Abstract
Investigations into the sources of contamination of virgin olive oil by gasoline components were concluded. Olives on the tree contained volatile aromatic hydrocarbons at concentrations exceeding those corresponding to the equilibrium with the environment. Present knowledge indicates that up to 10 μg/kg of benzene and 250 μg/kg for the sum of benzene, toluene, and the C2-benzenes must be considered as possible background concentrations. Aside from the oil mills, the rooms for intermediate storage of the olives were found to be an important source of contamination by gasoline vapours, since they often contain vehicles and other gasoline-driven engines. Parking of a small, hot grass mower into a similar room released an amount of gasoline that was sufficient to contaminate the oil in olives above the proposed limit by a factor of 100. Recommendations are derived for the producers to avoid contamination of olive oil with gasoline components.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Biedermann M, Grob K, Morchio G (1995) Z Lebensm Unters Forsch 200: 266–272
Morchio G, Spadone JC, Bracco U (1994) Riv Ital Sostanze Grasse 71: 491–502
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Biedermann, M., Grob, K. & Morchio, G. On the origin of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and the xylenes in virgin olive oil-further results. Z Lebensm Unters Forch 203, 224–229 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01192868
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01192868