title: Comparison of levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in edible oils and oil-based products--possible link to environmental factors.
abstract: Food consumption has been widely reported to be the main source of human exposure to PCBs. A total of 47 samples of food products on sale in supermarkets in the United Kingdom were thus analyzed for PCBs to determine residual levels in oil and oil-based products. The objective was to compare the measured levels of total PCBs (Sigma PCBs) in food products to those reported in various environmental compartments. Combined extraction and online clean up was achieved using Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) to recover target analytes for analysis by GC-MSD (gas chromatography mass spectrometry). Sigma PCBs (ng/g) in each product were in the ranges of 4.73-44.38 edible oil; 1.40-6.18 mayonnaise; 1.21-6.25 salad cream; 1.28-5.64 seafood sauce, and 0.97-15.08 exotic dressing. The level of human exposure to PCBs in all products was < 1 microg/kg body weight/day when considering a 70 kg male or 57 kg female, possibly reflecting the reported decline of PCBs in the environment.
authors.affiliation: Imperial College London, Kent, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Adeola A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Adenugba
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Headley
authors.forename: Dena
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McMartin
authors.forename: Angus J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Beck
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009821:Oils; D012997:Solvents; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls