Abstract
ABSTRACT: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are chemical contaminants classified as persistent organic pollutants. Although, their use has been banned for several decades, PCBs are still scattered in the environment and; therefore, all living organisms may be exposed to these compounds. Diet, especially fatty foods such as milk, has been recognized as one of the main sources of human exposure to PCBs. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the residual levels of indicator PCBs in whole milk powder consumed by preschool children in the Municipality of Imbé, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and to determine the estimated daily intake of these PCBs through this food. Analyses were performed by GC-μECD and the results were confirmed by GC/MS. The PCBs 28, 52 and 153 displayed values below the limit of quantification. The PCBs 138 and 180 showed mean values of 0.073 and 0.157ng.g-1 lipid, respectively. These values were below the reference limits established by the European Community. The estimated total daily intake of PCBs was 0.110ng.g-1 lipid of body weight per day, a value lower than that established by the legislations of Belgium and Norway.
Highlights
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) belong to the group of chemical contaminants classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), due to their persistence and bioaccumulation power in biotic organisms and abiotic systems (KABIR et al, 2015)
The aim of this study was to evaluate the residual levels of indicator PCBs in whole milk powder consumed by preschool children in the Municipality of Imbé, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and, in addition, to determine the estimated daily intake of these PCBs through milk consumption
The measurement of PCBs, indicating environmental contamination, in whole milk powder samples showed that these compounds presented values below the reference limits established by the European Community and incorporated into the Brazilian Legislation
Summary
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) belong to the group of chemical contaminants classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), due to their persistence and bioaccumulation power in biotic organisms and abiotic systems (KABIR et al, 2015). V.48, n.12, the world, mainly as hydraulic and dielectric fluids in transformers and capacitors (KABIR et al, 2015). In spite of their many industrially relevant properties, they are compounds of difficult elimination and degradation, causing accumulation of toxic waste in water, animals, and food (FILLMANN et al, 2002; FOCANT et al, 2002). According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), PCBs are classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). Due to their serious effects on health and the environment, their processing and distribution have been banned in almost all industrialized countries since the late 1980s (EFSA, 2010). In Brazil, the prohibition dates back to 1981, but their use is still allowed in old electro-electronic equipment until these are replaced with PCB-free products (SCHWANZ et al, 2012)
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