballs from the SE-CT and SE-M-CT groups had lower levels of moisture loss, oil uptake and lipid oxidation compared to the control (no sesamol and no coating) and SE groups (P < 0.05). In addition, the SE-CT treatment resulted in lower protein oxidation and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) level, leading to reduced PAH4 levels and toxic equivalent quotient (TEQBaP) in the meatballs compared to the SE-M-CT treatment. These findings suggested that the incorporation of antioxidant of sesamol within the meat mince combined with edible coatings is an effective strategy to enhance the quality and safety of deep-fried meatballs by reducing oil uptake, and decreasing lipid and protein oxidation, PAH levels and the carcinogenic risk of PAHs by meatball consumption.

An integrated enrichment-enhancement membrane SERS substrate for rapid detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aquatic environments

This paper proposes an integrated dual-functional membrane SERS substrate Ag-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin/rGO/nanocellulose (Ag-HP-β-CD/rGO/NCF), for the rapid simultaneous enrichment and detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in aquatic environments. This composite membrane SERS substrate achieves high SERS activity through the synergistic electromagnetic and chemical enhancement of hybridized Ag-HP-β-CD nanoparticles and rGO nanosheets. The Ag-HP-β-CD/rGO hybrid structure is then firmly anchored within a robust three-dimensional NCF framework, ensuring structural stability and signal uniformity. Furthermore, by combining the integrated membrane SERS substrate with a filtration device, target PAHs can be efficiently captured and enriched, leveraging the affinity interactions of HP-β-CD and the enrichment effect of delocalized π-electron system of rGO nanosheets, without complicated pretreatment of PAHs in water. Moreover, the performance of the SERS substrate is evaluated using pyrene as a probe molecule, demonstrating excellent uniformity (RSD 5.63 %), reproducibility (RSD 6.62 %) and time stability (RSD 4.81 % @ 10 min). Only one filtration is required to effectively enrich typical PAHs in aquatic environments, pyrene and fluoranthene, with detection limits as low as 9.89 μg/L and 11.21 μg/L respectively, and the entire enrichment and detection process can be completed within 15 min. The high-efficiency SERS platform promises on-site monitoring of persistent organic pollutants in aquatic environments.

Levels, enrichment characteristics, and health risks of halogenated and parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in traditional smoked pork

Chinese traditional smoked pork was contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and chlorinated and brominated PAHs (ClPAHs and BrPAHs; XPAHs) during the smoking process. Therefore, our study investigated the concentrations, enrichment characteristics, and health risks associated with PAHs, as well as ClPAHs and BrPAHs in Chinese traditional smoked pork. The total concentrations of PAHs, ClPAHs and BrPAHs in traditional smoked pork ranged from 90.0 to 79200 ng/g fat weight (fw), 23.6-2340 pg/g fw and 0.550-200 pg/g fw, respectively, which were significantly higher than their levels found in raw pork. Additionally, the concentrations of PAHs and XPAHs in the surface of smoked pork were higher than those in the inner parts. High-ring PAHs exhibited a greater enrichment compared to low-ring PAHs, and BrPAHs exhibited greater enrichment ability than ClPAHs in smoked pork. Furthermore, the ability of individual congeners to migrate from the surface to the inner parts of the smoked pork were varied. When the smoking fuels were similar, a longer smoking time resulted in higher concentrations of PAHs and XPAHs in smoked pork, while casing effectively reduced their concentrations. The correlation between XPAH and parent PAH concentrations indicated that chlorination of PAHs was one of the primary formation mechanisms of some monochlorinated PAHs. Over half of the smoked pork samples posed a potential carcinogenic risk, particularly the surface samples. It is recommended to remove the surface parts when consuming smoked pork and to improve traditional smoking methods to mitigate the health risks.

Electrochemical analysis of anticancer and antibiotic drugs in water and biological specimens

The increasing prevalence of pharmaceuticals in water and complex matrices necessitates accurate measurement and monitoring of their environmental contamination levels. This is crucial not only for environmental conservation but also for comprehending the intricate mechanisms involved and developing more effective treatment approaches. In this context, electrochemical techniques show significant potential for the detection of pharmaceuticals across various matrices. Specifically, voltammetry is advantageous due to its rapid, straightforward, and cost-effective nature, allowing for the simultaneous analysis of multiple anticancer and antibiotic drugs. By utilizing nanomaterial-modified electrochemical sensors, the sensitivity and selectivity of detection methods can be significantly improved. The small size and customizable properties of nanomaterials enable these sensors to identify trace amounts of drugs in diverse samples. However, challenges persist in achieving reliable and accurate electrochemical monitoring of drugs in water and biological samples. Biofluids such as saliva, urine, and blood/serum, along with environmental samples from lakes and rivers, often contain numerous interfering substances that can diminish analyte signals. This review examines electrochemical methods and their potential applications for detecting pharmaceuticals and their metabolites, while also addressing the mechanisms of action and harmful effects of these drugs on both ecosystems and human health. Recent developments in electrochemical sensors utilizing nanomaterials for the detection of health-threatening pharmaceutical contaminants are examined, providing important insights into their underlying mechanisms. The emphasis is placed on the detection of anticancer agents and antibiotics, which relies on the electrocatalytic properties of the sensor materials. Additionally, discussions on density functional theory studies are included, along with an exploration of the emerging challenges and future directions in this area, aimed at enhancing readers' comprehension of the field and underscoring the necessary actions for a sustainable future.

Content of Selected Harmful Metals (Zn, Pb, Cd) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Honeys from Apiaries Located in Urbanized Areas

The chemical composition of honey, and therefore its quality and properties, is influenced by many factors, including its botanical origin and the harvesting conditions-the location of the apiary, access to melliferous plants, the proximity of industrial infrastructure and communication routes, etc. This quality may be reduced by undesirable, toxic compounds that penetrate honey from a contaminated environment, such as heavy metals and residues from other environmental pollutants. Therefore, the aim of our research was to assess the quality of honeys from urbanized areas-in particular, to assess contamination with heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (PAHs). In total, 35 samples from six different apiaries located in urbanized areas were examined. The content of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn) was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), and the content of total PAHs as the sum of the concentrations of the compounds benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and benzo(a)pyrene was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). The average zinc content ranged from about 2 to 4.5 mg/kg, the average lead content ranged from 3.5 µg/kg to 388 µg/kg and the average cadmium content ranged from 0.5 to 14 µg/kg. It was found that all honeys contained certain amounts of harmful metals, and only lead exceeded the permissible limits. None of the samples tested contained sum content of PAHs exceeding 10 µg/kg of honey. Contrary to our expectations, the results obtained indicate that honeys from urbanized areas do not contain these harmful substances. In general, the presence of harmful metals does not, however, reduce honey's quality or its health value.

A vortex-assisted MSPD method for the extraction of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from shrimp with determination by GC-MS/MS

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic compounds with two or more condensed aromatic rings, formed from incomplete organic matter combustion. PAHs pose potential health risks due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic properties, accumulating in edible tissues of aquatic organisms, such as shrimp, which is extensively produced in the southern region of Rio Grande do Sul state (Brazil) and it is the most consumed seafood globally. Therefore, this study aimed to optimize and validate an analytical method for extracting 16 priority PAHs from shrimp samples using Vortex-Assisted Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion (VA-MSPD) with determination by Gas Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The optimized method, which uses a reused solid support, was validated according to INMETRO and SANTE guidelines. PAHs demonstrated adequate linearity with correlation coefficients > 0.99. The matrix effect was assessed, and 12 out of the 16 PAHs showed a matrix effect of less than ±20%. The method's quantification limits ranged from 6.67 to 33.35 ng g-1. Accuracy and precision showed recovery values ranging from 55 to 115% with relative standard deviation (RSD) lower than 17% for all PAHs. In the applicability, 11 PAHs were detected, such as benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[b]fluoranthene, and the ∑PAHs ranged from 25.14 to 79.52 ng g-1, confirming the environmental contamination in the region and the need for monitoring these contaminants in shrimp destined for human consumption.

Benzo (a) pyrene in infant foods: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and health risk assessment

Exposure of infants to chemicals during their development will have major effects on their health. One of the major exposures of infants to chemicals is through their food. The main structure of infant food is milk, which is high in fat. There is a possibility of accumulation of environmental pollution, including benzo (a) pyrene (BaP). In this systematic review, the amount of BaP in infant milk was surveyed for this purpose. The chosen keywords were: benzo (a) pyrene, BaP, Infant formula, dried milk, powdered milk, and baby food. A total of 46 manuscripts were found in the scientific database. After initial screening and quality assessment, 12 articles were selected for extraction of data. By meta-analysis, the total estimate of BaP in baby food was calculated to be 0.078 ± 0.006 μg/kg. Estimation of daily intake (EDI) and Hazard Quotient (HQ) for noncarcinogenic risk and Margin of exposure (MOE) for carcinogenic risk were also calculated for three age groups 0-6 months, 6-12 months, and 1-3 years. HQ was lower than 1 and MOE was more than 10,000 for three age groups. Therefore, there is no potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk for infant health.

In-tube solid-phase microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from refinery water samples using UiO-66/polyacrylonitrile electrospun nanofibers followed by high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection

A simple and quick fiber-in-tube solid-phase microextraction (FIT-SPME) was introduced for the extraction and determination of nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons followed by a high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detector in refinery water samples. For this purpose, a water-resistant metal-organic framework with a high surface area called UiO-66 has been applied in the form of an electrospun coating on stainless steel wires. After that, all the fibers were packed in the lumen of a stainless-steel tube to make the extraction phase. Both one variable at a time and experimental design methods have been used to optimize effective parameters on FIT-SPME. Under optimum conditions, the method demonstrated good linearity between 0.5 and 1000.0 µg/L with a coefficient of determination greater than 0.9906. Furthermore, the limits of detection values ranged from 0.2 to 1.5 µg/L. The intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations were < 8.4% and < 9.7%, respectively. Lastly, the proposed method was applied to extract and determine analytes in four refinery water samples as well as surface water containing high total dissolved solids, and well waters where satisfactory results have been obtained.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons' Impact on Crops and Occurrence, Sources, and Detection Methods in Food: A Review

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent a category of persistent organic pollutants that pose a global concern in the realm of food safety due to their recognized carcinogenic properties in humans. Food can be contaminated with PAHs that are present in water, air, or soil, or during food processing and cooking. The wide and varied sources of PAHs contribute to their persistent contamination of food, leading to their accumulation within these products. As a result, monitoring of the levels of PAHs in food is necessary to guarantee the safety of food products as well as the public health. This review paper attempts to give its readers an overview of the impact of PAHs on crops, their occurrence and sources, and the methodologies employed for the sample preparation and detection of PAHs in food. In addition, possible directions for future research are proposed. The objective is to provide references for the monitoring, prevention, and in-depth exploration of PAHs in food.

Spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water and sediment in the Ganga River: source diagnostics and health risk assessment on dietary exposure through a common carp fish Labeo rohita

We evaluated spatial distribution and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and sediments at four selected sites of the Ganga River. Also, we measured PAHs in muscle tissues of Rohu (Labeo rohita), the most common edible carp fish of the Ganga River and potential human health risk was addressed. Total concentration of PAHs (∑PAHs) in water was highest at Manika Site (1470.5 ng/L) followed by Knuj (630.0 ng/L) and lowest at Adpr (219.0 ng/L). A similar trend was observed for sediments with highest concentration of ∑PAHs at Manika (461.8 ng/g) and lowest at Adpr Site (94.59 ng/g). Among PAHs, phenanthrene (Phe) showed highest concentration in both water and sediment. Of the eight major carcinogenic contributors (∑PAH8C), Indeno (1,2,3-C,D) pyrene (InP) did appear the most dominant component accounting for 42% to this group at Manika Site. Isomer ratios indicated vehicular emission and biomass combustion as major sources of PAHs. The ∑PAHs concentrations in fish tissue ranged from 117.8 to 758.0 ng/g (fresh weight basis) where low molecular weight PAHs assumed predominance (above 80%). The risk level in fish tissues appeared highest at Manika Site and site-wise differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The ILCR (> 10-4) indicated carcinogenic risk in adults and children associated with BaP and DBahA at Manika Site and with BaP at Knuj Site. Overall, the concentrations exceeding permissible limit, carcinogenic potential and BaP equivalent all indicated carcinogenic risks associated with some individual PAHs. This merits attention because the Ganga River is a reservoir of fisheries.

Concentration and probabilistic health risk assessment of benzo(a)pyrene in extra virgin olive oils supplied in Tehran, Iran

One hundred and sixteen samples of extra virgin olive oils (VOOs) from markets of Tehran were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to detect the amount of benzo (a)pyrene. The values of LOD and LOQ were calculated as 0.03 and 0.05 µg/kg, respectively. The concentration of benzo (a) pyrene was from 0.03 to 0.95 µg/kg. The results indicate that the levels of benzo (a) pyrene are lower than the limits approved. Target Hazard quotient (THQ) and Margin of Exposure (MOE) were estimated. The mean of THQ for adults and children was 0.0006 and 0.0028 and also mean of MOE for adults and children was 43,503 and 9438, respectively. The probabilistic health risk shows that THQ is less than 1 value; hence consumers are not at non-cancer risk. The mean of MOE value for adults was more than 10,000 but for children was less than 10,000. Hence, children are at health risk borderline.

Surfactant-enhanced air-agitation liquid-liquid microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from edible oil using magnetic deep eutectic solvent prior to HPLC determination

Herein, an air-agitation liquid-liquid microextraction procedure was developed for the extraction of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from edible oil samples. In this study, the extraction procedure was achieved using a new magnetic deep eutectic solvent as the extraction solvent, in which there was no need for centrifugation. To enhance the rate of extraction of the analytes from the samples, the method was promoted by the use of surfactant addition. The extracted analytes were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector. The influence of various parameters on the extraction efficiency was studied by response surface methodology using a central composite design. Under optimal conditions, linear calibration curves for the target analytes were achieved in the range of 0.43-250 ng g-1. The limits of detection and quantification were in the ranges of 0.04-0.13 and 0.13-0.43 ng g-1, respectively. The repeatability of the method in terms of intra- and inter-day precision was ≤4.7% and ≤6.7%, respectively. The extraction recovery of the method ranged from 75 to 88%. The obtained results show that the proposed method is efficient for the analysis of the target analytes in various oil samples without obvious matrix effects. Pyrene was found in olive oil at a concentration of 42 ng g-1.

HPLC Analysis and Risk Assessment of 15 Priority PAHs in Human Blood Serum of COPD Patient from Urban and Rural Areas, Iasi (Romania)

One of the leading risk factors for environmental health problems is air pollution. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that this risk factor is associated with one of every nine deaths worldwide. Epidemiological studies conducted in this field have shown a solid connection between respiratory pathology and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure. COPD and asthma are respiratory diseases that were shown to have a strong association with exposure to PAHs. The purpose of the present study was to assess the serum levels of 15 PAHs in 102 COPD patients and to evaluate the results according to the residence environment of the investigated subjects. Analyses were carried out using a high-performance liquid chromatograph Nexera X2-Shimadzu Japan, which was equipped with an LC-30AD pump and an SIL-30AC autosampler. Spiked matrices, procedure blanks, spiked controls, and calibration standards in the acetonitrile were used as quality-assurance samples. Benzo(a)pyrene is the main representative of PAHs and was determined in higher concentrations in subjects with COPD versus the control group from the urban area (0.90/0.47 ng/mL) and rural area (0.73/0.44 ng/mL). The values obtained for the Benzo(a)pyrene-equivalent factor indicate a higher carcinogenic potential for patients diagnosed with COPD in urban areas compared to those in rural areas. These results could be due to traffic and vehicle emissions. This research identifies the need for legislative action to decrease semi-volatile organic compounds, especially PAHs, mainly in urban cities, in order to improve environmental management and health conditions.

The Effect of Direct and Indirect Barbecue Cooking on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Formation and Beef Quality

Herein, the effect of direct and indirect barbecue cooking processes, including different cooking degrees (medium and well done), on the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and on certain quality parameters (water content, cooking loss, pH, lipid oxidation) of beef meat was examined. While no significant effect (p > 0.05) of the cooking method was detected on the water content, cooking loss, ∑PAH4 [the sum of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), benzo[a]anthracene (BaA), chrysen (Chry), and benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF)], and ∑PAH8 [the sum of BaP, BaA, Chry, benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkF), dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (DahA), benzo[g,h,i]perylene (Bghip), and indeno [1,2,3-cd]pyrene (IncdP)] content, it was determined that it had a significant effect on pH (p < 0.05) and lipid oxidation (TBARS, p < 0.01). While the cooking degree did not have a significant effect (p > 0.05) on the TBARS value, it had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the water content and pH value, and a very significant effect (p < 0.01) on the cooking loss. While BaA and BaP compounds were detected in all barbecued samples, the DahA compound could not be detected in any of the samples. Varying levels of BaA (up to 5.62 ng/g), Chry (up to 0.43 ng/g), BbF (LOD-..-LOQ), BkF (LOD-..-LOQ), BaP (up to 0.49 ng/g), BghiP (up to 0.82 ng/g), and IncdP (up to 4.99 ng/g) compounds were determined in the samples. While the ∑PAH4 contents varied between 0.71 and 6.35 ng/g, the ∑PAH8 contents varied between 1.12 and 11.34 ng/g. While the increase in cooking level did not affect the ∑PAH4 content, it caused a significant increase in the ∑PAH8 content. The highest BaP (0.49 ng/g), ∑PAH4 (6.35 ng/g), and ∑PAH8 (11.34 ng/g) contents were detected in the meat samples that were well cooked on the barbecue by the direct method. The results have proven that PAHs are formed at varying levels in both meat samples cooked on the barbecue by the direct method and the indirect method. On the other hand, it has been determined that even if 100 g of the meat with the highest BaP and ∑PAH4 content is eaten, the exposure amount remains far below the limit values specified for PAHs. However, paying close attention to the barbecue cooking process is still recommended.

Safety and quality assessment of street-vended barbecue chicken samples from Faisalabad, Pakistan

The current study was designed to assess the safety and quality status of street-vended barbecue chicken samples. The samples were collected from four regions of Faisalabad city: Ghulam Mohammad Abad (R1), Jhang Road (R2), Sargodha Road (R3), and Satiana Road (R4); and compared with the self-prepared barbecue chicken sample (R0). Purposely, all the collected samples were subjected to assess the quality aspects by physicochemical analyses. The results of the physicochemical analysis showed that moisture content varied from 54% to 60%, crude protein 26.97% to 32.87%, crude fat 7.25% to 9.00%, crude ash 1.61% to 1.72%, pH 5.60 to 6.30, free fatty acid value 1.00% to 1.39%, and peroxide value 0.63 to 0.84 meq/Kg. Results pertaining to the enumeration of total microbial load and total coliform count exhibit 2.39-5.17 and 1.20-3.20 log cfu/g, respectively. The samples were assessed for heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, and Fe) by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The concentration of highly toxic metals Pb and Cd was found to be much higher than recommended value as they ranged from 1.90 to 3.70 mg/kg for Pb and 0.10 to 0.90 mg/kg for Cd. However, the level of essential metals (Fe and Zn) in barbecue chicken samples ranged from 67.10 to 180 and 8.30 to 35.80 mg/kg which was much higher than their safe limits for Fe (15 ppm) and Zn (5 ppm), respectively. The study concludes that the consumption of street-vended barbecue chicken possesses to be a serious public health risk for consumers.

Inhalation risk to PAHs and BTEX during barbecuing: The role of fuel/food type and route of exposure

The manuscript presents an innovative and holistic approach to quantifying PAHs and BTEX emissions from the grilling process and indicates a novel driven-toxicity-based solution to recognize health effects related to BBQ emissions. The exposure scenario includes the type of grilling device, food type, and individual attitudes, but also a keen understanding of the broad health implications related to the gaseous/particulate PAHs emission, or age-related effects. The calculated incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) associated with the exposure to PAH congeners and BTEX indicates an unacceptable level in the case of charcoal and briquette grilling with the highest values for professional cooks. The sum of 15 PAH concentrations in grilled foods was highest for meat grilling over charcoal briquettes - 382,020.39 ng/m³ and lowest for meat grilling on a gas grill - 1442.16 ng/m³. The emissions of BTEX from lump charcoal grilling were 130 times higher compared to the gaseous grill. In all considered scenarios lump-charcoal and charcoal briquettes grilling derive the ILCR above the 10^-4, indicating negative effects of traditional grills on human health. The paper completes knowledge of wide-ranging health implications associated with BBQs, a topic that is almost completely unaddressed among the scientific community and policymakers.

The Effect of Partial Substitution of Beef Tallow on Selected Physicochemical Properties, Fatty Acid Profile and PAH Content of Grilled Beef Burgers

The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of partial replacement of beef tallow with sunflower, canola, linseed, olive oil and milk fat on physical properties, oxidation stability, fatty acid profile and PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) content of beef burgers. Studies have shown a strong relationship between the fatty acid profile and the PAH content (especially of the heavy PAHs). The partial replacement of beef tallow with oils and milk fat (MF) contributed to a change in the fatty acid profile and a reduction in the hardness of the burgers. The highest PAH content was found in samples with canola oil (CO), which had the highest levels of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and in the control group (CON) without fat substitution, which had the highest levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and trans conformations. Substitution of animal fat with vegetable oils contributed to a change in the color of the burgers’ surface, as there was a statistically significant increase in the L* color component and a decrease in the a* component. The burgers with canola oil (CO) and linseed oil (LO) were the most susceptible to oxidation, whereas the burgers with reduced fat content (CON_LOW FAT) were the most stable in terms of oxidation, where the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was 32.8% lower compared with the control group (CON). The studies confirm that partial replacement of beef tallow with vegetable oils and milk fat and reduction in fat content in burgers to be grilled can be an effective way to change their fatty acid profile and reduce the cyclization reaction of organic compounds leading to the formation of PAH. Correlation coefficient analysis showed that there is a relationship between fatty acid profile and the presence of selected PAHs in grilled beef burgers. The results of this study indicate that replacing beef tallow with vegetable oils is a promising approach in designing meat products with controlled PAH content.

Recent Developments of Liquid Chromatography Stationary Phases for Compound Separation: From Proteins to Small Organic Compounds

Compound separation plays a key role in producing and analyzing chemical compounds. Various methods are offered to obtain high-quality separation results. Liquid chromatography is one of the most common tools used in compound separation across length scales, from larger biomacromolecules to smaller organic compounds. Liquid chromatography also allows ease of modification, the ability to combine compatible mobile and stationary phases, the ability to conduct qualitative and quantitative analyses, and the ability to concentrate samples. Notably, the main feature of a liquid chromatography setup is the stationary phase. The stationary phase directly interacts with the samples via various basic mode of interactions based on affinity, size, and electrostatic interactions. Different interactions between compounds and the stationary phase will eventually result in compound separation. Recent years have witnessed the development of stationary phases to increase binding selectivity, tunability, and reusability. To demonstrate the use of liquid chromatography across length scales of target molecules, this review discusses the recent development of stationary phases for separating macromolecule proteins and small organic compounds, such as small chiral molecules and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Influence of Plant Extract Addition to Marinades on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Formation in Grilled Pork Meat

Marinating is one of the most common methods of pre-processing meat. Appropriate selection of marinade ingredients can influence the physicochemical properties of the meat and can reduce the level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the final product. The effects of the inclusion of natural plant extracts such as bay leaf (BL), black pepper (BP), turmeric (TU), jalapeno pepper (JP) and tamarind paste (TA) in marinades on the physicochemical properties of grilled pork neck were studied. The addition of spice extracts to marinades increased the proportion of colour components L* and b*. The use of TU, TA, JP, MX and C marinades lowered the hardness and pH of the meat. The highest phenolic compound levels were observed in the case of the mixture of all extracts (MX) and JP marinades, and the highest total antioxidant capacity was exhibited by the BL and MX marinades. The highest PAH content was recorded in the CON marinade (Σ12PAH 98.48 ± 0.81 µg/kg) and the lowest in the JP marinade (4.76 ± 0.08 µg/kg), which had the strongest, statistically significant reducing effect (95% reduction) on PAH levels. Analysis of correlation coefficients showed a relationship between the total antioxidant capacity of the marinades and the PAH content in grilled pork.