Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in petroleum products for medicinal and cosmetic uses--analytical procedure.

Two methods for extraction and determination of benzo[a]pyrene and other PAH in liquid and white soft paraffins, widely used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes, are compared. A method based on extraction by frontal elution chromatography, column and thin-layer chromatography and final spectrophotofluorometric determination gave the best results in the determination of the very low levels (ng/g) of PAH present in these fully refined samples. The complete analytical procedure showed an acceptable percentage of recoveries and good applicability to routine analysis of the PAH content in these petroleum products for the proper evaluation of their potential hazards to human health.