Formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in northern and middle taiga soils

An integrated study of the qualitative and quantitative composition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the atmospheric precipitation-soil-lysimetric water system was performed using high performance liquid chromatography. It was shown that the accumulation of low-molecular PAHs (phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, and chrysene) in soils is due to the transformation of organic matter and the regional transport and deposition of PAHs with atmospheric precipitation on the underlying surface. High-molecular polyarenes (benz[b]fluoranthene, benz[k]fluoranthene, benz[a]pyrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, benzo[ghi]perylene, and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene) mainly result from the decomposition of soil organic matter.     

混合菌降解土壤中多环芳烃的试验研究

PAHs生物降解程度受多种因素影响。通过筛选驯化PAHs降解菌,研究混合菌对土壤中菲、芘、苯并（a）蒽、苯并（b）荧蒽、苯并（k）荧蒽、茚并（1,2,3-cd）芘的生物降解性能,并考察污染时间对土壤中PAHs降解效果的影响。结果表明,筛选的混合菌具有很强的PAHs降解能力,缩短了PAHs生物降解的半衰期,且PAHs起始降解速率较快,之后趋于平缓。27d内土壤中的菲、芘、苯并（a）蒽、苯并（b）荧蒽、苯并（k）荧蒽、茚并（1,2,3-cd）芘的平均降解率分别为98.14%、89.97%、88.47%、63.55%、65.24%、60.49%,其中菲在5d之内的降解率高于93%。污染210d的土壤中各PAHs的起始降解速率高于污染50d的土壤,因此污染时间越长,PAHs生物降解的停滞期越短。     

Rapid, semimicro method for determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in shellfish by automated gel permeation/liquid chromatography

A simple, rapid, easily automated method is described for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in shellfish such as American lobster (Homarus americanus) and blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). PAHs are extracted from small amounts (1-8 g) of tissue by saponification in 1N ethanolic potassium hydroxide followed by partitioning into 2,2,4-trimethylpentane. This solution is evaporated just to dryness by rotary evaporation and the residue is dissolved in cyclohexane-dichloromethane (1 + 1) for gel permeation chromatography (GPC) on Bio-Beads SX-3. The GPC procedure is ideal as a screening method in the range 25-18 000 ng PAHs/g tissue. If individual PAH measurements are required, the appropriate GPC fraction is collected and PAHs are separated by reverse phase liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorometric detection. Individual PAHs at concentrations as low as 0.25-10 ng/g can be determined. Recoveries of added fluoranthene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[e]pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, benzo[ghi]perylene, and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene were quantitative, with relative standard deviations ranging from 0.0 to 16.9%.     

Rapid magnetic solid-phase extraction based on magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotubes for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in edible oils

In this study, magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotubes were fabricated by a simple method and applied to magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of eight heavy molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene and benzo[g,h,i]perylene from edible oil samples. Several parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were investigated, including the type and volume of desorption solvent, extraction and desorption time, washing solution and the amount of sorbent. Under the optimized conditions, a simple and effective method for the determination of PAHs in edible oils was developed by coupling with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The whole pretreatment process was rapid, and it can be accomplished within 10 min. The limits of quantitation for the target PAHs were found to be 0.34-2.9 ng/g. The recoveries in oil sample were in the range 87.8-122.3% with the RSDs less than 6.8% (intraday) and 9.6% (interday). This method was successfully applied to the analysis of PAHs in seven kinds of edible oils from local markets.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in spanish olive oils: relationship between benzo(a)pyrene and total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content

Samples of Spanish virgin olive oils (VOOs) from different categories, origins, varieties, and commercial brands were analyzed by HPLC with a programmable fluorescence detector to determine the content of nine heavy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(e)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, benzo(g,h,i)perilene, and indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene. Samples of olive pomace and crude olive pomace oils were also investigated. Benzo(a)pyrene concentrations were below the allowed limit in the European Union (2 microg/kg) in 97% of the VOO samples. Only those samples coming from contaminated olive fruits or obtained in oil mills with highly polluted environments exceeded this value. High correlation coefficients (<0.99) were obtained between the contents of benzo(a)pyrene and the sum of the nine PAHs for all of the analyzed categories, suggesting that benzo(a)pyrene could be used as a marker of the content of these nine PAHs in olive oils.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon profile analysis of high-protein foods, oils, and fats by gas chromatography.

A method is described for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with 3-7 rings in (I) meat, poultry, fish, and yeast; and (II) oils and fats. The extraction of PAHs from group I is incomplete, and, therefore, group I samples must be dissolved homogeneously by saponification in 2N methanolic potassium hydroxide. The PAHs are concentrated by liquid-liquid extraction (methanol-water-cyclohexane, N,N - dimethylformamide - water-cyclohexane) and by column chromatography on Sephadex LH 20. The PAHs are separated by high-performance gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) with columns containing 5% OV-101 on Gas-Chrom Q and estimated by integration of the flame ionization detector signals in relation to an internal standard (3,6-dimethylphenanthrene and/or benzo(b)chrysene). The sensitivity is significantly higher than that obtained with ultraviolet spectroscopic methods. The reproducibility and margin of error were tested with meat samples fortified with 11 PAHs and with samples of sunflower oil. The method was further applied to meat, smoked fish, yeast, and unrefined sunflower oil. All samples investigated contained more than 100 PAHs (characterized by mass spectrometry) of which only the main components were determined: phenanthrene, anthracene, fluorene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene + benzo (j)fluoranthene + benzo(k) fluoranthene, benzo(e)pyrene, benzo(a)pyrene, perylene, dibenz(a,j)anthracene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene + indeno(1,2,3,-cd)pyrene, benzo(ghi)perylene, anthanthrene, and coronene. In contrast to other methods, the GLC profile analysis allows the recording of known and unknown PAH peaks simultaneously and also allows a compilation of all PAHs.     

长江三角洲地区污泥中多环芳烃的污染研究

To ascertain the contaminated conditions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs） in sludge and to evaluate the risk of application of this sludge for agricultural purposes, 44 sludge samples obtained from 15 cities in the Yangtze River Delta area of China were investigated using capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry （GC/MS） after ultrasonic extraction and silica gel cleanup. PAHs＇ contents ranged from 0.0167 to 15.4860 mg kg^-1 （dry weight, DW） and averaged 1.376 mg kg^-1, with most samples containing 〈 1.5 mg kg^-1. Pyrene （PY）, fluoranthene （FL）, benzo[b]fluoranthene （BbF）, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene （IND）, benzo[a]pyrene （B[a]P）, and benzo[g,h,i]perylene （BghiP） were the most dominant compounds, ranging from 0.1582 to 0.2518 mg kg^-1. Single PAH, such as naphthalene （NAP, 2-benzene rings）, phenanthrene （PA, 3-benzene rings）, PY （4-benzene rings）, and FL （3-benzene rings）, had high detection rates （76.1%-93.5%）. The distribution patterns of PAHs were found to vary with the sludge samples; however, the patterns showed that a few compounds with 2- and 3-benzene rings were commonly found in the samples, whereas those with 4-, 5-, and 6-benzene rings were usually less commonly found. All the 44 sludge samples were within the B[a]P concentration limit for sludge applied to agricultural land in China （〈 3.0 rag kg^-1）. The probable sources of PAH contamination in the sludge samples were petroleum, petroleum products, and combustion of liquid and solid fuel. The concentrations and distributions of the 16 PAHs in sludge were related to sludge type, source, and treatment technology, together with the physicochemical properties.     

Characterization and Sources of PAHs and Potentially Toxic Metals in Urban Environments of Sevilla (Southern Spain)

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of PAH contamination and the association of PAHs with metals in urban soil samples from Sevilla (Spain). Fifteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-PAHs (naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene, indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene) and seven metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) have been evaluated in representative urban soil samples. Forty-one top soils (0–10 cm) under different land use (garden, roadside, riverbank and agricultural allotment) were selected. PAHs from soil samples were extracted by sonication using dichloromethane. The simultaneous quantification of 15 different PAH compounds were carried out by HPLC using multiple wavelength shift in the fluorescence detector. For qualitative analysis a photo diode-array detector was used. Metal (pseudo-total) analysis was carried out by digestion of the soils with aqua regia in microwave oven. The mean concentration of each PAH in urban soils of Sevilla showed a wide range, they are not considered highly contaminated. The results of the sum of 15 PAHs in Sevilla soils are in the range 89.5–4004.2 μg kg^?1, but there seems not to be a correlation between the concentration of PAHs and the land use. Of the 15 PAHs examined, phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene were present at the highest concentrations, being the sum of these PAHs about 40% of the total content. Although metal content were not especially high in most soils, there are significant hints of moderate pollution in some particular spots. Such spots are mainly related with some gardens within the historic quarters of the city. The associations among metals and PAHs content in the soil samples was checked by principal components analysis (PCA). The largest values both for ‘urban’ metals (Pb, Cu and Zn) and for PAHs were mainly found in sites close to the historic quarters of the city in which a heavy traffic of motor vehicles is suffered from years.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine organisms from the Gulf of Naples, Tyrrhenian Sea

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined by an HPLC method with fluorescence detection in bivalves (Mitylus galloprovincialis), cephalopods (Todarodes sagittatus), crustaceans (Aristeus antennatus), and fish (Mullus surmeletus, Scomber scombrus, Micromesistius poutassou, and Merluccius merluccius) caught in the Gulf of Naples (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). Anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and benzo(k)fluoranthene were detected, at different concentrations, in all of the examined marine organisms, whereas benzo(a)pyrene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene, and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene were found only in Mediterranean mussels. Of mussels collected in winter 71.43% exceeded the maximum residual levels (MRL) fixed for the benzo(a)pyrene in European Regulation 208/2005/EC, whereas all samples collected in summer reported values lower than this limit. In comparison to the other marine organisms, the mussels showed the highest PAH concentrations (p < 0.01). Fish showed total PAH levels lower than those of cephalopods and, in particular, European hake showed the lowest values (6.06 ng/g of fresh weight).     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils of Vasilievsky Island (St. Petersburg)

The composition and accumulation patterns of priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils of Vasilievsky Island in Saint Petersburg were studied. Concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene were found to exceed maximum permissible concentrations in all the samples, and the maximum recorded concentration exceeded the MPC by 50 times. Concentrations of other PAHs also exceeded the background values. The main soil pollutants were found to be fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, and benzo[g, h, i] perylene, the part of which in the total content of PAHs was 65–80%.     

湿热灭菌和氯化汞灭菌对双液相体系中PAHs降解的影响

A two-liquid-phase(TLP) soil slurry system was employed to quantify the efficiencies of autoclaving and mercuric chloride sterilization in the dissipation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs).The fates of 11 PAHs(naphthalene,fluorene,phenanthrene,anthracene,fluoranthene,pyrene,benzo(a)anthracene,benzo(a)pyrene,benzo(b)fluoranthene,benzo(k)fluoranthene,dibenzo(a,h)anthracene) were recorded over 113 days of incubation.No microorganisms were detected in the HgCl 2-sterilized soil slurries during the whole incubation period,indicating very effective sterilization.However,about 2%-36% losses of PAHs were observed in the HgCl 2 sterilized slurry.In contrast to the HgCl 2-sterilized soil slurry,some microorganisms survived in the autoclaved soil slurries.Moreover,significant biodegradation of 6 PAHs(naphthalene,fluorene,phenanthrene,anthracene,fluoranthene and pyrene) was observed in the autoclaved soil slurries.This indicated that biodegradation results of PAHs in the soil slurries,calculated on basis of the autoclaved control,would be underestimated.It could be concluded that the sterilization efficiency and effectiveness of HgCl 2 on soil slurry was much higher than those of autoclaving at 121℃ for 45 min.     

Particle Phase Concentrations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Atmospheric Environment of Jinámar,Gran Canaria

Airborne concentrations of 8 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): fluoranthene, Flt, Pyrene, Pyr, benzo(a)anthracene, BaA, chrysene, Chr, benzo(b)fluoranthene + benzo(k)fluoranthene,B(b + k)F, benzo(a)pyrene, BaP and benzo(g,h,i)perylene, B(ghi)P,were measured in Jinámar, a small town on the island of Gran Canaria (Spain) during a 12 month period (January 1995–December 1995). Concentrations ranged between 0.613 ng m^-3 for B(ghi)P and 0.040 and 0.046 ng m^-3 for pyrene and chrysene. Except for BaA all PAHs occurred at lower concentrations at temperatures below 20 °C. Relative humidity seems to influence concentrations of pyrene, chrysene, benzo(b + k)fluoranthene and benzo(a)pyrene, also affecting the latter ina different way to the other three hydrocarbons cited.     

南京有机污染风险区农田土壤多环芳烃污染状况研究

采集南京地区不同有机污染风险区农田表层土壤,用超快速液相色谱仪检测样品中15种EPA优控的多环芳烃(PAHs)含量。结果表明,被检农田土壤多环芳烃总量分布于306.0~1251.3μg kg~(-1)之间,均值682.0μg kg~(-1),四环以上高环多环芳烃占较大比例(80%)。根据欧洲土壤质量标准,所检土壤样本已达污染水平。不同风险污染区农田土壤PAHs的含量由高至低为:钢铁工业区、有机垃圾处理区、化工工业区及炼油工业区。钢铁工业区附近主要的污染物为荧蒽、芘、屈和苯并[a]蒽,分别占到污染物总量的16%、13%、10%和10%。采用荧蒽/(荧蒽+芘)与茚并[1,2,3-cd]芘/(茚并[1,2,3-cd]芘+苯并[g,h,i]苝)比值对各地污染物来源进行分析,结果发现调查区域的PAHs污染物以燃烧源为主,生物质燃料为主要污染物,部分地区同时有石油燃烧污染。     

Detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels in milk collected near potential contamination sources

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), mainly formed by incomplete anthropogenic organic matter combustion, are ubiquitous in the environment. To assess milk PAH contamination sources, milk samples were collected from the tank milk at farms located near potential contaminating emission sources such as cementworks, steelworks, and motorways. PAH analyses were carried out by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Eight PAHs were identified in milk: naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, and benzo[a]anthracene. For all potential contaminating sources, these eight PAHs were detected with similar profiles and at low concentrations except for fluorene and naphthalene, for which source-molecule interaction is pointed out.     

Particle-associated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Atmosphere of Hong Kong

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in total suspended particulates (TSP) collected at six rural and urban stations in Hong Kong from 1993–1995 using high volume air samplers were identified using GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). The results showed that the PAHs exhibited distinct spatial and seasonal variability. The total PAH content (ΣPAH) in the samples ranged from 0.41 to 48 ng m^-3. The unsubstituted analogs are the characteristic products of high temperature combustion processes. The highest average ΣPAH was measured at the street-level station in Mong Kok indicating that vehicles were high PAHs contributors. The rural station at Hok Tsui exhibited the lowest PAH level, however; influences of city plumes could be seen when northerly or northeasterly winds prevailed in the winter. All stations experienced the highest loading of PAHs in autumn and the lowest in summer; the former was 2.8 times greater than the latter. This seasonal variability is due to the Asian monsoon system, precipitation, micrometeorology, and the rate of photodegradation. In summer, Hong Kong experiences relatively clean oceanic air and high rates of precipitation and photodegradation, while upon the onset of the winter monsoon, local air mass is replaced by polluted air streams from the Asian continent. Benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(e)pyrene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene and benzo(ghi)perylene were the dominant species in the samples. The PAH distribution patterns at different stations were similar within each season. However, seasonal variations existed. For example, phenanthrene contributed up to 14% of the total PAH in summer, while the dominance of benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene was more significant in autumn and winter.     

Effect of Composting on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Removal in Sewage Sludge

Changes in the concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) identified by the US Environmental Protection Agency as priority pollutants were investigated during the composting process of sewage sludge mixed with rapeseed marc (9:1, weight base). Results showed that total PAHs concentrations of the sludge sampled in different seasons had far exceeded the accepted Europe Union cut-off limits for land application. Phenanthrene, fluorene and dibenz(a, h) anthracene were dominant PAHs in the sludge, accounting for 62.8~69.6% of the total amount of the 16 PAHs. Composting appeared to be an effective method for the removal of PAHs in sewage sludge. After 50 days of composting, a significant reduction of concentration of the total PAHs was detected as compared with the initial concentration in composting material. The significant relationship between the biodegradation of organic matter and the losses of Σ16 PAHs during composting indicated that microbial degradation was the key process responsible for the efficient removal of PAHs from the sludge. Among all tested PAHs, fluorene was the most recalcitrant and became the primary residual PAH in the composted material. The lower removal rate of fluorene during composting was a limiting factor for the potential land application of the sludge. Further studies are needed to enhance the removal of fluorene in order to achieve a safe utilization of this sludge.     

低浓度环糊精强化Fenton试剂降解液相中茚并（1,2,3-cd）芘的试验研究

为了研究Fenton试剂对液相中茚并（1,2,3-cd）芘的降解效果,采用实验室内试验方法,考察并确定了H2O2浓度、FeSO4浓度、反应时间、pH值以及低浓度环糊精等因素对降解的影响。结果表明,使用Fenton试剂可以有效降解液相中的茚并（1,2,3-cd）芘。在降解过程中,对初始浓度为2.5mg·L-1的茚并（1,2,3-cd）芘,当H2O2浓度为20.0mmol·L-1,FeSO4浓度为3.0mmol·L-1时降解较为有效,去除率可达到62.88%,浓度过高或者过低都不利于反应的发生。Fenton氧化降解茚并（1,2,3-cd）芘的反应在60min内可以完成,并且pH值控制在3时更加有利于降解。反应体系中加入低浓度环糊精可以增加茚并（1,2,3-cd）芘在水相中的溶解度,当加入HPCD的浓度为3mg·L-1时,Fenton试剂对茚并（1,2,3-cd）芘的氧化去除率可由62.88%提高至71.24%。     

Input and behavior of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in arable,fallow, and forest soils of the taiga zone (Tver oblast)

Contents of 11 most prevalent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in snow and soils of arable, fallow, and forest areas significantly remote from impact technogenic sources of polyarenes have been examined in the Torzhok district of Tver oblast. From the analysis of snow samples, the volumes and composition of PAHs coming from the atmosphere onto the areas of different land use have been determined. Light hydrocarbons prevail in PAHs. They make up 65–70% of total PAHs; their share in soils reaches almost 95%. An increase in the content of PAHs is revealed in fallow soils compared to arable and afforested areas. A direct relationship is revealed between the lateral distribution of total PAHs and the content of organic carbon. The distribution of total PAHs is surface-accumulative in forest soils, mainly uniform in arable soils, and deepaccumulative in fallow soils. PAH groups characterized by similar radial distributions and ratios between their reserves in snow and soils are distinguished: (1) fluorene and phenanthrene, (2) biphenyl and naphthalene, (3) benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, perylene, and benzo[a]pyrene, and (4) anthracene and benzo[ghi]pyrene.     

蚯蚓和丛枝菌根真菌对南瓜修复多环芳烃污染土壤的影响

在温室盆栽实验条件下,研究接种AM(arbuscular mycorrhiza)真菌、蚯蚓(Eisenia fetida)对南瓜(Cucurbita moschata)修复3环以上多环芳烃(PAHs)污染农田土壤的影响,试验设置单接AM真菌、单接蚯蚓、双接AM真菌和蚯蚓、不接种的对照共4个处理,播种10周后收获。结果表明,接种AM真菌和蚯蚓促进AM真菌侵染南瓜,增加南瓜生物量;显著提高南瓜修复土壤中Phe(菲)、An(t蒽)、Py(r芘)、BkF(苯并(k)荧蒽)、BaP(苯并(a)芘)、BPe(r苯并(g,h,i)苝)等PAHs污染物的效率,促进南瓜高效地吸收3~5环PAHs,尤其是AM真菌和蚯蚓共同接种条件下对南瓜修复土壤效果最优;AM真菌利于南瓜转移根系吸收的高浓度PAHs化合物至地上部,降低PAHs对根系的胁迫,增强南瓜在高浓度PAHs污染土壤中存活,有利于南瓜应用于高浓度PAHs污染土壤的高效修复;蚯蚓对南瓜地下部吸持3~5环高分子量的PAHs化合物有积极作用。因此,选用的AM真菌和蚯蚓在土壤中具有协同作用,促进南瓜高效修复PAHs污染土壤。     

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coffee brew using solid-phase extraction

The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coffee has been reported and is suspected to be due to the degradation of coffee compounds during the roasting step. Due to the high toxicity of these compounds, among which benzo[a]pyrene is known to be the most carcinogenic, their presence in the coffee, especially the coffee brew that is directly ingested by the consumer, is of prime importance. However, due to the low solubility of these compounds, their concentrations are expected to be rather low. As a consequence, reliable and sensitive analytical methods are required. The aim of this study was to develop a reliable and fast analytical procedure to determine these organic micropollutants in coffee brew samples. PAHs were retained on a 0.5 g polystyrene-divinylbenzene cartridge before being eluted by a mixture of methanol/tetrahydrofuran (10:90 v/v), concentrated, and directly analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a fluorescence detector. Application to the determination of PAHs in several coffee brew samples is also given, with mean estimated concentrations in the range of 0-100 ng L(-1) for suspected benzo[b]fluoranthene and benzo[a]pyrene, whereas no fluoranthene could be detected. Tentative identification was made on the basis of UV spectra. However, identification of the suspected traces of PAHs could not be achieved due to matrix effects, so that the presence of coeluting compounds may not be excluded.