Environmental Contamination of Free-range Hen with Dioxin.

INTRODUCTION: The transfer of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from a contaminated environment into the food chain is a serious consumer safety problem. As part of the Polish National Surveillance Program of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in food of animal origin, a concentration of PCDD/Fs of 4.61 ± 0.75 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat was determined in a sample of free-range eggs, which exceeded the permitted limit of 2.5 pg WHO-TEQ/g. The aim of the study was to investigate the source of the egg contamination and the risk for the eggs' consumers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eggs, muscles, feed and soil from the place where backyard waste burning had been carried out in the past and ash from a household stove tipped onto the paddock were analysed using the isotope dilution technique with high-resolution gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The concentration in ash was low at 0.20 pg WHO-TEQ/g and the congener profile did not indicate the source of contamination. The dioxin content in soil from the backyard waste-burning site was 2.53 pg WHO-TEQ/g dry matter (d.m.) and the soil's profile of PCDD/F congeners matched the profile of the contaminated eggs. CONCLUSION: By reason of the congener profile similarity, the investigation concluded, that the cause of the contamination was the backyard waste-burning site soil which the animals had access to. Frequent consumption of contaminated eggs from the analysed farm could pose a health risk due to chronic exposure, especially for vulnerable consumers.

Farmed Fish as a Source of Dioxins and PCBs for Polish Consumers.

INTRODUCTION: This paper reports polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD), polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF), and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in fish collected from Polish and Vietnamese farms and the related risk for consumers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Altogether, 160 samples were analysed using an isotope dilution technique with high-resolution gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC-HRMS). To characterise the potential health risk associated with PCDD/F and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl (DL-PCB) intake, doses ingested in two 100 g portions of fish by adults and children were calculated and expressed as the percentage of the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) newly established by the EFSA in November 2018 at 2 pg WHO-TEQ kg-1 b.w. RESULTS: Generally, levels in fish muscles were low in relation to maximum limits (4), being in the range of 0.02-3.98 pg WHO-TEQ g-1 wet weight (w.w.) for PCDD/F/DL-PCBs and 0.05-24.94 ng g-1 w.w. for NDL-PCBs. The highest concentration was found in eel muscles. The least polluted were pangas and zanders and the levels were at the limits of quantification. Consumption of two portions of fish per week results in intakes of 9- 866% TWI by children and 4-286% TWI by adults. CONCLUSION: Frequent consumption of some species (for example eel and bream) can pose a health risk to vulnerable consumers and especially children and pregnant women.

Impact of environmental pollution on PCDD/F and PCB bioaccumulation in game animals.

Elucidation of the relationship between the levels of 35 individual dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in environmental samples (pine needles, leaves, grass and soil), and their bioaccumulation in the muscles of two game animal families (Cervidae and Suidae) was the aim of the research. Comparative studies were performed in four industrially degraded regions with various types of heavy industry and in an agricultural region with a tourism industry. The content of pollutants was determined by the isotopic dilution method using high resolution gas chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry. The polychlorinated dibenzodioxins/furan and PCB profiles in plants, soil and animal tissues varied by region and were related to the indigenous industry. The presence of characteristic congeners of particular industrial sectors was found. The animal tissue congeners were a reflection of the types and levels found in soil and plants. Independently of the region, deer tissue had almost twice the concentration of PCDD/F/DL-PCBs compared to boars, but the converse was true for NDL-PCBs. Spearman's statistical test showed strong correlations between pine needle, leaf, grass and soil dioxin and dioxin-like PCB levels and concentrations of these in the tissues of both species. Coefficients of bioaccumulation in deer muscles (BAF) calculated for all regions varied considerably and they were significantly higher for wild boars. BAF decreased with increasing number of chlorine atoms in the dioxin and furan molecule. The highest congener values were for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin, 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzodioxin, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran and 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran in both kinds of muscle regardless of the region. The levels of pollutants, types of pollutants, and their relative abundance in tissues of deer and boar reflected their surrounding environment and local pollutant emitters.

Exposure to PBDEs associated with farm animal meat consumption.

One of the ways to reduce the number of fires and the amount of damage caused by them is to use flame retardants (FRs). Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), like other FRs, have been used in a wide array of easily flammable products. As they are not chemically bonded with materials, PBDEs can be released from polymers into the environment. PBDEs can act as endocrine disruptors and affect neurological and thyroid activity. Although human intake of PBDEs is mainly through food, data about meat as a PBDE source and human exposure through diet are limited. The objective of the present study was to develop a comprehensive database of congener-specific PBDE concentrations in farm animal muscle and to characterize potential consumer exposure. For exposure assessment, two consumption scenarios were used for adults and children. The dietary exposure to PBDE congeners is based on the assumed portion size of 100 g of different meat species. Calculations for the participants were performed using food consumption data of the Statistical Yearbook (2015/2016). The intake of PBDEs was estimated as the median (P50) and the average for all kinds of tested meat. For health risk assessment, the margin of exposure (MOE) approach was used. MOE values were in range from 5 to 149 352 132. The obtained results indicate that concentrations of ten tested congeners (BDE-28,47,49,99,100,138,153,154,183,209) in different kinds of farm animal meat (cow, chicken, farm deer, horse, ostrich, pig, rabbit, sheep, turkey) are low and meat consumption does not pose a risk for human health.

Poultry eggs as a source of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs and PBDD/Fs.

Regardless of the country or region of the world, poultry eggs are one of the most important components of the human diet. Nutritional value is derived from them, but chicken eggs can be contaminated with POPs. The aim of the study was to compare the impact of different types of chicken husbandry system on bioaccumulation of selected POPs. The HRGC/HRMS method was used for determination of 58 congeners of chlorinated and brominated halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons. The influence of the farm rearing system on concentration and congener profile was seen for most groups of tested contaminants, of which the eggs were a source. Human exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like compounds as a result of consumption of contaminated eggs should be a subject of concern. The occurrence of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs, and PBDD/Fs in commonly consumed foodstuffs such as eggs supports the need for further research on environmental pollutants and for determination of exposure as the result of their occurrence in different food categories.

Dioxins and PCBs in ostrich meat and eggs: levels and implications.

Although consumption of eggs is an essential part of our diet, limited information is available for table eggs other than those laid by hens. The aim of our study was to determine concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), dioxin-like (DL-) and non-dioxin-like (NDL) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in ostrich eggs and meat available on the Polish market, in order to obtain baseline information on the current status of these pollutants in comparison to poultry products. Obtained data were compared with the binding EU limits set for chicken eggs and meat. The levels of individual PCDD/Fs and PCBs congeners varied considerably. The percentage share of total WHO toxic equivalency factor (WHO-TEQ) content indicates the dominant role of PCDD/Fs. High concentrations of PCDD/F and DL-PCBs, in the range of 0.85-74.48 pg WHO-TEQ g-1 fat, were found in ostrich eggs; this exceeds the maximum level permitted for chicken eggs by a factor of up to 15. Eight of the 11 egg samples exceeded the action level for hen eggs. Although the ostrich meat concentrations of PCDD/Fs do not exceed the limit established for poultry muscle (1.75 pg g-1 fat), average contents of PCDD/Fs exceeded almost four times the levels in chicken and turkey muscle. Human exposure was evaluated and the resulting risk was characterised. Taking into account the low average consumption of ostrich eggs, the resulting exposure to dioxins for the general population can be considered as negligibly low. However, the individuals who frequently consume such eggs may be at risk of elevated exposure. Although ostrich products are not consumed frequently, such data are nevertheless useful for food safety purposes.

Elimination of dioxins in milk by dairy cows after the long-term intake of contaminated sugar beet pellets.

Dried feed materials, such as sugar beet pellets, may be a source of high levels of PCDD/Fs. The studies followed up dioxin congener elimination from contaminated milk (5.02 ± 1.39 pg WHO PCDD/F-PCBs-TEQ g-1 fat) up to 338 days after withdrawal of polluted feed ingredient (4.37 ± 0.25 ng PCDD/F/DL-PCBs-TEQ kg-1 feed). The main objectives of the study were to estimate the length of the time needed to achieve an acceptable PCDD/F milk level as set by European Union law, to track the fate of the PCDD/F congeners, and to assess the potential risk for consumers associated with long-term consumption of contaminated milk. After approximately 200 days, the PCDD/F levels reached ML (2.5 pg WHO-TEQ g-1 fat), then decreased to the action level after more than 300 days (1.75 pg WHO-TEQ g-1 fat) for most of cows. The potential risk of PCDD/F/DL-PCBs intake was characterised by comparing the theoretically calculated weekly and monthly intakes with the toxicological reference values (TRVs). The dioxin intake for the average adult and high-milk consumers did not exceed half of any of the TRVs applied (TWI, PTMI). The consumption of milk by children in the amount recommended by nutritionists (500 ml day-1) resulted in an exposure equal to 317% TWI and 275% PTMI.

Pentachlorophenol from an old henhouse as a dioxin source in eggs and related human exposure.

High levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were detected in free-range eggs, and these levels reached a concentration of 29.84 ± 7.45 pg of WHO-TEQ/g of fat. This value exceeded the EU maximum permitted level of 2.5 pg of WHO-TEQ/g of fat for PCDD/F congeners by twelve-fold. A chemical analysis (HRGC-HRMS) revealed elevated amounts of OCDD, OCDF, HxCDD, HpCDD and HpCDF. During the investigation, samples of feed, soil, wall scrapings, wooden ceiling of the henhouse and tissues from laying hens were examined for dioxin contents (30 samples altogether). The long and complicated investigation found that the source of dioxins in the poultry farm was pentachlorophenol-treated wood, which was used as structural components in the 40-year-old farm building adapted to a henhouse. The wooden building material contained PCDD/Fs at a concentration of 3922.60 ± 560.93 pg of WHO-TEQ/g and 11.0 ± 2.8 µg/kg of PCP. The potential risk associated with dioxin intake was characterized by comparing the theoretically calculated weekly and monthly intakes with the toxicological reference values (TRVs), namely the Tolerable Weekly Intake (TWI) and Provisional Tolerable Monthly Intake (PTMI) values of 14 pg of WHO-TEQ/kg of bw and 70 pg of WHO-TEQ/kg of bw, respectively. The intake of dioxins estimated for high egg consumers (approximately 5-6 eggs/week) exceeded the TWI and PTMI values, which may pose a risk of delayed adverse health effects. The estimated dose of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs for children consuming 5 eggs per week exceeded the TWI by as much as 450% because of their nearly 5-fold-lower body weight. Although the dioxin intake estimated for the average consumption of eggs in the general population did not exceed any of the TRVs applied (58.7% TWI and 51.1% PTMI), such a situation should be considered unacceptable from a public health perspective because eggs are not the only source of these contaminants.

Soil as a source of dioxin contamination in eggs from free-range hens on a Polish farm.

The transfer of dioxins from contaminated soil into the food chain has recently become an up-and-coming topic in the environmental policy and health-related consumer protection. Within the framework of the 2011 National Food Survey that monitored the levels of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in foods of animal origin, the sum of the WHO-PCDD/F/PCB-TEQ concentrations exceeding two-fold the European Union's maximum level was detected in eggs from a free-range farm (12.55 ± 2.37 pg WHOPCDD/F/PCB-TEQ/g fat). Investigations have revealed that the source of egg contamination was the backyard soil on which the hens were foraging. A follow-up study of laying hens from this farm has demonstrated the transfer of dioxins into all tested tissues (breast and leg muscles, abdominal fat), liver and ovarian follicles. The bioaccumulation of dioxins was found to be congener and tissue-dependent. The highest concentration was found in the liver, followed by the ovarian follicles, and the adipose tissue. The PCDD/F levels in the liver often were approximately two times higher from those in other materials from the same hen. The potential dioxin intakes with eggs were expressed as the percent of the Tolerable Weekly Intake (TWI), and the Provisional Tolerable Monthly Intake (PTMI). The weekly intake of dioxins would be 3.5 pg WHO-TEQ/kg b.w. (24.9% TWI) for an adult and 20.3 pg WHO-TEQ/kg b.w. (145.2% TWI) for a 3-year old child. Considering a monthly consumption of such contaminated eggs, intake of dioxins would be slightly lower, but still over 100% of the PTMI for a child. The obtained results complement the knowledge on possible dioxin sources in food and are important for risk management authorities.

PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs intake from fish caught in Polish fishing grounds in the Baltic Sea--characterizing the risk for consumers.

Fish and fishery products are among the primary sources of dietary exposure to dioxins. It is known that some fish species caught in the Baltic Sea contain elevated level of those compounds. Levels of dioxins and DL-PCBs in 236 Baltic fish samples (including 65 salmon, 14 sea trout, 63 sprat, 63 herring, 31 cod), and 20 cod liver samples from the Polish fishing grounds (the ICES zones 24-27), collected in the time frame of 2006-2011 as part of Polish monitoring survey have been used for risk assessment. To characterize potential health risk associated with dioxins intake, doses ingested in a single portion of fish and cod liver by adults (200g for fish, 125g for cod liver), and children (100g for fish, 25g for cod liver) were expressed as percent of Tolerable Weekly Intake (TWI) and Provisional Tolerable Monthly Intake (PTMI). Average dioxins intake estimated for fatty fish species was about 250% TWI for children, and about 170% TWI for adults, with maximum values of 436.3 and 288.0% TWI, respectively. Maximum exposure expressed as percent of PTMI was below 90% for children and below 60% in adults. For sprat and herring, mean dioxins intakes were lower, but still not at "safe" level: 100-150% TWI for children and about 70-100% for adults, with the maximum values of about 250 and 180%, respectively. Maximum exposure expressed as percent of PTMI was approximately 50% for children and 35% for adults. Intakes values calculated for practically "dioxin-free" cod are just theoretical because in calculating toxic equivalents (TEQs) an upperbound approach was applied, and vast majority of TEQs originates from the limit of quantification (LOQ) values of all non-quantified congeners. Frequent consumption of cod liver seems to be a health risk as, according to assumed scenario, dioxins intake of 100% PTMI for adults would be achieved by the 65th percentile, while for children by approximately 90th percentile of results. Serving sizes of salmonids, cod liver, and even sprat, and herring that lead to total dioxins intake equal to TWI, and PTMI were relatively small. Thus, one can easily exceed those toxicological reference values consuming above Baltic fish species available on the Polish market. Taking into account low fish consumption in Poland and, additionally, low share of Baltic fish in total consumption of marine fish, potential risk of high dioxins intake does not apply to general population. Occasionally elevated dioxins intake above TWI or PTMI is not necessarily related to health risk, because of uncertainty factors embedded in these toxicological reference values. However, some sub-populations in Poland that habitually consume fatty fish originating from the Baltic Sea or Baltic cod liver may be at an elevated health risk of potential consequences of chronic exposure to dioxins. Dietary recommendations based on risk-benefit analysis for consumers of such fish and fishery products from the Baltic Sea would be the most effective tool for risk management.

Survey of persistent organochlorine contaminants (PCDD, PCDF, and PCB) in fish collected from the Polish Baltic fishing areas.

Concentrations and congener-specific profiles of PCDDs, PCDFs, dl-PCBs, and ndl-PCBs were determined in five species of edible fish from the Baltic Sea (ICES 24-27): salmon (Salmo salar), Baltic herring (Clupea harengus membras), sprat (Sprattus sprattus balticus), sea trout (Salmo trutta m.trutta), and cod (Gadus morhua callarias). Marker PCBs were the dominant compounds (0.07-60.84 ng/g w.w.), followed by dl-PCBs (0.64-6.07 pg WHO-TEQ/g w.w.) and PCDD/PCDFs (0.22-5.67 pg WHO-TEQ w.w). The concentration levels of contaminants varied between species. Salmon possessed the highest concentrations (up to 14.11 ± 2.36 pg WHO-TEQ/g w.w.) and cod the lowest ones (0.84 ± 0.14 pg WHO-TEQ/g w.w.). Congener profile in the fish tested had similar pattern. The largest contribution to the dioxin toxicity was caused successively by PCB 126, 118, 156, furans (2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF and 2,3,7,8-TCDF), and two dioxins: 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD and 2,3,7,8-TCDD. Although the dietary consumption of fish from southwest region of the Baltic Sea did not represent a risk for human health (because of very low consumption of marine fish), the excessive eating of some of them may be of significance importance for health of various subgroups of consumers (fishermen).

[Dioxins and food safety]. / Dioksyny a bezpieczenstwo zywnosci.

Among numerous potential chemical food contaminants, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, collectively referred as dioxins, are commonly considered as bearing substantial risk for human health due to their toxicological properties, persistency and ability to bioaccumulate in food chains. The results of epidemiological studies suggest that environmental exposure to these compounds may affect multiple physiological processes in humans, mainly by the mechanism of endocrine disruption. Adverse health effects linked to the long-term exposure to dioxins include the increase of cancer risk, reproductive and developmental impairment as well as effects on immune functions. Exposure through food (mainly of animal origin) is the major source of dioxin exposure for humans, estimated to account for about 95% of the total intake for non-occupationally exposed persons. Recent studies showed that a consistent part of the European population has an intake exceeding internationally agreed "safe" doses as the Tolerable Daily or Weekly Intake (TDI, TWI). It is worthy to note that percentage of persons with estimated dioxin intake above tolerable limits is much higher among children than in adults. Since the "Belgian dioxin crisis" that occurred in 1999, the estimation of human exposure to these compounds and related consumer risk assessment has been recognized in the European Union as one of the priority activities in the field of food safety. Among activities undertaken by the European Commission during implementation of the Community Strategy for dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls the maximum and action levels have been established with random monitoring by Member States. The legislation on the requirements for sampling and methods of analysis used in the official control laboratories has been set up as well. Member States are obliged to measure background levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in defined food categories for the EU monitoring program on a yearly basis and to forward the results to the European Commission (since 2008 to the European Food Safety Authority). The monitoring results, covering samples collected from 1999 to 2008, evaluated and reported recently by EFSA, became the basis for updating maximum levels of dioxins and dl-PCBs as set up in Commission Regulation (EC) 1881/2006. The legislation will also be changed by replacing the current toxicity equivalency factors (TEFs) system from 1998 (WHO,1998-TEFs) by a new TEFs proposed by the WHO in 2005 (WHO 2005-TEFs). It is expected that new limits for dioxins and dl-PCBs in food will come into force not later than in the beginning of 2012.