The proposed EU maximum levels for non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (ndl-PCBs) are still too high
| Main Author: | German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment |
|---|---|
| Format: | Report |
| Terbitan: |
, 2008
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: |
https://zenodo.org/record/582484 |
Daftar Isi:
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are some of the most dangerous environmental toxins. They were used in plasticizers, varnishes, transformers, or as hydraulic liquid. Their production and use has since been banned. Because of their longevity they still occur in the environment and are to be found in particular in fat-containing food of animal origin like milk, meat, eggs and fish. The European Commission is currently in the process of drawing up maximum level provisions for most PCBs, i.e. the so-called non-dioxin-like PCBs (ndl-PCBs). It envisages using as their representative the sum of six selected ndl-PCBs (Σ6PCBs) that frequently occur in food. BfR welcomes the fact that in the new proposal the maximum levels have been reduced for most foods and that fish liver and food for babies and infants has been included in the new proposal. One exception to this positive assessment is, however, the new maximum level for chicken eggs of 75 nanogram (ng) Σ6PCBs per gram fat which, in contrast to the first proposal of 50 ng Σ6PCBs per gram fat, has been set at an incomprehensibly high level. The maximum level for eggs should be oriented towards the maximum level for poultry meat where 30 ng Σ6PCBs per gram fat was established as the maximum level and this is more than 50% lower, as the PCB contaminations in the fat portion of eggs and poultry meat are roughly the same.* In the opinion of BfR the proposed maximum levels for Σ6PCBs in food should, however, be lowered further. *After the preparation of this Opinion, this concern of BfR was presented to the European Commission (DG SANCO) with the consequence that the proposal for the maximum level for chicken eggs was reduced to 50ng/g fat for Σ6PCB.
- DE; de; efsa-focal-point@bfr.bund.de