The deployment of γ-irradiation for reducing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and microbial load in wheat kernels

Food contamination may contribute to serious human health problems. In this work, the effect of gamma-irradiation 0, 5, 10, and 15 kGy doses on the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from wheat kernels was investigated. Additionally, variations in the contents of 16 congeners on bacterial load and other chemical parameters were studied. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography followed by fluorescence detection. The effects of gamma-irradiation on the concentrations varied for each congener, with the highest irradiation dose being the most effective. Benzo[a]pyrene was reduced by similar to 50%, and the total concentration of all congeners decreased dramatically from 154 to 21 mu g.kg(-1) upon 15 kGy irradiation at a dose rate of 8.49 kGy h(-1). The total bacterial load was reduced from 2.4 to < 1 log(10) cfu g(-1), while wheat chemical properties were not affected.