PCDD/F, PCB, PBDE, HBCD and chlorinated pesticides in a Swedish market basket from 2005 – Levels and dietary intake estimations

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.12.042

Chemosphere

Volume 83, Issue 2, March 2011, Pages 193-199

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.12.042 Get rights and content

Abstract

Based on consumption data statistics, food items from four regions in Sweden were sampled in a so-called market basket study. Food items from five food groups, i.e. fish, meat, dairy products, eggs and fat/oils, were analyzed for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) followed by per capita intake calculations. The highest levels of PCDD/F, PCB, PBDE, HBCD and chlorinated pesticides were found in the fish/fish products. The estimated market basket per capita intake of PCDD/F and dl-PCB was 0.7 pg WHO-TEQ kg bw⁻¹ d⁻¹ (TEFs from 1998). The intake of ∑PCB was estimated to 4.9 ng kg bw⁻¹ d⁻¹ and fish was found to be the major contributor with 64%. The intake of ∑PBDE was found to be 0.7 ng kg bw⁻¹ d⁻¹. Fish (38%) and dairy products (31%) were the largest contributors to the total PBDE intake. The intake of HBCD was estimated to 0.14 ng kg bw⁻¹ d⁻¹. HBCD mainly came from fish (65%), but also dairy products (24%) and meat (10%) contributed. Also regarding the chlorinated pesticides, fish was found to be the major contributor, with 51% of the ∑DDT coming from fish. The intake of ∑DDT, ∑HCH and HCB was 4.0, 1.0 and 1.1 ng kg bw⁻¹ d⁻¹, respectively. Most of the ∑HCH and HCB originate from dairy products (43% and 55%, respectively). This study shows that the levels, and intake, of different POPs from food of animal origin in the market basket of 2005 seem to have decreased since the market basket study in 1999.

Research highlights

► Fish, meat, dairy products, eggs and fat/oils were analyzed for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) followed by per capita intake calculations. ► The highest levels of PCDD/F, PCB, PBDE, HBCD and chlorinated pesticides were found in the fish/fish products. ► The levels and intake of different POPs from food of animal origin in the market basket of 2005 seem to have decreased since the market basket study in 1999.

Introduction

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are lipophilic and bioaccumulate in fatty tissue. Because of their persistence they biomagnify through the food chain, and human exposure to POPs is mainly via the diet, especially from food of animal origin which have shown to contain the highest levels. For instance, more than 90% of the human exposure to dioxins and furans (PCDD/F) is estimated to come from food (Liem et al., 2000). Dietary intake estimations are therefore important tools when estimating the exposure of POPs in a population.

Several epidemiological and animal studies have suggested neurological, immunological and reproductive effects of POPs indicating that they might have a significant impact on human and animal health (see Ankarberg et al., 2007b for references). For PCDD/F, dioxin-like PCB (dl-PCB) and DDE, tolerable or acceptable daily or weekly intakes have been established. The Scientific Committee of Food (SCF) of the European Union evaluated the toxicity of PCDD/F and dl-PCB in 2000–2001 (EU-SCF, 2001) and decided to express the maximum tolerable intake of PCDD/F and dl-PCB as a weekly average intake of 14 pg WHO-TEQ kg bw⁻¹. The Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (JECFA) evaluated the PCDD/F and dl-PCB in 2002 (JECFA, 2002) and decided to express the maximum tolerable intake as a monthly intake of 70 pg kg bw⁻¹ (i.e. 16 pg kg⁻¹ wk⁻¹). For ∑DDT, a provisional daily intake was established by the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR-FAO/WHO) to 10 μg kg bw⁻¹ (JMPR-FAO/WHO, 2006).

Several intake estimations of POPs have been performed in Sweden the last 10–15 years. These have been studies based on trade statistics from the Swedish Board of Agriculture (market basket estimations) (Darnerud et al., 1995, Darnerud et al., 2006, Wicklund-Glynn et al., 1996) and the Swedish food consumption survey Riksmaten 1997–1998 (Lind et al., 2002). These studies reveal a decrease of the intake of POPs in Sweden since 1995. This decrease is most probably a consequence of decreasing levels in food, but it can also partly mirror the possibility to quantify lower concentrations due to more sensitive analytical methods or changes in consumption patterns. It is important to perform repeated exposure assessments of POPs since it is not only needed for risk assessment of these substances, but it is also a valuable tool in the follow-up of risk-management decisions.

The aim of the market basket study in 2005 was to analyze the levels of selected POPs, estimate the mean Swedish per capita intake and compare the results with the earlier Swedish market basket study from 1999 (Darnerud et al., 2006). In this report, we present results for PCDD/F, PCB, polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDE), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and chlorinated pesticides, in selected food groups mainly contributing to POP intake, consisting of fish/fish products, meat/meat products, dairy products, eggs and fats/oils.

Section snippets

Sampling

The basis for sampling was the per capita-consumption data, derived from Swedish producers and trade statistics (Swedish Board of Agriculture, 2005). Food items consumed at a minimum of 0.5 kg per person and year were purchased in 2005 and were divided into different food groups depending on their characteristics (see Table 1). For example, flours were characterized as cereals whereas sausages were characterized as meat/meat products. Two places of purchase were chosen in each of four major

Results and discussion

Depending on national or regional food habits and traditions, the total intake of POPs, and the relative contribution of different food groups to total intake, may vary considerably. In Sweden, and many other European countries, fish is the main contributor to the intake of POPs, but also other food groups have been shown to contribute to the intake, e.g. meat/meat products and dairy products (Domingo et al., 1999, Bocio et al., 2003, Kiviranta et al., 2004, FSA, 2006). Earlier Swedish intake

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Inga-Lill Gadhasson, Martin Isaksson, Lotta Larsson, Elvy Netzel and Yvonne Nordqvist for invaluable help with preparation, organization and analyses during the study. Wulf Becker is acknowledged for invaluable help with processing of statistics and the Swedish EPA for financial support.

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PCDD/F, PCB, PBDE, HBCD and chlorinated pesticides in a Swedish market basket from 2005 – Levels and dietary intake estimations

Abstract

Research highlights

Introduction

Section snippets

Sampling

Results and discussion

Acknowledgements

Food Chem. Toxicol.

Chemosphere

Chemosphere

Environ. Int.

Environ. Pollut.

Environ. Res.

Food Chem. Toxicol.

Food Chem. Toxicol.

Food Control

Chemosphere

Dietary intake of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and polychlorinated biphenyls in Swedish consumers

Organohalogen Compd.

Method for the determination of PCB congeners and chlorinated pesticides in human blood serum

Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.

Riksmaten 1997–98, Kostvanor och Näringsintag i Sverige–Metod och resultatanalys

Spatial variation in concentrations and patterns of the PCDD/F and dioxin-like-PCB content in herring from the northern Baltic Sea

J. Environ. Monit.

Polybrominateddiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in foodstuffs: human exposure through the diet

J. Agric. Food Chem.