Analytical procedure for the analysis of pahs in biological tissues: Application to mussels

A rapid, selective and sensitive analytical procedure for the analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in biological organisms has been developed. The freeze-dried tissues were digested in an alcoholic solution of potassium hydroxyde. After solvent partitioning, the extract was purified on alumina and silica micro-columns and finally analysed by Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The final extract was free of most of the endogenous compounds. The recoveries of PAHs were estimated using a certified standard compound solution (R>90%), spiked mussels (90%<R<115%), and certified mussel tissues (R>70%). This protocol could then be applied to environmental studies: a mussel sample collected in the Sardigna coast, was analysed.