Abstract: A method was developed for the simultaneous determination of the residues and migration of 18 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in food contact rubber by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The rubber extract was cleaned up by solid phase extraction (SPE) with a silica gel column. The migration solution was extracted with hexane, separated on a DB-EUPAH column (60 m × 250 μm, 0.25 μm), detected in the selective ion monitoring (SIM) mode, and quantified by an internal standard method. The results showed that good chromatographic separation of the 18 PAHs was achieved. The calibration curves showed good linearity in the concentration range of 0.05–0.5 mg/L. The limits of detection (LOD) were less than 0.01 mg/L, and the limits of quantification (LOQ) were less than 0.05 mg/L. The average recoveries for PAHs residues and migration at three spiked levels ranged from 61.3% to 102.2%, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs, n = 6) were 0.5%–9.1%. A total of 16 PAHs were detected in 10 of the 34 batches of food contact rubber tested with total residues ranging from 0.24 to 16.97 mg/kg. No PAHs were found to be migrated from the rubber to 4% acetic acid and 10% ethanol at different experimental temperatures. Many PAHs were found to be migrated to 50% ethanol as a food simulant. The number of PAHs migrated increased with an increase in temperature, and the rate and amount of migration increased significantly. The safety problems caused by the residues of PAHs in food contact rubber and their migration to foods cannot be neglected.

Key words: gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; food contact rubber; residues; migration; food safety