Update of daily intake of PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs from food in Japan

Total diet study (TDS) samples of 14 food groups from 16 locations in Japan, collected in 1999 and 2000, were analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dioxin-like PCBs) to estimate the update of daily intake of these contaminants from food. The mean daily intake of toxic equivalency (TEQ) for an adult weighing 50 kg, calculated at non-detected isomer concentrations equal to zero (ND=0), was estimated to be 2.25 pg TEQ/kg b.w./day. When non-detected isomer concentrations are assumed to be equal to half of the limits of detection (ND=1/2 LOD), the mean daily intake was estimated to be 3.22 pg TEQ/kg b.w./day. These values were below the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 4 pg TEQ/kg b.w. for PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs set in Japan. In both the estimates, the mean daily intakes were highest from fish and shellfish (76.9% at ND=0 and 53.9% at ND=1/2 LOD of the total TEQs), followed by those from meat and eggs (15.5% at ND=0 and 11.7% at ND=1/2 LOD of the total TEQs). Congener specific data revealed that these total TEQ levels were dominated by 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF and 3,3^′,4,4^′,5-PeCB in each case (71.7% at ND=0 and 63.1% at ND=1/2 LOD of the total TEQs). The dioxin-like PCBs (non-ortho and mono-ortho PCBs) accounted for about 50% of these total TEQs. These data will be very useful in the risk assessment of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs from food in Japan.     

PCDDs, PCDFs, and PCBs concentrations in breast milk from two areas in Korea: body burden of mothers and implications for feeding infants

We determined breast milk concentration of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs)/polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in 24 mothers living in Korea, and assessed the maternal body burden based on PCDDs/PCDFs and PCBs concentrations in breast milk and an infant intake rate through breast-feeding based on their concentration in breast milk. PCDDs/PCDFs and PCBs levels in breast milk from primipara mothers were found to be higher than those from multipara mothers. For total PCDDs/PCDFs TEQ level, 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDD was the predominant congener, and the proportion of 2,3,7,8-TCDD was less than 3% of total PCDDs/PCDFs TEQ level. For PCBs TEQ level, PCB-126 was the predominant congener. Maternal body burden levels of PCDDs/PCDFs and PCBs based on their concentrations in breast milk were 268-622 TEQ ng. The daily dioxin intakes of mothers were predicted to be 0.78-2.18 TEQ pg/kg/day for PCDDs/PCDFs and 0.34-0.66 TEQ pg/kg/ day for PCBs. For the first year, the body burden of an infant was predicted to be 212 TEQ ng and the daily intake of an infant was predicted to be 85 TEQ pg/kg/day, assuming the mean dioxin-related compounds concentration (27.54 TEQ pg/g fat).     

PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs in food of animal origin (Slovakia)

The levels of 17 toxic polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and 12 non-ortho and mono-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in 73 foodstuff samples of animal origin collected from shops and small farms in selected districts of Slovak Republic are presented in this paper. The concentrations expressed as WHO-TEQ in analysed samples ranged for PCDDs/PCDFs from 0.25 pg/g fat in pork to 75 pg/g fat in cod liver. The TEQ concentrations of non-ortho PCBs were between 0.007 and 181 pg/g fat and mono-ortho PCBs between 0.0083 and 66.5 pg/g fat. The mean concentrations in freshwater fish and imported species of marine fish were 0.089 pg TEQ/g fresh weight for PCDDs/PCDFs, 0.17 pg TEQ/g fresh weight for non-ortho PCBs and 0.034 pg TEQ/g fresh weight for mono-ortho PCBs. The mean total concentration of PCDDs/PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs in samples of infant milk formula imported from EU countries was 0.98 pg TEQ/g fat.     

Levels and profiles of PCDDs,PCDFs and cPCBs in Belgian breast milk. Estimation of infant intake

Congener-specific analyses of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and non-ortho (coplanar) polychlorinated biphenyls (cPCBs) were performed on 20 non-pooled breast milk samples collected in or close to an industrial area of Wallonia (Belgium). PCDD/F concentrations ranged between 16.0 and 52.1 pg TEQ/g fat, with a mean value of 29.4 pg TEQ/g fat. If coplanar PCBs (77, 126, 169) are included in TEQ calculations, levels ranged between 22.2 and 100.2 pg TEQ/g fat, with a mean value of 40.8 pg TEQ/g fat. It appears that 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF and PCB-126 account for more than 90% of the TEQ. Estimated PCDD/F dietary intake is 76 pg TEQ/kg body weight (bw)/day. This value is almost 20 times higher than the World Health Organization tolerable daily intake. A value of 103 pg TEQ/kg bw/day represents the intake of PCDDs, PCDFs and cPCBs (no mono-ortho PCBs included).     

Concentration changes of PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs in human breast milk samples as shown by a follow-up survey

Breast milk is known to discharge dioxins from the human body. However, to date, no direct comparison has been made of the concentrations of dioxin analogues in breast milk obtained from identical population after successive deliveries. We present here follow-up survey results of PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs concentrations in human breast milk samples from 35 women living in Tokyo from whom samples had been obtained and analyzed to determine the corresponding concentrations in the past. The average concentrations of total PCDDs, PCDFs, dioxin-like PCBs were 8.5, 5.5, 11 TEQ pg/g fat for the first samples and 5.4, 4.0, 6.6 TEQ pg/g fat for the second samples, respectively. The degrees of reduction of total PCDDs and total dioxin-like PCBs were higher than that of total PCDFs because 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF and 3,3',4,4',5-PeCB (#126), which were the predominant congeners among PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs, respectively, had different degrees of reduction. Moreover we observed a significant increase of the concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs in samples from three women in this follow-up survey, and the patterns of increased isomers differed among the three samples. It was conjectured that the increase of the concentrations was due mainly to dietary intake between deliveries. It is important for pregnant women to have a balanced diet to mitigate the exposure of infants to these chemicals.     

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in blood and breast milk collected from 60 mothers in Sapporo City, Japan

We measured the concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), non-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls (non-ortho PCBs), and mono-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls (mono-ortho PCBs) in paired samples of blood and breast milk collected from 60 mothers in Sapporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. The present study is one of the few studies in which PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs have been measured in blood and breast milk collected from 60 same mothers. Of these 60 mothers, 30 were primipara (mean: 30.1 years, median: 28.0 years) and 30 were multipara (mean: 32.2 years, median: 32.5 years). The arithmetic mean TEQ concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs, non-ortho PCBs, and mono-ortho PCBs in blood and breast milk of the primiparous mothers were 9.0, 3.3, 5.7, and 0.4 pg TEQ g(-1) lipid, respectively, and 5.2, 2.2, 4.5, and 0.4 pg TEQ g(-1) lipid, respectively, with the total TEQ concentrations of these dioxin-like compounds being 9.3-42.9 (mean: 18.4, median: 17.3) and 7.0-41.1 (mean: 12.3, median: 11.4) pg TEQ g(-1) lipid, respectively. In the case of multiparous mothers, the arithmetic mean TEQ concentrations of these dioxin-like compounds in blood and breast milk were 7.1, 2.7, 5.3, and 0.4 pg TEQ g(-1) lipid, respectively, and 3.9, 1.7, 3.8, and 0.4 pg TEQ g(-1) lipid, respectively, with the total TEQ concentrations being 3.4-28.1 (mean: 15.5, median: 13.9) and 2.7-20.0 (mean: 9.8, median: 9.2)pg TEQ g(-1) lipid, respectively. The total TEQ concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs, non-ortho PCBs, and mono-ortho PCBs in blood and breast milk of primiparous mothers in Sapporo City appeared to be generally lower than those recently surveyed throughout the greater area of Japan. Significant correlations were observed between age and the total TEQ concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs, non-ortho PCBs, and mono-ortho PCBs in the blood of primiparae and multiparae, and significant correlations were also observed between age and the total TEQ concentrations of these dioxin-like compounds in the breast milk of primiparae and multiparae. The total TEQ concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs in the blood of primiparous mothers showed a close correlation to those in their breast milk and also showed good correlations between the total TEQ concentrations of these dioxin-like compounds in the blood of multiparous mothers and those in their breast milk. The result of a comparison of the arithmetic mean concentrations of each congener of PCDDs, PCDFs, non-ortho PCBs, and mono-ortho PCBs in blood and breast milk indicated that the transfer of octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) from the blood to the breast milk was lower than those of other congeners. In contrast, among mono-ortho PCBs congeners, the arithmetic mean concentrations of 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PentaCB) (#118) and 2,3,3',4,4'-PentaCB (#105) in the breast milk were slightly higher than those in the blood, which suggested that breast-fed infants may be at higher risk from mono-ortho PCBs.     

Congener profiles of PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs in the breast milk samples in Tokyo, Japan

Exposure to dioxins has raised much public concern recently. We determined the congeners' distribution of polychlorinated-dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) in the breast milk samples collected in Tokyo, Japan. Breast milk was taken from 240 mothers, 30 days after delivery in 1999 and 2000 in Tokyo, Japan. The actual concentration and TEQ concentration of PCDDs (14 congeners), PCDFs (15 congeners), and dl-PCBs (12 congeners), and each congener's contribution to the total TEQ level were calculated. Among all the samples, PCDDs accounted for 34.8%, PCDFs accounted for 23.5%, dl-PCBs accounted for 41.7%, which was also similar in the breast milk from the primiparae and secundiparae. The main contributors to the total TEQ with increasing percentages were 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD and 3,3',4,4',5-PCB (#126), and they accounted for more than 65% of the total TEQ. Detailed congener analysis in breast milk samples is effective to understand dioxin sources.     

Evaluation of dioxin-like chemicals in pooled human milk samples collected in Australia

DESIGN: Human milk samples were collected and analysed for the levels of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and selected dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In total, 157 individual samples collected during 2002 and 2003 as well as 24 samples collected in 1993 were analysed as 20 pools. RESULTS: PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs were detected in all pooled samples. For samples collected during 2002/2003, the TEQ(DFP) ranged from 6.0 to 15.2 pg TEQ g(-1) lipid with an average of 9.0 pg TEQ g(-1) lipid. The average lipid content was 3.7+/-0.5%. No systematic differences were observed in the levels of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs in human milk samples collected from different regions of Australia during 2002/2003. For samples collected in 1993 and analysed as pools, the mean level, expressed as TEQ(DFP) was 16+/-1.4 pg TEQ g(-1) lipid. The average lipid content was 3.9+/-0.7%. CONCLUSION: The levels of PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs in the human milk of Australian women are both low compared to international levels and similar across all regions of Australia. Consistent with world-wide trends, the levels of PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs have decreased over a 10 year period from 1993 to 2003 by approximately 40%.     

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in blood collected from 195 pregnant women in Sapporo City, Japan

We measured the concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), non-ortho coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (non-ortho PCBs), and mono-ortho coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (mono-ortho PCBs) in blood collected between 2002 and 2004 from 195 pregnant women living in Sapporo City of Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. The present study is one of the few studies in which PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs have been measured in the blood of pregnant women. Of the 195 pregnant women, 101 were primipara (mean: 28.8 years) and 94 were multipara (mean: 32.4 years). The arithmetic mean total TEQ concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs, non-ortho PCBs, and mono-ortho PCBs of primiparous and multiparous mothers in Sapporo City were 17.4 (median: 15.7) and 14.0 (median: 13.9)pgTEQ/glipid, respectively, and the concentrations were in the range of 6.6-43.4 and 3.4-28.2pgTEQ/glipid, respectively. In regard to the relationship between the total TEQ concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs, non-ortho PCBs, and mono-ortho PCBs in maternal blood and the number of deliveries or age of primiparous and multiparius mothers, the levels of these dioxin-like compounds tended to decrease with increases in the number of deliveries and significantly increased with increasing maternal age in both groups. Furthermore, significant correlations were observed between the total TEQ concentrations of these dioxin-like compounds and the age of primiparae and multiparae. The total TEQ concentration of PCDDs, PCDFs, non-ortho PCBs, and mono-ortho PCBs measured in 195 pregnant women has decreased compared to past levels in Japan for the last several decades. The results of the present study have indicated that dioxin contamination in the blood of young women in Japan is continuing to decrease.     

Dietary patterns and blood levels of PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs in 1656 Japanese individuals

The association between dietary patterns and blood dioxin levels has not been fully investigated. The present study population consisted of 755 men and 901 women (aged 15-73 years) living in 90 different areas of 30 prefectures of Japan. Dietary habits were assessed by inquiring about the consumption frequency of 28 foods, food groups and beverages. In addition, the blood levels of 29 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzo-furans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl (DL-PCBs) congeners were determined by high-resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The median total toxicity equivalent (TEQ) in the blood, which was calculated on the basis of the toxicity equivalency factors of WHO (2005), was 16 pg TEQ g⁻¹ lipid. Principal component analysis identified five dietary patterns: Healthy diet (high intake of vegetables and fruits); Meat/High fat intake (high intake of meat, meat products, and eggs); Seafood and Alcohol (high intake of fish, shellfish, and alcoholic beverages); Miscellaneous; and Milk products and Alcohol intake (high intake of milk, Milk products, and alcoholic beverages). After adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, and smoking habits, the Seafood and Alcohol pattern scores were significantly related to higher blood levels of total TEQ and PCDDs/PCDFs/DL-PCBs, and the Milk products and Alcohol pattern scores were correlated with higher blood levels of DL-PCBs. More detailed analysis showed that the intake frequencies for alcoholic beverages and seafood were independently and positively associated with total TEQ and the TEQ of PCDFs and DL-PCBs. The association between alcoholic beverage intake and PCDDs was also significant. Analysis of dietary patterns may be useful for identifying the dietary characteristics of individuals with a high dioxin body burden.     

Survey of commercial pasteurised cows' milk in Wallonia (Belgium) for the occurrence of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins,dibenzofurans and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls

Congener-specific analyses of 7 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), 10 polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and 4 non-ortho (coplanar) polychlorinated biphenyls (cPCBs) were performed on 35 samples of commercial long-life pasteurised cows' milk issued from eight different brands available in Walloon supermarkets (Belgium). The observed congener profile was characteristic of milk samples issued from industrialised countries with good inter and intra-brand reproducibility's. The PCDDs to PCDFs ratio was equal to 1.8 in concentration. The toxic equivalent (TEQ based on WHO-TEF) value for PCDD/Fs in all analysed milks was 1.09+/-0.30 pg TEQ/g fat (range 0.86-1.59), which is below the recommended EU non-commercialisation threshold value of 3 pg TEQ PCDD/Fs/g of milk fat. The mean TEQ value including cPCBs was 2.23+/-0.55 pg TEQ/g fat. These PCBs actually contributed for 49+/-8.6% of the total TEQ. Among PCDD/Fs and cPCBs, tetrachloro dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), pentachloro dibenzo-p-dioxin (PeCDD), pentachloro dibenzofurans (PeCDFs) and 3,3',4,4',5-pentachloro biphenyl (PCB-126) were the most important contributors to the TEQ. Estimated daily intake (EDI) due to consumption of such milks was 0.34 pg TEQ/kg of body weight/day for PCDD/Fs and 0.69 pg TEQ/kg of body weight/day when cPCBs were included.     

Distribution of dioxins, furans, and dioxin-like PCBs in solid products generated by pyrolysis and melting of automobile shredder residues

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in char and slag produced from automobile shredder residue by pyrolysis and melting process were analyzed to measure changes in the characteristics and distribution of their congeners caused by thermal treatment. In particular, a large quantity of dioxin-like PCBs occurred in low-chlorinated congeners. The concentration of PCDDs/PCDFs in char was 0.542 microg/kg, with mostly PCDFs dominant and its toxicity equivalent concentration (TEQ) was about 70ngTEQ/kg. The concentration and toxicity equivalent concentration of dioxin-like PCBs in char were 0.869 microg/kg and 1.60ngTEQ/kg, respectively. Melted char slag was produced using various cooling methods: water quenching, air cooling, and slow cooling. The concentrations of PCDDs/PCDFs in slag produced by the methods were 1.51, 1.38, and 2.43ngTEQ/kg, respectively; those of dioxin-like PCBs were close to 0.01ngTEQ/kg. The congener distributions varied only slightly among the cooling methods. Applying melting procedure to char reduced PCDD/PCDF concentration by 95.3%, and the corresponding TEQ concentration was reduced by 97.9%. We thus conclude that melting process is an efficient way to reduce the concentrations of PCDDs/PCDFs in solids produced by pyrolysis.     

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and non-ortho and mono-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls in blood of Yusho patients

We measured the concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), non-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls (non-ortho PCBs) and mono-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls (mono-ortho PCBs) in blood collected from 279 Yusho patients living in Japan, 92 Yusho-suspected persons living in Japan and 127 normal controls living in Fukuoka Prefecture, and compared among the groups in terms the concentrations of these compounds. The total toxic equivalents (TEQ) concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs, non-ortho PCBs, and mono-ortho PCBs in the bloods of Yusho patients and Yusho-suspected persons were 161.4 and 51.2 pg TEQ/g lipid, respectively and were about 3.5 and 1.1 times higher than those of normal controls, respectively. Although the TEQ concentrations of PCDDs, non-ortho PCBs, and mono-ortho PCBs among Yusho patients, Yusho-suspected persons and normal controls were nearly the same, the PCDFs levels of Yusho patients were significantly higher than those of Yusho-suspected persons and about 10.3 times higher than those of normal controls. In Yusho patients, PCDFs contributed about 65% to the total TEQ concentration. Among the PCDFs congeners for Yusho patients, the concentration of 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PeCDF) was about 11.3 times higher than that of normal controls. These findings indicated that Yusho patients even now, more than 34 years after the outbreak of Yusho, have much higher blood levels of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF in general than do unaffected persons.     

Levels of PCDDs and PCDFs in two kinds of fast foods in Korea

We initiated an attempt to gather preliminary Korean fast food data on the concentrations, whole weight and international toxic equivalent (TEQ), in two kinds of fast foods, hamburger and fried chicken. The levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDDs/PCDFs) in hamburgers are detected to be lower than in fried chickens. Total TEQ level of PCDDs in fried chicken is 47.45 times higher than in hamburger. In case of PCDFs, it is 48.61 times. Even though these are compared to the only one brand and three samples each, we think that these high levels of PCDDs/PCDFs in fried chicken are very important data because of the potentially increasing daily intake. If we continue to survey for PCDDs/PCDFs in fast foods more even, especially fried chicken, these data will be useful to calculate the estimated daily intake of TEQ levels of PCDDs/PCDFs in Korea.     

Levels and congener distributions of PCDDs,PCDFs and non-ortho PCBs in Belgian foodstuffs--assessment of dietary intake

Congener-specific analyses of 7 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), 10 polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and 4 non-ortho (coplanar) polychlorinated biphenyls (cPCBs) were performed on 197 foodstuffs samples of animal origin from Belgium during years 2000 and 2001. All investigated matrices (except horse) present background levels lower than the Belgian non-commercialization value of 5 pg TEQ/g fat. Pork was the meat containing the lowest concentration of both PCDD/Fs and cPCBs. The mean background concentration of 2,3,7,8-TCDD toxicity equivalent in milk was 1.1 pg/g of fat, with a congener distribution typical of non-contaminated milk. The relative contribution of 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 2,3,7,8-TCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD and 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF to the PCDD/Fs TEQ was 85+/-7.9% for all investigated matrices. The cPCBs contribution to the total TEQ was 47+/-19.0% for products of terrestrial species and 69+/-20.0% for aquatic species. Once the contribution of cPCBs was added to the TEQ, few foodstuffs such as horse, sheep, beef, eggs and cheese presented levels above the future European guidelines that currently only include PCDD/Fs but will be re-evaluated later in order to include 'dioxin-like' PCBs. Based on levels measured in the samples, the estimation of the dietary intake was 65.3 pg WHO-TEQ/day for PCDD/Fs only (1.00 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bw/day, for a 65 kg person) and 132.9 pg WHO-TEQ/day if cPCBs were included (2.04 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bw/day, for a 65 kg person). Meat (mainly beef), dairy products, and fish each account for roughly one third of the intake.     

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, -dibenzofurans, and biphenyls in domestic animal food stuff and their fat

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDFs) and dioxin-like coplanar PCBs and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TEQs) were measured in domestic animal related samples such as feed ingredient, mixed feed and animal fat from Japan. The mean concentration of total PCDDs, PCDFs and coplanar PCBs in fish oil was 17000pg g-1 lipid wt, which 9- to 30-fold greater than that from other animal originated ingredients. Mixed feed for chicken and chicken fat contained greater total PCDDs, PCDFs, coplanar PCBs concentrations (190 and 2100pg g-1 lipid wt) compared to those for pig (120 and 320pg g-1 lipid wt). WHO-TEQs were ranged 0.39-13, 0.15-0.22 and 0.73-2.8pg g-1 lipid wt for ingredients, mixed feeds and animal fats, respectively. Greater biomagnification factor was noticed for congeners 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD, 2,3,7,8-TCDF and 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF in chicken and pig fat. Biomagnification factors for both mono- and non-ortho coplanar PCBs were greater in chicken fat compared to those in pig fat.     

Dioxins, PCBs, metals, metalloids, pesticides and antimicrobial residues in wild and farmed Australian southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii)

Data concerning the concentration of dioxins (PCDD/PCDFs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), metals, metalloids, pesticides and antimicrobials residues are reported for the edible portion of Australian wild and farmed southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii). In 2004 wild caught (n=5) and farmed (n=26) southern bluefin tuna (SBT) were collected. The mean concentration of total mercury on a fresh weight (fw) basis was 0.34 mg/kg in wild SBT and 0.31 mg/kg in farmed SBT. Concentrations of dioxins (PCDD/PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) found in wild SBT were extremely low. The mean concentration (fw) of the sum of PCDD/PCDFs and the dioxin-like PCBs was 0.27 pg TEQ/g in wild SBT and 0.61 pg TEQ/g in farmed SBT. Mean PCB total concentration (fw basis) was 0.47 ng/g in wild SBT and 6.60 ng/g in farmed SBT. No detectable residues of any pesticide or antimicrobial compounds were found. All residues detected were within regulatory limits set by the Japanese Competent Authority, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and the Australian Competent Authority, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). The need for harmonisation of international product integrity procedures for bluefin tunas in international trade is highlighted.     

Health risk assessment for polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, and polychlorinated naphthalenes in seafood from Guangzhou and Zhoushan, China

This study determined the concentrations of organochlorine contaminants in common seafood in two Chinese coastal cities (Guangzhou and Zhoushan), and assessed the health risk due to the daily consumption of contaminated seafood. Twenty-six pooled samples, belonging to five food categories (fish, bivalves, shrimp, crab, and cephalopods), were purchased from local markets in Guangzhou and Zhoushan in 2003 and 2004. These samples were analyzed for total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), non- and mono-ortho-PCBs (coplanar PCBs), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/DFs). The concentrations of total PCBs and coplanar PCBs in fish samples were higher in Guangzhou than in Zhoushan, while the levels of PCNs and PCDDs/DFs were comparable between the two cities. The total daily intake values of dioxin-like compounds were 1.05 and 0.86pg WHO-TEQ/kg body weight in Guangzhou and Zhoushan, respectively. Hazard ratios of non-cancer risk in the two cities were all less than unity.     

Impact of FEBRA (fermented brown rice with Aspergillus oryzae) intake and concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs in blood of humans from Japan

Impact of FEBRA (fermented brown rice with Aspergillus oryzae, a rich dietary fiber) intake on the concentrations of polychlorinated-biphenyls (PCBs), -dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DLPCBs), -dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), and -dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in blood of nine married Japanese were studied for 2 years. Concentrations of total PCBs (average+/-standard deviation) were greater 326,000+/-263,000 and 207,000+/-89,000 in FEBRA-intake and non-FEBRA-intake groups, respectively, on pg/g lipid (from now onwards data expressed on pg/g lipid). DLPCBs were second major contaminants 94,000+/-77,000 and 60,000+/-28,000, orderly in FEBRA-intake and non-FEBRA-intake groups. The concentrations of PCDD/DFs were several orders of magnitude lower than those of PCBs, whereas PCDDs were greater (433+/-233 and 512+/-511, in FEBRA-intake and non-FEBRA-intake groups, respectively) than PCDFs (56+/-50 and 43+/-35). Calculated toxic equivalency (TEQ) concentrations were 34+/-24 and 23+/-10 in FEBRA-intake and non-FEBRA-intake groups, respectively. In order to corroborate the impact of FEBRA, the changes of PCDD/DFs and PCB concentrations for 0.5-year, 1-year, 1.5-year, and 2-year samples were estimated from average concentration of 1-day before study commences and 1-week study samples. The results explicit FEBRA-intake group eliminated 7%, 33%, 45%, 36%, and 26% and non-FEBRA-intake group eliminated 8%, 28%, 36%, 31%, and 20% of DLPCBs, PCDDs, PCDFs, PCDD/DF TEQ and total TEQ, respectively. This study is the first of its kind showing the possible elimination of PCDDs, PCDFs and their TEQ in humans from Japan after the consumption of FEBRA.     

Dietary intake of PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs, due to the consumption of various marine organisms from Korea

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) residues were measured in 70 marine organisms (40 species) from Korean coastal waters. The PCDD/Fs residues in the organisms varied from 0.02 to 4.39 pg WHO-TEQ/g wet weight and the DL-PCBs residues varied from 0.008 to 6.0 pg WHO-TEQ/g wet weight. The levels in fish from Korean coastal waters were comparable to those found in other countries. Comparing organism groups, the highest PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs residues were recorded in crustaceans, followed by fish, cephalopods, bivalves and gastropods. Although the congener distributions of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in the organism groups were different, the dominant contributors to the total TEQ concentrations in all groups were 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorinated dibenzofuran (PeCDF), 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PeCDD) and PCB 126. The dietary intake of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs from the consumption of marine organisms in Korea was estimated to be 0.68 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bodyweight/day. The contribution of DL-PCBs to the total dietary intake from all organisms groups averaged 60%. The relative contribution of each organism group to the total dietary intake was, in descending order: fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, bivalves and gastropods. The current dietary intake was lower than those in countries with a similar dietary pattern to Korea, but higher than those in countries with smaller quantities of seafood consumption.