title: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) contamination and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist activity of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements: implications for daily intake of dioxins and PCBs.
abstract: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) rich oils derived primarily from fish are frequently consumed as supplements. Due to the tendency of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to accumulate in exposed organisms, n-3 PUFA supplements can contain sufficient POPs to present a risk to consumers. Here we investigated PCB concentrations and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist activity in 17 n-3 PUFA supplements available in Canada. PCBs ranged from <0.8 to 793 ng g(-1) oil, with salmon- and seal-derived products yielding the highest values. AhR agonist activity from a reporter gene assay ranged from 1.3 to 72.2 pg TEQ g(-1) oil, with salmon and tuna yielding the highest values. When consumed at the recommended doses and as a supplement to the average Canadian diet, seal-derived oil can contribute to exceedance of the tolerable daily intake of 20 ng PCBs kg-BW(-1)day(-1), and salmon-, tuna-, and sea herring-derived oils can contribute to exceedance of the tolerable daily intake limit of 2.3 pg TEQ kg-BW(-1)day(-1). The beneficial properties of fish and n-3 PUFA supplements, and the results of this study suggest that it is prudent to consume supplements derived from small, cold-water fatty fish. Further research will be necessary to draw firm conclusions.
authors.affiliation: Mechanistic Studies Division, Environmental Health Sciences and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada. julie_bourdon@hc-sc.gc.ca
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bourdon
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Bazinet
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Arnason
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Kimpe
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Blais
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000819:agonists*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D051379:Mice; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000819:agonists*
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D008156:Luciferases; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; C111235:AHR protein, human