Levels of PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs in raw cow's milk collected in France in 2006.
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) as well as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are widespread environmental contaminants. A French national survey was carried out in April 2006 to assess the concentrations of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs) in raw cow's milk. A random sampling scheme stratified by region was applied to collect 239 raw milk samples from 93 plants belonging to 17 dairy companies. Compared to a previous survey led in 1998 analyzing half-skimmed drinking milk in France, the PCDD/Fs level was cut by half, with an average concentration of 0.33 pg toxic equivalent (TEQ)/g fat in 2006. The mean DL-PCBs concentration was 0.57 pg TEQ/g fat and subsequently the sum of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs was 0.90 pg/g fat, values below the thresholds defined by the European Union regulations.
Durand
Benoit
B
Afssa Alfort, 22 rue Pierre Curie, BP 67, 94703 Maisons-Alfort, France.
Dufour
Barbara
B
Fraisse
Daniel
D
Defour
Stéphanie
S
Duhem
Koenraad
K
Le-Barillec
Karine
K
D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis*; D002417:Cattle; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls