Dietary intakes of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in Spain.
Congener-specific analyses of seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/Fs, three non-ortho and 8 mono-ortho dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were performed on 258 Spanish foodstuff samples, mainly of animal origin, for 2000--03. Daily dietary intakes of PCDD/Fs and PCBs, expressed as toxic equivalents (WHO-TEQs), were estimated by combining food consumption data from the Spanish National Institute Statistics survey and concentration levels measured in individual samples, using upper bound determination values (not detectable = limit of detection). The calculated dietary intake of PCDD/Fs for a person weighing 70 kg was 1.35+/-0.11pg WHO-TEQs kg(-1) bw day(-1), and 3.22+/-0.75 pg WHO-TEQs kg(-1) bw day(-1) if dioxin-like PCBs (non- and mono-ortho PCBs) were included, showing the importance of their inclusion in monitoring studies. Both values were within the range of tolerable daily intake (TDI) proposed by the WHO (1-4pg WHO-TEQs kg(-1) bw day(-1)). The current levels are lower than earlier intakes estimates conducted in Spain. Meat and meat products accounted for more than 35% of the intake, followed by milk and milk products (29%), vegetables oils (19%), fish and seafood (11%) and eggs (4%). Dioxin-like PCBs are an important component in the total WHO-TEQs in foodstuffs. This is particularly true for the fish food group, where the total WHO-TEQs is dominated by dioxin-like PCBs (up to 80% of WHO-TEQs in some cases).
Fernández
M A
MA
Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, E-28006 Madrid, Spain.
Gómara
B
B
Bordajandi
L R
LR
Herrero
L
L
Abad
E
E
Abalos
M
M
Rivera
J
J
González
M J
MJ
D001572:Benzofurans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004147:Dioxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D013030:Spain
D001572:Benzofurans; D004147:Dioxins; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; C023614:dibenzofuran; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls