Spatial distibution and temporal accumulation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins,dibenzofurans, and biphenyls in the Gulf of Finland

Dated sediment cores and surface sediments were analyzed from the Gulf of Finland, a part of the Baltic Sea, to study the sources, levels, distribution, and total amounts of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The gulf was found to be severely polluted, with PCDD/F sum concentrations as high as 101000 ng/kg and 479 ng/kg WHO-TEQ in dry weight. The source of pollution was the former manufacturing and use of a chlorophenol based wood preservative along the Kymijoki River. It was estimated thatthe impacted sedimentary area stretched a distance of 75 km away out from the coast and that the PCDD/F sum load attributed to the wood preservative source was 1770 kg of PCDD/Fs or 12.4 (+/-2.8) kg WHO-TEQ. The surface sediments contained 24-66% of the maximum concentrations present in the 1960-1970s, showing that the river still acts as a significant PCDD/F source and may contribute to the high levels in fish. Moreover, the reduced PCDD/F and PCB concentrations were partly due to the dilution by increased dry matter deposition. PCBs were uniformly distributed over the gulf, and the PCB load in the polluted area was 2020 kg or 0.14 kg WHO-TEG.     

Fish, fishing, and pollutant reduction in the Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea is heavily polluted yet supports major commercial fisheries for cod (Gadus morhua), herring (Clupea harengus), and sprat (Sprattus sprattus). Emissions of persistent organic pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and DDT, were high during the 1960s and 1970s, and concentrations in fish and other fauna are still significant. Several models of the fluxes of these pollutants among the water, sediment, and atmosphere have been developed, but these generally omit the roles of fish and fisheries. We show that the standing stock of the most abundant fish species in the Baltic Sea was a sink for 260 kg of PCBs in the late 1980s to early 1990s and that the fishery removed as much or more PCB (31 kg yr(-1))than other budget components (e.g., degradation in the water column). Accounting for fish and fisheries could increase our understanding of the fluxes of pollutants, and banning the discard of highly contaminated organs such as cod liver could be part of the pollution management.     

Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in herring from the southern Baltic, 1983

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-benzenehexachloride (BHC, HCH), p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDT (sigma DDT) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) levels have been determined in muscle tissue of 187 herring (Clupea harengus) netted during 1983 in a different regions in the southern part of the Baltic Sea. The mean levels found for herring muscle tissue related to wet weight (microgram/kg) were: 14 HCB, 18 alpha-BHC, 23 beta-BHC, 14 gamma-BHC, delta-BHC remained undetected, 56 sigma BHC, 115 p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDD and o,p'-DDT remained undetected, 84 p,p'-DDD, 51 p,p'-DDT, 250 sigma DDT and 530 PCB. The levels of organochlorine pesticides determined in wet muscles or extractable lipids of herring are nearly 2-3 times as high as those noted in fish sampled in the same area in two years before, whilst for PCBs the wet weight levels were comparable, and when based on a lipid weight are somewhat higher. The results are compared with levels found in herring collected in different regions of the Baltic Sea during 1965-1983, and reported previously by other authors.     

Congener-specific tissue distribution and hepatic sequestration of PCDD/Fs in wild herring gulls from Bohai Bay, North China: comparison to coplanar PCBs

Tissue distribution is an important property of pharmacokinetic behaviors of dioxins to provide information for risk assessment to wild avian species. In this study, concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (coplanar PCBs) were determined in muscle, liver, spleen, kidney, brain, and adipose of wild herring gulls collected from Bohai Bay, North China. Tissue distribution results showed preferential accumulation of PCDD/Fs in liver and of co-PCBs in adipose. The congener patterns of coplanar PCBs were constant in different tissues, but the congener patterns for PCDD/F were tissue-specific. The liver/adipose concentration ratios for PCDD/ Fs were found to increase statistically significantly with log K(ow), providing the quantitative relationship of structure-activity for hepatic sequestration of PCDD/Fs for the first time. Furthermore, this relationship was compared with those developed on the basis of previous results reported in the literature showing that the wild herring gulls in Bohai Bay are still in the exposure period.     

Destruction of the World Trade Center and PCBs, PBDEs, PCDD/Fs, PBDD/Fs, and chlorinated biphenylenes in water, sediment, and sewage sludge

Ash-laden runoff samples collected near Ground Zero soon after the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) and subsequent fire demonstrate the release of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated dipheyl ethers (PBDEs), polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polybrominated dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and tetra- and pentachlorinated biphenylenes (PCBPs) from the incident. Relative abundances of PCDD/F congeners in the runoff water and post-disaster lower Manhattan dust samples were different from those seen in pre-disaster NYC combined sewer outfall (CSO) samples. The WTC-related samples showed a greater relative abundance of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF than usually seen in CSOs, sludges, and treated wastewaters. This congener may be associated with certain types of incineration. Comparison of sediment and water samples collected in the lower Hudson River before and shortly after September 11, 2001 (9/11) showed no changes in PCB or PCDD/F concentrations or homologue profiles determined down to the parts per quadrillion range. Comparisons of ambient water samples collected post-9/11 with archived samples suggest that the WTC disaster did not significantly impact ambient concentrations of the target chemicals. Ambient concentrations of PBDD/Fs in New York Harbor are similar to those of PCDD/Fs, suggesting that these contaminants deserve increased scrutiny with respect to toxicity, sources, and fate in the environment.     

Dietary intakes of polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins, dibenzofurans and polychlorinated biphenyls in Finland

Samples of cow milk, pork, beef, eggs, rainbow trout, flours and vegetables were analysed for 17 polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) and 36 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). Daily dietary intake of PCDD/Fs as toxic equivalent (I-TEq) and PCBs (PCB-TEq) was assessed using food consumption data from a 24-h dietary recall study for 2862 Finnish adults. The calculated intake of PCDD/F was 46pg I-TEq day -1 . The current level was about half of the earlier estimation of intake in Finland made in 1992. The assessed PCB intake was 53pg PCBTEqday -1 . Thus, the total intake of PCDD/Fs and PCBs was 100pg TEqday -1 (1.3pg TEqkg -1 b.w.day -1 ), which is within the range of tolerable daily intake (TDI) proposed by the WHO (1-4pg TEqkg -1 b.w.day -1 ).     

Associations of diet with body burden of dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): observations on pregnant women from central Taiwan.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between placental polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) toxic equivalent (TEQ) levels and the consumption of various food types in pregnant women from central Taiwan. Placental PCDD/Fs and PCB congener TEQ levels were evaluated in 109 pregnant women and dietary information was obtained by questionnaire. TEQ levels of PCDD/Fs and PCBs were positively associated with age and annual family incomes (p < 0.05). PCDD/F TEQs were significantly associated with freshwater fish and dairy product consumption after adjustment for age and body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.05). For PCB TEQs, significant associations were detected for saltwater fish consumption (p < 0.05). In summary, positive correlations were found between freshwater fish and dairy product intake and PCDD/F levels, and a marginal correlation between saltwater fish intake and the body burden of PCBs in pregnant women from central Taiwan. Risk assessment of PCDD/Fs and PCB in fishery products is warranted in a future study to quantify the benefits of fish consumption during the perinatal period.     

Polychloronaphthalenes and other dioxin-like compounds in Arctic and Antarctic marine food webs

Here we report accumulation patterns of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and pesticides (HCB, p,p'DDE) in polar organisms (polar bear from Alaskan Arctic and krill, sharp-spined notothen, crocodile icefish, Antarctic silverfish, Adélie penguin, South polar skua, and Weddell seal from the Ross Sea, Antarctica). PCNs, found in most of the samples, ranged from 1.5 pg/g in krill to 2550 pg/g in South polar skua on a wet weight basis. Lower chlorinated PCNs were the predominant congeners in organisms except skua and polar bear that showed similar PCN homologue patterns. PCDD/F concentrations were <90 pg/g wet wt in polar organisms; PCDD congeners showed peculiar accumulation patterns in different organisms. Correlation existed between PCN and PCB concentrations. PCB, HCF, and p,p'DDE levels were the highest in skua liver (11,150 ng/g wet wt, 345 ng/g wet wt, and 300 ng/g wet wt, respectively). Contribution of PCNs to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TEQ) was negligible (<0.1%) because of the lack of most toxic congeners. The highest TEQ was found in South polar skua liver (45 pg/g, wet weight). This is the first study to document the occurrence of PCNs in Antarctic organisms. High levels of dioxin-like chemicals in skua suggest the importance of intake via diet and migration habits, thus POP detection can be useful to trace migration behavior. Moreover, POP concentrations in penguin and skua eggs prove their transfer from the mother to eggs.     

Environmental and human impact of an old-timer incinerator in terms of dioxin and PCB level: a case study

The impact of a recently closed old municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) on polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD), polychlorodibenzofuran (PCDF), and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels in the surrounding environment and resident serum has been studied in a small rural area of France. Studied soils and eggs from chickens foraging on these soils were sampled in the vicinity of the MSWI underthe prevailing wind stream, while comparison samples were collected outside the assumed impact zone. PCB levels observed in soils and eggs did not differ statistically from comparison sites. This confirmed the low impact of MSWI PCB emission on environmental media, compared to other well-known sources. PCDD/PCDF levels in soils and eggs were significantly higher than in comparison samples, pointing out the impact of MSWI emission on the surrounding environment. The high dioxin concentrations in eggs set aside for private consumption would increase the dioxin intake for the studied population. Blood specimens of 10 nonoccupationally exposed volunteers who had lived within a 2 km radius of the incinerator for at least 25 years have been analyzed. When adjusted for age, PCB and PCDD/F blood levels were higher than general European populations and comparable to a similarly exposed Belgian population.     

Factors influencing the intake of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs via fish consumption in Germany

This study discusses the various factors which influence the intake of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) via fish consumption to support the requirements for additional information for an adequate estimation of consumer’s exposure. Growing consumer preferences towards lean and aquaculture species have to be considered in future. The varying dioxin and dl-PCB levels of herring in relation to the geographical origin and the fishing season and their consequences for the estimation of the exposition are discussed. The levels in herring from different fishing grounds can vary by a factor of 8 between 0.43 and 3.04 ng WHO–PCDD/F–PCB–TEQ₂₀₀₅/kg wet weight. Increasing lipid content of the muscle meat during the feeding cycle of herring and mackerel leads to a “dilution effect” of contaminants based on lipid weight. Changes in the composition of feed for carnivorous species reduced the dioxin levels in farmed salmon and trout considerably between 1997 and 2004. Hence only recently taken data collections should be used for exposure estimation. Furthermore processing and household preparation can change the contaminant levels and should be taken into account.     

Reduction of dioxin-like compound emissions from a Waelz plant with adsorbent injection and a dual baghouse filter system.

Previous study indicates that the polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and -dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) concentration measured in the stack gas of the Waelz plant investigated reached 194 ng-TEQ/(N m3) (TEQ = toxic equivalence), due to the relatively high potential of PCDD/F formation and a low PCDD/F removal efficiency (<70%) achieved with the baghouse filter (BF). In September 2006, the Taiwan government setthe PCDD/F emission limit for existing Waelz plants as 1.0 ng-I-TEQO/(N m3). The retrofit technology for reducing PCDD/F emissions from the existing Waelz plant was evaluated at the same time. Carbon-type adsorbent injection technology was adopted in early 2006 to reduce the emission of dioxin-like compounds at the Waelz plant investigated. Flue gases and ambient air samplings were conducted during the two stages of retrofit to evaluate the removal efficiency of dioxin-like compounds at the Waelz plant investigated. At stage 1, by applying adsorbent injection + single baghouse filter (SBF), the PCDD/F and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations measured in the stack gas at the Waelz plant were 4.62 ng-TEQ/(N m3) and 0.08 ng-TEQ(WHO)/(N m3) (TEQ(WHO) = World Health Organization TEQ), respectively, as the adsorbent injection rate was controlled at 40 kg/h (or 540 mg/ (N m3)). At stage 2, the PCDD/F and PCB concentration measured at stack gas, achieved with adsorbent injection + dual baghouse filter (DBF) system, were further reduced to 0.235 + 0.04 ng-I-TEQ/(N m3) (I-TEQ = International TEQ) and 0.004 + 0.002 ng-TEQ(WHO)/(N m3) with the adsorbent injection rate at 16 kg/h (or 215 mg/(N m3)). In the meantime, the atmospheric PCDD/F concentrations measured in the vicinity area of the Waelz plant were greatly reduced from 568-1465 to 48.9-130 fg-I-TEQ/m3. Higher removal efficiency (>99.8%) achieved at a lower adsorbent injection rate (16 kg/h) of the adsorbent injection + DBF system also significantly reduced the total PCDD/-F and PCB emission flows (per kg of electric arc furnace dust treated) to 1925 ng-I-TEQ and 30.5 ng-TEQ(WHO), respectively.     

Long-term daily intake estimates of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans,polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenylethers from food in Finnish children: risk assessment implications

Food is contaminated by polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/F), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDE) worldwide. Previous data show elevated intakes in children. We determined intakes of POPs in Finnish children. Because no children-specific safe limit values exist, we used tolerable daily intakes (TDIs) set for adults by international expert bodies to examine the proportion of the study population that exceed those limits. We utilised dietary monitoring data with food consumption of Finnish boys and girls aged 1–6 years, measured the contaminant concentrations in all the main food items and calculated age-specific contaminant sum and congener-specific long-term daily intake levels. Our food intake and contaminant data correspond to years 2002–2005. The long-term upper-bound dioxin intakes ranged between 0.1 and 12.8?pg WHO_PCDD/F-PCB-TEQ/kg bw/d (min and max). An immediate TDI for WHO_PCDD/F-PCB-TEQs of 4.0?pg/kg?bw/d were exceeded by 2.5%–7.5% of the children. PBDE long-term upper-bound intake was between 0.1 and 5.8?ng/kg bw/d (min and max). Congener-specific analyses indicated a typical Finnish adult exposure pattern of the children to PCDD/Fs, PCBs and PBDEs. The highest POP intakes were observed in children aged 3 years. Long-term daily PCDD/F, PCB and PBDE intakes among Finnish children varied greatly between individuals and ages. In each age group of the study population, there was a proportion of children with their WHO_PCDD/F-PCB-TEQ intake exceeding considered safe limits set for adults. Based on the exposure profile reported herein, children should be clearly considered as a specific sub-population in food-mediated contaminant risk assessment.     

Long-term daily intake estimates of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans, polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenylethers from food in Finnish children: risk assessment implications

Food is contaminated by polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/F), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDE) worldwide. Previous data show elevated intakes in children. We determined intakes of POPs in Finnish children. Because no children-specific safe limit values exist, we used tolerable daily intakes (TDIs) set for adults by international expert bodies to examine the proportion of the study population that exceed those limits. We utilised dietary monitoring data with food consumption of Finnish boys and girls aged 1-6 years, measured the contaminant concentrations in all the main food items and calculated age-specific contaminant sum and congener-specific long-term daily intake levels. Our food intake and contaminant data correspond to years 2002-2005. The long-term upper-bound dioxin intakes ranged between 0.1 and 12.8?pg WHO(PCDD/F-PCB)-TEQ/kg bw/d (min and max). An immediate TDI for WHO(PCDD/F-PCB)-TEQs of 4.0?pg/kg?bw/d were exceeded by 2.5%-7.5% of the children. PBDE long-term upper-bound intake was between 0.1 and 5.8?ng/kg bw/d (min and max). Congener-specific analyses indicated a typical Finnish adult exposure pattern of the children to PCDD/Fs, PCBs and PBDEs. The highest POP intakes were observed in children aged 3 years. Long-term daily PCDD/F, PCB and PBDE intakes among Finnish children varied greatly between individuals and ages. In each age group of the study population, there was a proportion of children with their WHO(PCDD/F-PCB)-TEQ intake exceeding considered safe limits set for adults. Based on the exposure profile reported herein, children should be clearly considered as a specific sub-population in food-mediated contaminant risk assessment.     

Levels of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and PCNs in soils and vegetation in an area with chemical and petrochemical industries

The concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDFs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) have been determined in soil and wild chard samples collected in an area of Tarragona County (Catalonia, Spain) with an important number of chemical and petrochemical industries. Samples were also collected in urban/residential zones, as well as in presumably unpolluted sites. In soils, the levels of PCDD/Fs ranged from 0.16 ng I-TEQ/kg (unpolluted sampling points) to 2.65 ng I-TEQ/kg (industrial zone), and those of sigmaPCBs ranged from 657 to 12038 ng/ kg in these same zones. In turn, sigmaPCNs ranged from 32 (unpolluted sites) to 180 ng/kg (residential/urban sites). In contrast to soil concentrations, there were not significant differences among collection zones in the levels of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and PCNs found in chard. However, PCB and PCN concentrations in chard samples collected at the unpolluted sampling points were higher than the respective concentrations in soils. In general terms, the current concentrations of the organic pollutants analyzed in this study are similar or lower than data from previous reports in other countries.     

Trace metals in muscle tissue of fish taken from the southern Baltic

The determination of Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cu, Co, Zn and Cd was investigated on 123 samples of muscle tissue of cod, herring, sprat and some other species of fish caught in 1981 in the southern Baltic Sea. The ranges and mean levels of metals recorded in this paper are compared with values reported previously by other authors for cod, herring and sprat from different regions of the Baltic Sea. The correlation coefficients between the metal concentrations in cod and herring muscles were calculated. The species-dependent changes of some metals in species analysed were observed.     

Occurrence of dioxins (PCDDs,PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in wild,farmed and processed fish,and shellfish

Forty-eight composite samples of the most commonly consumed fish and shellfish species were prepared from up to 60 individual subsamples of each species and analysed for chlorinated dioxins (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These included 24 species of fresh wild fish, seven of farmed fish, seven of fresh shellfish, and ten processed fish and shellfish products. The ISO 17025-accredited analytical methodology used is consistent with the requirements given in European Commission Directive 2002/69/EC. Concentrations ranged from 0.03 ng kg^–1 PCDD/F plus PCB World Health Organization-toxic equivalent quantity (WHO-TEQ) for a sample of surimi, to approximately 6 ng kg^–1 for wild pilchards/sardines. The corresponding range for the ΣICES-6 PCBs was 0.04 μg kg^–1 to approximately 47 μg kg^–1. None of the samples showed concentrations above the European Union maximum permitted limits. Averaged PCDD/F and PCB concentrations for the two groups of farmed and wild fish show that there is little difference between the two categories, although individual species may show variations depending on factors such as the sampling location.     

Evidence for dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans in wastewater collection systems in the New York metropolitan area

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) are persistent organic pollutants targeted by the Stockholm Convention. Both contain aromatic chlorines and are subject to microbial dechlorination. Dechlorination of PCBs in sewers in the Delaware River basin was recently reported. In this work, two data sets on concentrations of PCBs and PCBs+PCDD/Fs in wastewater treatment plant influents and effluents were analyzed to look for evidence that these compounds undergo dechlorination in the sewers of the New York/New Jersey Harbor area. The two data sets come from the Contamination Assessment and Reduction Project (CARP) and were analyzed via Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF). Analysis of the data set containing only PCB concentrations suggests that PCBs are dechlorinated in the sewers of the NY/NJ Harbor via the same pathways observed in the sewers of the Delaware River basin and that advanced dechlorination of PCB mixtures is more likely to occur in combined sewers vs separate sanitary sewers. When the combined data set of PCBs+PCDD/Fs was analyzed, the factor containing PCB dechlorination products also contained high proportions of 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (HpCDD), a known product of the dechlorination of octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD), and other known dechlorination products of PCDD/Fs. Despite being the most abundant PCDD/F congener in all of the samples in the database, OCDD was a minor component in the dechlorination factor. This provides the first evidence that PCDD/Fs may be dechlorinated in sewers.     

Polychlorinated naphthalenes, -biphenyls, -dibenzo-p-dioxins, and -dibenzofurans in double-crested cormorants and herring gulls from Michigan waters of the Great Lakes

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), naphthalenes (PCNs), and biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in eggs of double-crested cormorants and herring gulls collected from Michigan waters of the Great Lakes. Concentrations of PCNs in eggs of double-crested cormorants and herring gulls were in the ranges of 380-2400 and 83-1300 pg/g, wet wt, respectively. Concentrations of 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDDs and PCDFs were 10-200 times less than those of PCNs in eggs whereas those of total PCBs (380-7900 ng/g, wet wt) were 3-4 orders of magnitude greater. While the profile of PCB isomers and congeners between double-crested cormorants and herring gulls was similar, the PCN isomer profile differed markedly between these two species. PCN congeners 66/67 (1,2,3,4,6,7/1,2,3,5,6,7) accounted for greater than 90% of the total PCN concentrations in herring gulls, whereas their contribution to total PCN concentrations in double-crested cormorants ranged from 18 to 40% (mean, 31%). The ratios of concentrations of PCDDs to PCDFs were greater in herring gulls than in double-crested cormorants collected from the same locations, suggesting the ability of the former to metabolize PCDF congeners relatively rapidly. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) equivalents (TEQs) contributed by PCNs in double-crested cormorant and herring gull eggs were 2-3% of the sum TEQs of PCBs, PCDDs, PCDFs, and PCNs. PCB congener 126 (3,3',4,4',5-PeCB) accounted for 57-72% of the total TEQs in double-crested cormorant and herring gull eggs.     

Levels and trends of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in Polish animal feeds, 2004–2017

Feed control is essential for the safety of animal-origin food. It is estimated that more than 80% of human exposure to dioxins and related compounds comes from the consumption of animal-origin food, and farm animals are exposed to dioxins mainly through the feed. A monitoring programme for dioxins (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs)) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) was conducted in the Polish feed market between 2004 and 2017. Using two complementary ISO 17025-accredited analytical methods (bioassay and high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS)), 2919 samples of plant, animal and minerals origin were analysed. The total number of samples exceeding the maximum limit (ML) was 52, which is 1.8% of all tested samples. They all contained PCDD/Fs in concentrations over the ML, and in 16 samples the limit for the sum of PCDD/F/DL-PCBs was also exceeded. The highest dioxins level was found in feedstuffs derived from Baltic fish; the fish oil was followed by fish meal. Low-chlorinated furans (2.3,7,8 TCDF, 2,3,4,7,8-PCDF and 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF) were dominant and these congeners accounted for the toxicity expressed in WHO toxic equivalents (WHO-TEQ). In this category, 155 out of the 498 samples (32%) exceeded the action threshold (AT) for PCDD/Fs and in 10 samples (2.0%) for DL-PCBs. Non-compliant fish meals were found in 34 (5.6%) of the tested samples, in 0.7% of compound feeds, and in 1.5% of plant-origin materials. Seven dried plant-derived materials contained PCDD/F level above ML, including alfalfa, maize, apple, basil and beet pulp pellets containing molasses. The dry vegetable materials were mostly contaminated by the 2,3,7,8-furans, the congeners arising from a faulty drying process. No significant time trend can be seen. From the obtained results, it can be concluded that concentrations of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in Polish feed materials were sufficiently low to ensure low concentrations in animal-derived products.     

Trace metals in herring from the southern Baltic, 1983

The cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, iron, manganese and nickel concentrations have been determined in muscle tissue of 187 herring (Clupea harengus) netted in different regions in the southern part of the Baltic Sea. The method of measurement was atomic-absorption spectrophotometry. The mean values obtained related to wet weight (mg/kg) for herring muscle tissue were: 0.009 Cd, 0.079 Pb, 0.49 Cu, 9.2 Zn, 9.9 Fe, 0.19 Mn and 0.10 Ni. Some differences in the concentration of particular trace metals between herring stocks sampled have been observed. The mean content of cadmium and lead in muscles of herring examined were below recommended tolerance levels of 0.05-2.0 and 0.5-2.0 mg/kg, respectively. A small number of herring contained cadmium in their muscles at a concentration above 0.05 mg/kg. The results are compared with values reported previously for Baltic herring by other authors.