The use of manures for detection and quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene in animal husbandry

PAHs from a polluted atmosphere are generally transferred to plants by particle-phase deposition on the waxy leaf cuticle or by uptake in the gas phase through stomata. Thus, they are also present in ingredients for animal feed. Generally, toxic substances are metabolized before or after absorption through the intestinal tract. This is the case of 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, which can be found free or in its glucuronide and/or sulphate conjugate forms. This article develops a procedure to monitor the carry-over of PAHs from feed to food of animal origin based on the analysis of animal manure. Eleven PAHs and 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene were measured in four animal manures (cow, horse, rabbit and pig) by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene and benzo[k]fluoranthene were found in all the selected samples, but their total levels were not alarming (benzo[a]pyrene equivalents (µg/kg) < 3.1). 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene was quantified in all the samples exempting rabbit manure. The highest total PAH levels were detected in cow manure (9.0 µg/kg), while the highest 3-OH-B[a]P level was determined in horse samples (13 µg/kg).