Coexposure of dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in free-range hens and implications derived from congener profile analysis.
The consumption of free-range eggs is becoming more popular worldwide. We analyzed the levels of 12 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) and their congener profiles from 6 free-range and 12 caged egg samples. The mean levels of dl-PCBs in the free-range samples were 5.4 times higher than those in caged eggs. All egg samples exhibited at least two characteristic dl-PCB congener patterns, which reflected distinctive contamination sources. Additionally, for the first time, we demonstrated that the dl-PCB levels in the free-range eggs were highly correlated with elevated levels of 17 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) (r = 0.986; p < 0.001), indicating a coexposure scenario in free-range hens. Cluster analysis of congener patterns implied that this coexposure scenario could be attributed to distinct dl-PCB and PCDD/F sources. This congener profile information provides insights from a different perspective for further identifying potential dl-PCB and PCDD/F sources in the polluted free-range eggs.
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, China Medical University, 91 Shueh-Shih Road, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
Chingju
C
Lin
Jing-Fang
JF
Hsu
Pao-Chi
PC
Liao
D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D002645:Chickens; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D004350:Drug Residues / Q000032:analysis; D004531:Eggs / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D013624:Taiwan
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls