Polychlorinated dioxins, furans (PCDD/Fs), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) and indicator PCBs (ind-PCBs) in egg and egg products in Turkey.

The aim of the study is to determine concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) and indicator PCBs (ind-PCBs) in eggs from cage hens without soil contact, pasteurized egg samples and imported egg yolk powder samples in Turkey. Concentrations of PCDD/Fs, PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs, and ind-PCBs in eggs and pasteurized egg samples are in the range of 0.247-1.527 pg WHO-TEQ(2005)g(-1) fat, 0.282-1.762 pg WHO-TEQ(2005)g(-1) fat and 202-1,235 pg g(-1) fat, respectively. For egg yolk powder samples, concentrations of PCDD/Fs, PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs, and ind-PCBs are in the range of 0.122-0.494 pg WHO-TEQ(2005)g(-1) fat, 0.214-0.640 pg WHO-TEQ(2005)g(-1) fat and 217-1,498 pg g(-1) fat, respectively. All results for PCDD/Fs, PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs, and ind-PCBs are below the values of 2.5 pg WHO-TEQ(2005)g(-1) fat, 5.0 pg WHO-TEQ(2005)g(-1) fat and 40 ng g(-1) fat imposed in Turkish Regulation for eggs and egg products, respectively. In all samples 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD and PCB126 are the most prominent congeners. Mean estimated daily exposure to PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs for Turkish population from egg is 0.011 pg WHO-TEQ(2005)d(-1)kg body weight (bw)(-1). Although the exposure levels are below the TDI of 2 pg WHO-TEQ(1998)kg bw(-1), the results were based only on consumption of egg. In order to estimate total dietary intake for Turkish population, various food items should be investigated.

Levels of PCDD/Fs, PCBs and PBDEs in butter from Turkey and estimated dietary intake from dairy products.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), dioxin-like and non-dioxin-like (indicator) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) were monitored in butterfat obtained from 18 different areas in Turkey, both rural and industrial. The results obtained both at RIKILT in the Netherlands and in a food control laboratory in Turkey for PCDD/Fs and PCBs were in good agreement. The sum of PCDD/Fs+dl-PCBs, total indicator PCBs and PBDEs were in the range 0.26-3.82 pg TEQ g(-1) fat, 0.20-3.04 ng g(-1) fat and 0.18-5.00 ng g(-1) fat, respectively. Despite the very low levels measured, slightly elevated PCDD/F and PCB levels were found in Izmir-Aliaga, Kocaeli, Denizli, and Zonguldak. The only result exceeding the EU action level was the dl-PCB concentration in Izmir-Aliaga. Ratios of PCDD/Fs and PCBs indicate that contamination in the elevated areas originated from different sources. High BDE 209 levels were detected in Mersin and Bursa. For the 18 regions analysed, the average total daily intake of total TEQ (dioxins and dl-PCBs) from butterfat was 0.09 pg TEQ(1998) (0.08 pg TEQ(2005)) kg(-1) body weight, while those for indicator PCBs and PBDEs were 58.8 and 35.1 pg kg(-1) body weight, respectively. The average total daily intake from dairy products were 0.26 pg TEQ(1998) (0.20 pg TEQ(2005)), 183 and 103 pg kg(-1) body weight, respectively.

Comparison of PCDD/F and dl-PCB levels in Turkish foodstuffs: industrial versus rural, local versus supermarket products, and assessment of dietary intake.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like and non-dioxin-like (indicator) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were monitored in various foodstuffs of animal origin and edible oil samples obtained from two different cities in Turkey both rural and industrial. Total dioxin+dioxin-like PCBs and indicator PCB concentrations of pooled samples ranged 0.20-4.19 pg World Health Organization-Toxic Equivalency (WHO-TEQ)(1998)/g fat and 57.2-1710 pg/g fat, respectively. The dominant congeners were 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 2,3,7,8-TCDD and PCB126. Dietary intake of dioxin+dioxin-like PCBs and indicator PCBs from fish, dairy products, edible oil, egg and meat was 0.509 pg WHO-TEQ1998/kg bw (body weight)/day and 839 pg/kg bw/day in Afyon and 0.588 pg WHO-TEQ1998/ kg bw/day and 1070 pg/kg bw/day in Kocaeli, respectively. The major contributors to total exposure were dairy products and fish. Despite the unexplained high contamination level in an individual egg sample from Kocaeli, average concentration levels in Turkey, even in industrialized regions, were low compared to reported concentrations in Western Europe. Exposure levels were well below the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 2 pg WHO-TEQ1998/kg body weight.