Assessment of the Austrian dioxin and PCB monitoring results 2005-2011
| Main Author: | Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) |
|---|---|
| Format: | Report eJournal |
| Bahasa: | deu |
| Terbitan: |
, 2015
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: |
https://zenodo.org/record/2617037 |
Daftar Isi:
- From 2005 to 2011 the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) conducted a survey of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in a variety of food sampled from retail sources in Austria. Dioxins and PCBs belong to the group of persistent chlorinated chemical compounds that can be found ubiquitously in the environment. While dioxins are unintentionally generated as byproducts of combustion processes, PCBs were widely used for industrial purposes. Dioxins and PCBs are fat soluble and thus can be stored in animal fat. A high intake of dioxins and PCBs can cause toxic effects in humans, such as chloracne and cancer. In total, 276 food samples were analyzed for their dioxin and dioxin-like (dl) PCBs levels. The highest mean concentrations of the sum of dioxins and dl-PCBs were found in liver of terrestrial animals (3.86 - 4.39 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat) and fish oil capsules used as food supplements (1.16-1.70 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat). Highest maximum concentrations were observed in liver (10.18-10.57 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat), eggs (4.04-4.34 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat), food supplements (3.24-4.11 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat) and meat of ruminants (2.54-2.67 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat). All levels of dioxins and dl-PCBs were well below the European maximum levels. 180 food samples were analyzed for their ndl-PCBs levels. The highest mean concentrations of ndl-PCBs were also found in liver of terrestrial animals (11 ng/g fat) and fish oil capsules used as food supplements (7.54 ng/g fat). Highest maximum concentrations were observed in liver of terrestrial animals (35.76 ng/g fat), eggs (22.26 ng/g fat) and fish (20.2 ng/g fat). All levels of ndl-PCBs would have been well below the newly set up European maximum levels from 2012. The dietary exposure assessment was performed by combining average concentrations of dioxins and PCBs with average food consumption data of different population groups. For children, the mean estimated exposure to dioxins and dl-PCBs is 0.77 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bw/d. Estimated mean exposure to ndl-PCBs is 3.37 ng/kg bw/d. Due to higher food consumption relative to body weight, children are estimated to have the highest exposure to dioxins and PCBs. For women and men, the mean estimated exposure to dioxins and dl-PCBs is 0.75 and 0.61 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bw/d, respectively. Estimated mean exposures to ndl-PCBs are 3.19 and 2.64 ng/kg bw/d for women and men, respectively. The mean dietary exposure to dioxins and dl-PCBs is below the tolerable daily intake for all population groups, and also well below the tolerable weekly and monthly intake values. For ndl-PCBs, the mean dietary intake for children, women and men is below the tolerable daily intake. The major foods contributing to dioxin and PCB exposure for all population groups are milk and dairy products followed by fish and fish products and meat, poultry, game and offal. Potential adverse effects have only been observed with an elevated body burden (= accumulation within body fat) either following severe intoxication due to accidents or following high occupational exposure. Hence, on basis of the available data, it can be concluded that the health risk for the Austrian population from dietary exposure to dioxins and PCBs is low.
- AT;de;pdf;efsafocalpoint@ages.at