Levels, patterns and risk assessment of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs through dietary exposure in the Valencian Region (Spain)

Abstract

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) levels were measured in representative vegetable oils and animal origin foodstuffs collected in a Total Diet Study carried out in the Valencian Region (Spain). A total amount of 3,300 food samples were collected and grouped into 5 main food groups: vegetable oils, meat and meat products, eggs, milk and dairy products and fish and sea products. The samples were analysed using gas chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS). The food group which presented the highest concentration in wet weight (ww) for the sum of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs was fish and sea products (0.5 pg TEQ g−1 ww), whereas meat and meat products (0.6 pg TEQ g−1 lipid) showed the highest levels expressed in lipid terms. Occurrence data of PCDD/F and dl-PCBs were combined with consumption data to estimate the dietary exposure of adults (>15 years) and children (6–15 years). Finally, the estimated weekly intake (EWI) was calculated using a deterministic approach and considering the food consumption of the population, with fish and sea products being the main food group contributor. Likewise, considering the worst-case scenario (Upper Bound, UB), average EWI were 1.8 and 3.4 pg TEQ kg−1 body weight (bw) week−1 for adults and children, respectively. For children, the average EWI was almost twice above the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 2 pg TEQ kg−1 bw week−1 set by EFSA in 2018. In terms of risk characterisation, the overall obtained results showed that 19 % of adults and 43 % of children may exceed the TWI when using UB.