Dietary intakes of polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins, dibenzofurans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in Spain

Congener-specific analyses of seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/Fs, three non-ortho and 8 mono- ortho dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were performed on 258 Spanish foodstuff samples, mainly of animal origin, for 2000-03. Daily dietary intakes of PCDD/Fs and PCBs, expressed as toxic equivalents (WHO-TEQs), were estimated by combining food consumption data from the Spanish National Institute Statistics survey and concentration levels measured in individual samples, using upper bound determination values (not detectable = limit of detection). The calculated dietary intake of PCDD/Fs for a person weighing 70 kg was 1.35 ± 0.11 pg WHO-TEQs kg −1 bw day −1 , and 3.22 ± 0.75 pg WHO-TEQs kg −1 bw day −1 if dioxin-like PCBs (non- and mono- ortho PCBs) were included, showing the importance of their inclusion in monitoring studies. Both values were within the range of tolerable daily intake (TDI) proposed by the WHO (1-4 pg WHO-TEQs kg −1 bw day −1 ). The current levels are lower than earlier intakes estimates conducted in Spain. Meat and meat products accounted for more than 35% of the intake, followed by milk and milk products (29%), vegetables oils (19%), fish and sea food (11%) and eggs (4%). Dioxin-like PCBs are an important component in the total WHO-TEQs in foodstuffs. This is particularly true for the fish food group, where the total WHO-TEQs is dominated by dioxin-like PCBs (up to 80% of WHO-TEQs in some cases).