An updated assessment of the exposure of Canadians to dioxins and furans

Dioxins and furans substituted in the 2,3,7, and 8 positions are highly toxic substances. The governments of Canada and Ontario have recently concluded that human exposure should not exceed 10 pg TEQ/kg bw/d. Updated estimates of average lifetime intakes by Canadian adults of dioxins and furans from all sources are under 10 pg TEQ/kg bw/d. The estimation of exposure calculated from current tissue concentrations in Canadian adults supports this finding. Excessive consumption of some highly contaminated fish and wildlife species may lead to intakes of dioxins and furans that approach or exceed the 10 pg TEQ/kg bw/d value and constitutes a danger to health.