ABSTRACT Tea is the most popular beverage consumed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Keeping in view their prevalence in the environment, eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in fourteen brands of locally available black tea by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Benzo(a)anthracene and anthracene were detected in all samples whereas Benzo(k)fluoranthene was not detected in Tetly, Twinings and English Teashop brands. Benzo(a)Pyrene, classified as human carcinogen (class 2A), was found in all samples except English Teashop. The highest levels of Benzo(a)Pyrene were detected in Celestial (5.12 µg/kg), followed by Al Kabous (3.14 µg/kg). Maximum total PAHs were found in Impra tea (52.47 µg/kg) followed by Abu Jabal (45.33 µg/kg). The data were compared with internationally reported values and found to be in agreement with the limits set by world health agencies.
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