title: Levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in food of animal origin. The Swiss dioxin monitoring program.
abstract: Between 1997 and 1999, several cases of dioxin contaminations in foodstuffs of animal origin occurred in Europe due to feed contaminated by several independent sources: citrus pulp pellets, fat containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and kaolinitic clay as anti-caking agent in feedingstuffs. As a consequence of the latter, a survey on polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) in food of animal origin was initiated by the Swiss authorities to assess the extent of PCDD/F contamination and to document the efficiency of the measures taken to ensure the decontamination of the food supply. Investigation of a total of 128 samples of cow's milk, poultry, eggs, and meat revealed several cases of residue levels distinctly above the background exposure limit of approximately 2.5 ng of I-TEQ/kg (fat basis). Particularly, elevated concentrations were found in eggs (maximum 13 ng of I-TEQ/kg), poultry (maximum 3.9 ng of I-TEQ/kg), and pork (maximum 7.5 ng of I-TEQ/kg). On the basis of the observed PCDD/F congener pattern, the contamination could be attributed to PCDD/F-contaminated kaolin that was used as an anti-caking agent in particular feedstuffs.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA), Uberlandstrasse 129, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland. peter.schmid@empa.ch
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gujer
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Degen
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zennegg
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuchen
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wüthrich
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis*; D002417:Cattle; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004531:Eggs / Q000032:analysis; D005504:Food Analysis; D005506:Food Contamination; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis*; D011202:Poultry Products / Q000032:analysis; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins