Dietary exposure and risk assessment of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins,polychlorinated dibenzofurans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls of the population in the Region of Valencia (Spain)

Dietary exposure of the Valencia Region population to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and PCBs was assessed in the Region of Valencia in 2010–2011. A total of 7700 food samples were collected. Occurrence data were combined with consumption data to estimate dietary exposure in adults (>15 years of age) and young people (6–15 years of age). The estimated intake was calculated by a probabilistic approach. Average intake levels (upper-bound scenario) were 1.58 and 2.76 pg toxic equivalent (TEQ) kg^?1 body weight (bw) day^?1 for adults and young people, respectively. These average intakes are within range of the tolerable daily intake of 1–4 pg WHO-TEQ kg^?1 bw day^?1 recommended by WHO, and slightly above the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 14 pg TEQ kg^?1 bw week^?1 and the Provisional tolerable monthly intake of 70 pg TEQ kg^?1 bw month^?1 set by the Scientific Committee on Food and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food, respectively. These results show that the contamination levels in food and therefore the exposure of the general population to PCDD/Fs and PCBs have declined in this region and therefore show the efficiency of the European risk-management measures. In terms of risk characterisation, the results showed that, under the upper-bound scenario, 22% of the adult and 58% of the young people population could exceed the TWI.     

Dietary exposure of the Hong Kong adult population to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs): results of the first Hong Kong Total Diet Study

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a group of industrial chemicals that are persistent and can bioaccumulate. In the first Hong Kong Total Diet Study, the dietary exposure of Hong Kong adults to PBDEs was estimated to assess the associated health risks. Food samples, which represented the Hong Kong people’s diet, were collected and prepared in table-ready form for analysis. Concentrations of PBDEs were determined in 142 composite samples. The dietary exposures were estimated by combining the analytical results with the local food consumption data of the adults. The mean and 95th percentile of dietary PBDEs exposures of the Hong Kong people were 1.34 and 2.90 ng kg^?1 body weight day^?1, respectively. The main dietary source of PBDEs was “fish and seafood and their products”, which contributed 27.3% of the total exposure, followed by “meat, poultry and game and their products” (20.7%), “cereals and their products” (15.9%), and “fats and oils” (15.9%). The large margins of exposure (MOE) (>2.5) calculated following the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approach for four important congeners, BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-153 and BDE-209, indicate that the estimated dietary exposures are unlikely to be a significant health concern.     

Occurrence of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in eggs from free-range hens in Campania (southern Italy) and risk evaluation

ABSTRACT

Hens’ eggs collected in home-producing farms located in different areas of the Campania region of southern Italy were analysed for six NDL-polychlorobiphenyls (PCB indicators), 17 polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDFs), and 12 congeners of dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs). In the investigated area, waste from civil, industrial and hospital activities was illegally dumped and in many cases burned, so the area is called the ‘Land of fire’. This illicit practice has been considered the main source of pollution in this territory and the cause of the persistent organic pollutants’ (POPs) contamination in the neighbouring lands intended for agricultural use and livestock. The results, which were obtained from the analysis of 56 samples of eggs, showed levels of contamination by dioxins and PCBs that have often exceeded the action levels set by European Union Recommendation 711/2013 and sometimes even exceeded the maximum levels set by Commission Regulation (EU) 1259/2011. The median PCDD/Fs was 0.41 pg TEQ g^?1 fat (range = 0.01–6.18 pg TEQ g^?1 fat) and the median concentration of DL-PCBs was 0.70 pg TEQ g^?1 fat (range = 0.01–14.60 pg TEQ g^?1 fat), whereas NDL-PCBs median was 7.35 ng g^?1 fat (range = 0.48–67.55 ng g^?1 fat). Nevertheless, the estimated weekly intake (EWI) calculated for consumers of eggs home produced in Campania is lower than the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) established by the European Union Scientific Committee on Food (SCF).     

A Critical Review about Human Exposure to Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins (PCDDs), Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) through Foods

Dioxins include polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and part of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Only the compounds that are chlorinated at the 2,3,7, and 8 positions have characteristic dioxin toxicity. PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs accumulate in the food chain due to their high lipophilicity, high stability, and low vapor pressure. They are not metabolized easily; however their hydroxylated metabolites are detected in feces. They cause a wide range of endocrine disrupting effects in experimental animals, wildlife, and humans. Endocrine related effects of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs on thyroid hormones, neurodevelopment and reproductive development were referenced. In addition, some studies of contamination of foods, bioaccumulation, dietary exposure assessment, as well as challenges of scientific research in these compounds were reviewed.     

Development and application of a simplified clean-up procedure for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in horse fat by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS)

A simplified clean-up procedure was developed in combination with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in adipose tissue. Clean-up was performed by the successive application of a Mega Bond Elut® silica column and a Bond Elut® PCB column. Validation of the method was conducted according to European Union Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. In order to evaluate the applicability of the method, 44 horse fat samples were analysed. The total PCB concentration (sum of PCBs 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180) ranged from 5.35 to 140 ng g^-1 lipid weight. The total PBDE concentration (sum of BDEs 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154 and 183) ranged from below the decision limit to 6.34 ng g^-1 lipid weight.