The concentrations of 37 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their potential risk to human health were determined in fifty sardine muscle (Sardinella brasiliensis) samples collected along the southern Brazilian shelf. Parental and alkylated PAHs were identified and quantified using a pressurized liquid extraction with in-cell purification method and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry identification and quantification. The concentrations of Σ37 PAHs in muscle ranged between 6.02 and 4074 μg kg⁻¹ wet weight, which are comparable to levels reported for commercially important fish worldwide. The most abundant compounds were pyrene and fluoranthene, which originate from both petrogenic and pyrolytic hydrocarbon inputs. In only 4% of the samples the benzo[a] pyrene equivalent concentration was above the threshold of 6 μg kg⁻¹ suggested for safe fish consumption in Brazil. These findings will serve as baseline data for monitoring the quality of sardines consumed in the country and for studying fish populations.

在巴西南部陆架上收集的五十个沙丁鱼肌肉（Sardinella brasiliensis）样品中确定了37种多环芳烃（PAHs）的浓度及其对人体健康的潜在风险。亲本和烷基化的PAHs通过细胞内纯化的加压液体萃取和气相色谱-质谱法鉴定和定量进行鉴定和定量。肌肉中Σ37PAHs的浓度范围为6.02至4074μgkg ^-1湿重，与世界范围内重要商业鱼类报告的水平相当。最丰富的化合物是pyr和荧蒽，它们都来自于成岩和热解烃输入。在仅4％的样品中，苯并[a] equivalent的当量浓度高于为巴西安全食用鱼所建议的6μgkg ^-1的阈值。这些发现将作为监测该国食用沙丁鱼质量和研究鱼类种群的基准数据。