European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) proposes new health-based guidance value for dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls
| Main Author: | German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) |
|---|---|
| Format: | info publication-other Journal |
| Bahasa: | eng |
| Terbitan: |
, 2018
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: |
https://zenodo.org/record/3583143 |
Daftar Isi:
- The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has derived a new health-based guidance value for dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCB). The tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for dioxins and dl-PCB has been lowered from 14 picograms (14 x 10-12 grams) to two picograms per kilogram body weight. The TWI value is the maximum intake of substances in food, such as nutrients or contaminants that can be consumed weekly over a lifetime without risking adverse health effects. With its opinion, EFSA has established a comprehensive new scientific basis. The selection of the study to determine the critical endpoint for deriving a health-based guidance value still leaves questions unanswered according to the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). EFSA itself points out in its communication that the toxicity of the dioxin-like PCBs with the highest hazard potential (PCB 126) is possibly overestimated. EFSA invited risk assessment authorities to participate in a scientific exchange on 13 November 2018. EFSA is planning to publish the results of this expert discussion. From a health point of view, dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs are undesired substances. PCBs occur everywhere in the environment and a transfer into the food chain cannot be avoided. An acute health risk through the uptake of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs via food can be practically excluded. The question as to whether health impairments can occur with intake over a longer period involves numerous scientific uncertainties. However, it is generally accepted that there has been a significant reduction in the contamination of humans in Germany with dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs over the last 30 years. The BfR welcomes the EFSA proposal to intensify research activities on dioxins and dioxinlike PCBs in order to further optimise the assessment. Further knowledge of the mode of action of the substances is required, for example. The database should also be extended by appropriate investigations. The BfR will continue to conduct intensive scientific research on dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs. Link: https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/349/efsa-proposes-new-health-based-guidance-value-for-dioxins-and-dioxin-like-polychlorinated-biphenyls.pdf
- DE; PDF; efsa-focal-point@bfr.bund.de