Abstract: Short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are a class of complex organic compounds with 10?13 carbon atoms. At present, there is insufficient published data on the pollution status of SCCPs in foodstuffs. In order to solve this problem, the contents of SCCPs and the distribution of SCCP homologues in 81 samples of 9 kinds of foodstuffs collected from 9 cities in northern China in 2016 were determined by on-line gel permeation chromatography-gas chromatography-negative chemical ion source-mass spectrometry (GPC-GC-NCI-MS). The results indicated that the contents of SCCPs in all samples were in the range of 2.30?496.49 ng/g (wet basis). In addition, the homologue distribution of SCCPs was dominated by lower chlorinated (Cl6?Cl7) C10-/C12-SCCPs. The risk associated with dietary exposure to SCCPs was between 1.1 and 3.8; although it was lower than 100, acceptable, this did not mean that there was no risk for human health. The findings obtained in this study can provide important data for understanding SCCP pollution status in Chinese diets and their influences on human health.

Key words: short chain chlorinated paraffins, on-line gel permeation chromatography-gas chromatography-negative chemical ion source-mass spectrometry, concentration, dietary exposure, distribution