Most of the analytical methods for determining PAH
metabolites were developed for human urine samples,19
blood, and other biological fluids such as fish bile.34 Although
some analytical methods have been optimized for the
determination of hydroxylated PAHs in milk and in infant
foods,17 to our knowledge no extraction procedures have been
previously reported for their determination in cephalopods.
To optimize the extraction efficiency, different parameters
were tested. First, as these compounds are light sensitive and
easily degradable, the importance of the addition of an
antioxidant to the sample was evaluated. In the present study,
the action of two antioxidants, ascorbic acid and TBQH, was
assessed. When ascorbic acid was used at a concentration of 1
mg/mL, better recovery rates were achieved when 1 mL of the
solution was added to 1 g of sample.