In the present study, five NAs were separated by gas chromatography and differentiated by positive-ion chemi- cal ionization using ammonia as a reagent gas. The limit of detection and the limit of quantitation for this method were approximately 0.09 and 0.29 lg/kg, respectively. The recovery of NAs in meat products varied from 79% to 88%.
Total concentrations of NAs in 386 studied samples of meat ranged from non-detectable to 30 lg/kg. The highest levels of NAs were found in samples of fried meat. Rela- tively high level was found in grilled meat, in smoked pork, in half-smoked sausage, and in ham. With the addition of sodium nitrite, one can observe roughly linear increase in concentration of NAs in fried and raw meat. About 73% of NAs are concentrated in fat of baked mutton. In fried pork, the concentration of NAs in fat exceeds the concen- tration in lean 6 times. Apparently, the temperature and time of cooking, nitrite concentration, and storage condi- tions of meat have a significant effect on the concentration of NAs.