Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemical compounds that contain aromatic rings and do not contain heteroaryl or substituted groups. PAHs are found in petroleum, coal, and plastics
Moreover, PAHs are also found in foods, especially in cooked or grilled meats. These compounds are pollutants and identified as carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic in humans. The goal of this paper was to develop a process to analyze the content of 16 common PAHs in grilled pork by mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using standard internal substances. Some specifications such as sample preparation - analysis conditions, analysis limits (MDL, MQL) and recovery rates were discussed. Results indicated that the combination of QuECheRS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) extraction and GC-MS in SIM mode analysis allowed for quantification of 16 PAHs in very small concentrations (10 - 100ppb) with recoveries of 83.8 to 113.4% on spiked sample and the limit of detection ranged from 0.3 to 0.8μg/kg.