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The aim of this work was to determine the level of contamination of different groups of vegetable oils available on the Polish market with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, i.e. benzo(a)pyrene and sum of benzo(a)pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and chrysene, the content of which in foodstuffs is limited by Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1125 of 10 July 2015. The research materials were refined rapeseed oils, sunflower oils, olive pomace oil, rapeseed oils with olive oil and unrefined soybean and coconut oils. The research methods included process of saponification of the vegetable oils, extraction of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons fraction, clean-up by use a column packed with aluminum oxide and elution by petroleum ether, and then quantitative and qualitative determination of by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection method. Values of limit of detection and limit of quantification obtained during validation of the method were 0.18 and 0.25 μg/kg, respectively, and were significantly lower than the respective maximum values given in Commission Regulation (EU) 836/2011. The highest polyaromatic hydrocarbons content was found in unrefined coconut and soybean oils. The benzo(a)pyrene content and sum of benzo(a)pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and chrysene in all the tested sample did not exceed the maximum levels given in Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1125.

The aim of this work was to validate the method of determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), i.e., benzo(a)pyrene and sum of benzo(a)pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and chrysene in different types of tea, as well as to assess the transfer of these contaminants from tea to tea infusion. The research materials were popular types of black, green, red and white tea. Quantitative and qualitative determination of PAHs was performed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with fluorimetric detection (HPLC-FLD). The samples were prepared by QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) technique followed by cleaning-up by dispersion solid-phase extraction (d-SPE). Values of limit of detection and limit of quantification obtained in the validation of the method were lower than the respective maximum values given in Commission Regulation (EU) No. 836/2011. The level of contamination of popular teas commercially available on the Polish market with PAHs is similar to that of teas available in other countries, with a very large variation in the concentration of each of the compounds. The highest benzo(a)pyrene and Σ4PAHs contents (209 ± 42 μg/kg and 756 ± 151 μg/kg, respectively) were found for black tea leaves. The transfer of Σ4PAHs from black tea to tea infusions was 0.48%, while it was 1.55–1.72% for red, white and green teas.