Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in yerba maté (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil) traditional infusions (mate and tereré)

PAH8 contents in hot and cold maté infusions ranged from 371.2 to 2438.8 ng/L and from 19.2 to 937.3 ng/L, respectively. Benzo[a]pyrene contents varied between 37.0 and 373.9 ng/L in hot yerba maté infusions and between 7.0 and 92.1 ng/L in cold yerba maté infusions. None of the samples analyzed exceeded the World Health Organization criteria for drinking water, since the maximum level allowed for benzo[a]pyrene is 700 ng/L.