Introduction

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are neutral compounds containing multiple aromatic fused rings that are present in fossil fuels and can be formed from the incomplete combustion of organic material. In recent years, it has been well documented that several PAHs can be potentially carcinogenic via exposure or ingestion. The EPA has classified seven PAHs (benzo[a]pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene) as Group B2, probable human carcinogens.^(1,2)

Cooking meats or other foods at high temperatures over an open flame has also been found to increase the formation of PAHs⁽³⁾. In addition, PAHs have been found to be present in some drinking water supplies⁽³⁾. Environmentally, PAHs have been listed as a pollutant of concern to EPA’s Great Water Program due to their persistence in the environment, their potential to bioaccumulate, and their toxicity to humans and the ecosystem⁽⁴⁾. This application note will demonstrate the LC/MS determination of 16 PAHs (EPA 610 Mix) in the EPA priority target list using the Advion expression Compact Mass Spectrometer (CMS) coupled to an Agilent 1220 Liquid Chromatography (LC) system. The detection limits for the16 PAHs in a water matrix were achieved at the low ppb level.Contact email: haoc@advion.com

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