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PCDDs and PCDFs levels exceeding the European Union tolerance limits were detected in milk from different animal species (cows, sheep, goats, and buffaloes) and in animal feed samples from Campania region in southern Italy. A monitoring plan was performed in the period 2002-2004 to investigate the extension of the contamination. A total of 595 milk samples were analyzed and the percentage of noncompliant samples (PCDD/Fs > 3 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat) was 27% (maximum value 30.43 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat for a sheep's milk). The number of tested feedingstuffs was 434 but only feed likely grown in the area of sampling such as grass, silage and hay (267 samples) showed a significant contamination with 13% of samples containing PCDD/F > 0.75 ng WHO-TEQ/kg product (tolerance limit referred to 12% moisture content). The spatial autocorrelation analysis based on the calculation of the I-Moran index gave significant values for both milk and animal feed and highlighted an area characterized by a widespread practice of illegal waste dumping and burning. The problem of waste management in the area of study is particularly worrying from the sanitary point of view with a significant excess of cancer mortality and occurrence of malformations revealed by a recent research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]