Determination of para-dichlorobenzene residues in honey by purge and trap with GCMSD

para-Dichlorobenzene (p-DCB) belongs to a group of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can contribute towards environment and food contamination. p-DCB residues may be found in honey due to its use by beekeepers (during honey combs processing) to avoid wax moth infestation. This residue has been shown to be harmful to humans due to being potentially toxic and carcinogenic. Studies have revealed the presence of p-DCB in various foods over a wide concentration range (2-200 μg/kg). A Purge and Trap with GCMSD method for the measurement of p-DCB residues in honey was developed in a collaborative partnership between the National Measurement Institute of Australia and the RMIT University to support the Australian honey industry and Australian consumers. This paper outlines the method designed to determine p-DCB at concentrations as low as 1 μg/kg in honey. The method was developed and validated using a purge and trap concentrator coupled to a gas chromatograph with a mass selective detector (GC-MSD). The method was validated to cover a range of 1-20 μg/kg p-DCB in honey, achieving mean recoveries at 64-77% with a standard deviation range of 3-6%.