Isolation of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Fish Products by Supercritical Fluid Extraction

Polynuclear or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are mutagenic compounds formed by incomplete burning of organic material. The mutagenity and carcinogenic activity becomes higher as the number of fused rings in a molecule increases (1 ). The human intake of PAHs is very variable. The main sources are industrial and automobile exhaust gases and tobacco smoke. A percentage of the intake is obtained from baked, smoked, and grilled foodstuffs. This food-originating portion depends upon the habits of food consumption, the foodstuffs themselves, and the manufacturing methods (1 –4 ).