Sugar cane burning in Brazil causes remarkable amounts of organic compounds to be emitted amongst which the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent serious health hazards. Therefore, 24-h aerosol samples (<10μm aerodynamic diameter) were collected in Araraquara city (Sao Paulo state) during the harvest season using a Hi-Vol sampler. PAHs were recovered using an Accelerated Solvent Extractor and analyzed by low-pressure gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry (LP-GC-IT-MS). The fully automated extraction process was performed in less than 25min with a solvent consumption of approximately 20ml. The use of a deactivated 0.6mx0.10mm i.d. restrictor coupled to a 10m wide-bore analytical column allowed most of the 16 PAHs in EPA's priority list to be identified and quantified in only 13min. Concentrations of PAHs in Araraquara aerosols ranged between 0.5 and 8.6ngm - 3 .