This method describes a high performance liquid chromatographic procedure for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in edible fats and oils. The method has been validated for coconut (CN), olive (OV), sunflower (SF) and soyabean (BO) oil. If other oils are analysed, appropriate parameters have to be determined. The limit of quantification for the PAHs is 0,1 ?g/kg. The lowest possible amount of each PAH, which can be distinguished from the baseline noise has not been determined. The validated concentration range of the method is 0,1 ?g/kg to 3,5 ?g/kg for each individual PAH. If it is expected that the level of the (light) PAHs in samples to be analysed will be > 3,5 ?g/kg, these samples have to be diluted before analysis. It is also possible to adjust the range of the calibration curves. However ranges exceeding 3,5 ?g/kg have not been validated. PAHs which can be determined by this method are: Anthracene, Phenanthrene, Fluoranthene, Pyrene, Chrysene, 1,2-Benzanthracene, Benz(e)pyrene, Benz(a)pyrene, Perylene, 1,12-Benzperylene, Anthanthrene, 1,2,5,6-Dibenzanthracene, Coronene, Indeno(123-cd)pyrene, Benz(a)fluoranthene, Benz(b)fluoranthene, Benz(k)fluoranthene.
