title: Exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) through the consumption of prepared meals in Italy.
abstract: Diet is a relevant source of exposure to environmental pollutants. Dietary intake of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) by the Italian population was assessed through a duplicate diet study on prepared meals. Baby food composite representative of the diet of toddlers aged 9-12 months and school canteen servings from four towns in Italy representing the diet of children aged 4-9 years were collected on a 5-day basis. Similarly, 5-day lunches from an office canteen, 7-day lunches from a hotel-school, three fast food meals, and eight duplicate 1-day meals of individuals (one vegetarian) were selected to represent the diet of adults aged above 18 years. Servings from each diet were then pooled to form a composite and analysed. Dietary intake was estimated from the resulting contaminant levels in composites combined with age-related food consumption data from national survey. The mean upper bound (UB) intakes for cumulative PCDDs, PCDFs, and DL-PCBs were 0.67, 0.63-0.92, and 0.27-0.63 pg WHO2005-TE kg(-1) body weight (bw) day(-1) for toddlers, children and adults, respectively. BDE-47 (UB) ng kg(-1) bw day(-1) estimates were 2.75 in toddlers, 0.08-0.16 in children and 0.03-0.09 in adults. Similarly, for BDE-99 higher UB intakes (ng kg(-1) bw day(-1)) resulted in toddlers (1.26), than those in children (0.06-0.08) and adults (0.03-0.10), respectively. The above estimates fall below the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) (14 WHO2005-TE kg(-1) bw day(-1)) established by the European Union Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs. The margin of exposure (MOE = 3) of toddlers to BDE-99 clearly indicates this age group as target for a risk-oriented approach. This study is proposed as a first cost-effective screening in PCDD, PCDF, DL-PCB and PBDE intake assessment, with a focus also on time trends.
authors.affiliation: a Toxicological Chemistry Unit , Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: De Filippis
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brambilla
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dellatte
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corrado
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esposito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004435:Eating; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005511:Food Handling; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: DL-PCBs; Italy; PBDEs; PCDDs; PCDFs; baby food; canteen meals; dietary intake; duplicate diet; fast food