Probabilistic intake assessment and body burden estimation of dioxin-like substances in background conditions and during a short food contamination episode.
The objective was to perform a dioxin body burden estimate based on a probabilistic intake assessment of PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs because of the so-called 1999 'Belgian dioxin incident'. Monte Carlo simulation techniques were used to combine detailed 7-day food intake data on the individual level from a sample of 14-18-year-old adolescents with 'background' and 'incident-related' food contamination data. In background conditions, 3% of the adolescents had an intake <1 pg TEQ kg(-1) bw day(-1), while 85% had <4 pg TEQ kg(-1) bw day(-1). Milk and other dairy products were the basic source of dioxin-like contaminants, while fish constituted the main source at the higher percentiles of intake. During the dioxin incident, the estimated median dioxin intake showed a moderate increase. At the 99th percentile, the highest intake level, and the 95% upper bound uncertainty level, peak body burden-23.73 ng TEQ kg(-1) bw-remained below body burdens that in the experimental animal or in man are accompanied by a population-based observable increase in the incidence of adverse effects. The 1999 Belgian dioxin incident most likely did not affect public health in Belgium in a measurable way, although exceptions remain possible on the individual level.
Heymans Institute of Pharmacology, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
B
B
Vrijens
S
S
De Henauw
K
K
Dewettinck
W
W
Talloen
L
L
Goeyens
G
G
De Backer
J L
JL
Willems
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis; D001822:Body Burden; D003611:Dairy Products / Q000032:analysis; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004147:Dioxins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis
D001572:Benzofurans; D004147:Dioxins; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; C023614:dibenzofuran; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls