An automated, simple, and reproducible method was developed for the determination of benzene in soft drinks, based on isotope dilution headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the selected-ion monitoring mode. The method was used to assess benzene levels in samples of 124 soft drinks and beverages. Benzene was not detected in 60% of the 124 products. The average benzene levels in 6 products exceeded the Canadian maximum acceptable concentration of 5 g/L for benzene in drinking water, and 2 of the 6 products had benzene levels above the World Health Organization guideline of 10 g/L. The highest level of benzene, 23 g/L, was found in a soft drink product specifically marketed to children.
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