Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Pork Meat Cooked with Two Different Methods

During domestic grilling, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which include genotoxic and carcinogenic compounds, can be produced as a result of fat pyrolysis, leakage of cellular juices onto the heat source, and incomplete combustion of fuel. This study aimed to assess the formation of PAHs in...

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Main Authors: Chiara Conchione, Silvia Socal, Laura Barp, Sabrina Moret
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/9/1886
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author Chiara Conchione
Silvia Socal
Laura Barp
Sabrina Moret
author_facet Chiara Conchione
Silvia Socal
Laura Barp
Sabrina Moret
author_sort Chiara Conchione
collection DOAJ
description During domestic grilling, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which include genotoxic and carcinogenic compounds, can be produced as a result of fat pyrolysis, leakage of cellular juices onto the heat source, and incomplete combustion of fuel. This study aimed to assess the formation of PAHs in pork neck cooked using two different grilling methods (traditional flat grill with beech charcoal and asado grill with beech wood flame) under controlled conditions, with cooking stopping at a core temperature of 72 °C. The impact of marinating and cooking speed (fast or slow) was also evaluated over three cooking sessions. After grilling, the meat samples underwent microwave-assisted extraction, purification through solid-phase extraction (SPE), and analysis using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with spectrofluorometric detection. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA (R software, version 4.3.0). None of the samples exceeded the legal limits for benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and PAH4 (sum of chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene, BaP, and benzo[b]fluoranthene). However, the asado grill showed a significantly higher average PAH contamination (1.21 µg/kg of BaP and 3.92 µg/kg of PAH4) compared with the traditional grill (0.22 µg/kg of BaP and 1.71 µg/kg of PAH4). Marinating and cooking speed did not have a significant impact on PAH levels.
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spelling doaj-art-28d1bcf3c2d0413680b145b3c1fb06b72025-08-20T01:49:50ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-04-01309188610.3390/molecules30091886Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Pork Meat Cooked with Two Different MethodsChiara Conchione0Silvia Socal1Laura Barp2Sabrina Moret3Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, ItalyDepartment of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, ItalyDepartment of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, ItalyDepartment of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, ItalyDuring domestic grilling, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which include genotoxic and carcinogenic compounds, can be produced as a result of fat pyrolysis, leakage of cellular juices onto the heat source, and incomplete combustion of fuel. This study aimed to assess the formation of PAHs in pork neck cooked using two different grilling methods (traditional flat grill with beech charcoal and asado grill with beech wood flame) under controlled conditions, with cooking stopping at a core temperature of 72 °C. The impact of marinating and cooking speed (fast or slow) was also evaluated over three cooking sessions. After grilling, the meat samples underwent microwave-assisted extraction, purification through solid-phase extraction (SPE), and analysis using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with spectrofluorometric detection. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA (R software, version 4.3.0). None of the samples exceeded the legal limits for benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and PAH4 (sum of chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene, BaP, and benzo[b]fluoranthene). However, the asado grill showed a significantly higher average PAH contamination (1.21 µg/kg of BaP and 3.92 µg/kg of PAH4) compared with the traditional grill (0.22 µg/kg of BaP and 1.71 µg/kg of PAH4). Marinating and cooking speed did not have a significant impact on PAH levels.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/9/1886polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)microwave-assisted saponification (MAS)ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with spectrofluorometric detection (UHPLC-FLD)grilled meatcooking methods
spellingShingle Chiara Conchione
Silvia Socal
Laura Barp
Sabrina Moret
Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Pork Meat Cooked with Two Different Methods
Molecules
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
microwave-assisted saponification (MAS)
ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with spectrofluorometric detection (UHPLC-FLD)
grilled meat
cooking methods
title Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Pork Meat Cooked with Two Different Methods
title_full Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Pork Meat Cooked with Two Different Methods
title_fullStr Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Pork Meat Cooked with Two Different Methods
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Pork Meat Cooked with Two Different Methods
title_short Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Pork Meat Cooked with Two Different Methods
title_sort evaluation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pahs in pork meat cooked with two different methods
topic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
microwave-assisted saponification (MAS)
ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with spectrofluorometric detection (UHPLC-FLD)
grilled meat
cooking methods
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/9/1886
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