Analyses of Residual Alkylbenzenes and Its Probabilistic Risk Assessment in Sundried Salts

Toluene, ethylbenzene, and three xylenes are known as toxic alkylbenzenes in crude oils. The alkylbenzenes were investigated in sundried salts retailed in Korea. Total contamination of alkylbenzenes was shown to be up to 4.65 ng/g in the salts. Furthermore, hazard quotient of targeted contaminants and hazard index were estimated to be much lower than 1.0 in risk assessment. These results suggested that the associated health risks of alkylbenzenes in sundried salts might be negligible.