title: Mixed halogenated dioxins/furans (PXDD/Fs) and biphenyls (PXBs) in food: occurrence and toxic equivalent exposure using specific relative potencies.
abstract: The occurrence of nineteen mixed halogenated (bromo-chloro) dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans (PXDD/Fs) and biphenyls (PXBs) in a range of foods (n>100) was investigated. The analytical methodology used dual activated carbon column fractionation with high resolution mass spectrometric measurement (13,500-15,000 res). Occurrence was observed in most commonly consumed foods but the most frequent detections of these environmental contaminants were made in shellfish and offal. The concentrations of the individual compounds were condensed into toxic equivalents (TEQs) using recently reported relative potency values. Although representing only a small subset of the full range of toxic PXDD/Fs and PXBs, the TEQs estimated for these compounds ranged from 0.2% to approximately 15% (depending on the food matrix) of the corresponding TEQ for the fully chlorinated analogues. This finding is of great toxicological importance as it implies that a potentially greater magnitude of TEQ could be associated with the full range of toxic PXDD/Fs and PXBs, thus making a significant contribution to dioxin-like toxicity from the diet, to human exposure.
authors.affiliation: The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK. Electronic address: alwyn.fernandes@fera.gsi.gov.uk.
authors.forename: Alwyn R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Food Standards Agency, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mortimer
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.affiliation: European Chemicals Agency, P.O. Box 400, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.affiliation: The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panton
authors.affiliation: The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK.
authors.forename: Frankie
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005663:Furans / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005663:Furans; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; C010574:biphenyl; C023614:dibenzofuran; C020887:dibenzo(1,4)dioxin
keywords: Ah receptor; Bromo-chloro; Congener-selective; Dietary intake; Dioxin-like toxicity; TEQ