POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN BARBECUE BRIQUETS

Abstract
Nine different brands of barbecue briquets currently available in the Canadian consumer market were examined for the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The total concentrations of PAH ranged between 2.5 to 13.0 μg per gram of briquet sample. Some 30 to 55 individual PAH components were identified by gas chromatography ‐ mass spectrometry. Coal briquets and wood charcoal briquets contained polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, while lava stones and pressed saw‐dust briquets did not show their presence.