title: The effects of flooding on dioxin and PCB levels in food produced on industrial river catchments.
abstract: This research examined the effect of regular flooding upon PCDD/F and PCB levels in milk, beef and lamb, produced on the floodplains of industrial river catchments. Our unique dataset included more than 200 samples analysed for PCDD/Fs and PCBs over two data collection phases (1998-1999 & 2008-2010) from working farms. A robust paired study design was adopted with samples taken from flood-prone farms and nearby control farms not subject to flooding. On industrial river catchments regular flooding is associated with higher PCDD/F and PCB levels in soils and grass. This contamination may be transferred to food but the impact varied by food type. These contrasts may be due to physiological differences between animals, the ages at which they are sent to market and differences in animal husbandry. To minimise the risks of producing food on flood-prone land in industrial river catchments, as well as on any land with elevated PCDD/F and PCB levels, this research suggests a number of options. The choice of livestock may be important and as an example in our study beef cattle accumulated PCDD/Fs to a higher degree than sheep. Land management may also play a role and could include minimising the time that livestock spend on such land or feeding commercial feed, low in PCDD/Fs and PCBs, where appropriate.
authors: School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK. Electronic address: I.Lake@uea.ac.uk.
authors: Iain R
authors: IR
authors: Lake
authors: School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
authors: Christopher D
authors: CD
authors: Foxall
authors: The Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA), Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK.
authors: Alwyn
authors: A
authors: Fernandes
authors: Askham Bryan College, Askham Bryan, York YO23 3FR, UK.
authors: Mervyn
authors: M
authors: Lewis
authors: The Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA), Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Rose
authors: Askham Bryan College, Askham Bryan, York YO23 3FR, UK.
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: White
authors: School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
authors: Andrew A
authors: AA
authors: Lovett
authors: The Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA), Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK.
authors: Shaun
authors: S
authors: White
authors: Food Standards Agency, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH, UK.
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Dowding
authors: Food Standards Agency, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH, UK.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Mortimer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis*; D055868:Floods; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000032:analysis; D045483:Rivers; D012756:Sheep; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Beef; Dioxins; Flooding; Food; Grass; Lamb; Milk; PCBs; Risk assessment; Soil