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Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), dioxin-like and non-dioxin-like (indicator) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) were monitored in butterfat obtained from 18 different areas in Turkey, both rural and industrial. The results obtained both at RIKILT in the Netherlands and in a food control laboratory in Turkey for PCDD/Fs and PCBs were in good agreement. The sum of PCDD/Fs+dl-PCBs, total indicator PCBs and PBDEs were in the range 0.26-3.82 pg TEQ g-1 fat, 0.20-3.04 ng g-1 fat and 0.18-5.00 ng g-1 fat, respectively. Despite the very low levels measured, slightly elevated PCDD/F and PCB levels were found in Izmir-Aliağa, Kocaeli, Denizli, and Zonguldak. The only result exceeding the EU action level was the dl-PCB concentration in Izmir-Aliağa. Ratios of PCDD/Fs and PCBs indicate that contamination in the elevated areas originated from different sources. High BDE 209 levels were detected in Mersin and Bursa. For the 18 regions analysed, the average total daily intake of total TEQ (dioxins and dl-PCBs) from butterfat was 0.09 pg TEQ(1998) (0.08 pg TEQ(2005)) kg-1 body weight, while those for indicator PCBs and PBDEs were 58.8 and 35.1 pg kg-1 body weight, respectively. The average total daily intake from dairy products were 0.26 pg TEQ(1998) (0.20 pg TEQ(2005)), 183 and 103 pg kg-1 body weight, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A method has been developed for the target analysis of over 100 pesticides and contaminants in a complex feed matrix. The method is based on extraction with ethyl acetate, cleanup by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and dispersive solid-phase extraction (SPE) with primary secondary amine phase (PSA), and analysis by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with full scan time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection (GC×GC–TOF-MS). Parameters studied during method development included a dispersive SPE cleanup step after GPC, large volume injection into the GC system and the GC×GC separation. Qualitative and quantitative performance of the GC×GC system was evaluated by analyzing spiked extracts in the range equivalent to 1–100μg/kg in feed. At levels of 50μg/kg and higher, all compounds targeted for could be identified fully automatically by the software based on their mass spectra. At lower levels the hit rate decreased with the concentration. System linearity was excellent in solvent and only slightly affected by matrix (correlation coefficients r ≥0.995 for 90% of the compounds). Limits of quantification were in the 1–20μg/kg range for most compounds. The overall method was validated for 106 compounds at the 10 and 100μg/kg level. Recoveries between 70% and 110% and RSDs below 20% were obtained for the majority of the compounds. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Chinese mitten crab is an invasive species in many European rivers and lakes. Data from the UK indicated high levels of dioxins and PCBs, in particular in the brown meat in the body. This was confirmed by studies in the Netherlands, showing average levels of dioxins and PCBs in the meat in the body of 43 pg TEQ g − 1 ww in crabs caught in the large rivers. Levels in crab of lakes in the Northern part of the Netherlands were on average 3.7-fold lower. Consumption of crabs from polluted areas results in a relatively high dose of dioxins and dl-PCBs and could significantly increase the intake above the TWI. However, in general consumption of these crabs is low, even in the Asian sub-population in the Netherlands. Cadmium and lead levels were higher in crabs from contaminated areas, but for mercury and arsenic there was no clear difference. Consumption of crabs would not result in significant risks for cadmium and mercury. For lead the daily intake could be raised above the BMDL 01 for neurodevelopmental toxicity, but this would only occur on a limited number of days. For arsenic the exposure would exceed the lower end of the BMDL 01 values for certain cancers, but again, the infrequent consumption by most consumers reduces this risk. Furthermore, speciation showed that most arsenic in crabs was probably not a toxic inorganic form, but likely to be in an organic form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]