Background

In the past, cases of PCDD/F and PCB contamination exceeding limits in food from animal origin (eggs, meat or milk) were mainly caused by industrially produced feed. But in the last decade, exceedances of EU limit values were discovered more frequently for PCDD/Fs or dioxin-like(dl)-PCBs from free range chicken, sheep, and beef, often in the absence of any known contamination source.

Results

The German Environment Agency initiated a project to elucidate the entry of PCBs and PCDD/Fs in food related to environmental contamination. This paper summarizes the most important findings. Food products from farm animals sensitive to dioxin/PCB exposure—suckling calves and laying hens housed outdoor—can exceed EU maximum levels at soil concentrations that have previously been considered as safe. Maximum permitted levels can already be exceeded in beef/veal when soil is contaminated around 5 ng PCB-TEQ/kg dry matter (dm). For eggs/broiler, this can occur at a concentration of PCDD/Fs in soil below 5 ng PCDD/F–PCB-TEQ/kg dm. Egg consumers—especially young children—can easily exceed health-based guidance values (TDI). The soil–chicken egg exposure pathway is probably the most sensitive route for human exposure to both dl-PCBs and PCDD/Fs from soil and needs to be considered for soil guidelines. The study also found that calves from suckler cow herds are most prone to the impacts of dl-PCB contamination due to the excretion/accumulation via milk. PCB (and PCDD/F) intake for free-range cattle stems from feed and soil. Daily dl-PCB intake for suckler cow herds must in average be less than 2 ng PCB-TEQ/day. This translates to a maximum concentration in grass of 0.2 ng PCB-TEQ/kg dm which is less than 1/6 of the current EU maximum permitted level. This review compiles sources for PCDD/Fs and PCBs relevant to environmental contamination in respect to food safety. It also includes considerations on assessment of emerging POPs.

Conclusions

The major sources of PCDD/F and dl-PCB contamination of food of animal origin in Germany are (1) soils contaminated from past PCB and PCDD/F releases; (2) PCBs emitted from buildings and constructions; (3) PCBs present at farms. Impacted areas need to be assessed with respect to potential contamination of food-producing animals. Livestock management techniques can reduce exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs. Further research and regulatory action are needed to overcome gaps. Control and reduction measures are recommended for emission sources and new listed and emerging POPs to ensure food safety.

中文翻译：

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审查二恶英和多氯联苯来源与动物源性食品的相关性以及对它们的库存、控制和管理的需求。

背景

过去，动物源性食品（蛋、肉或奶）中 PCDD/F 和 PCB 污染超标的案例主要是由工业生产的饲料引起的。但在过去十年中，在没有任何已知污染源的情况下，更频繁地发现来自散养鸡、羊和牛肉的 PCDD/F 或类二恶英 (dl)-PCB 超过欧盟限值。

结果

德国环境署启动了一个项目，以阐明 PCB 和 PCDD/F 在与环境污染相关的食品中的进入。本文总结了最重要的发现。来自对二恶英/PCB 暴露敏感的农场动物的食品——在户外饲养的小牛和蛋鸡——在以前被认为是安全的土壤浓度下可能超过欧盟的最高水平。当土壤受到约 5 ng PCB-TEQ/kg 干物质 (dm) 的污染时，牛肉/小牛肉中的最大允许含量就已经超过了。对于鸡蛋/肉鸡，这可能发生在土壤中 PCDD/F 浓度低于 5 ng PCDD/F–PCB-TEQ/kg dm 的情况下。鸡蛋消费者——尤其是幼儿——很容易超过基于健康的指导值 (TDI)。土壤-鸡蛋接触途径可能是人类接触土壤中 dl-PCBs 和 PCDD/Fs 最敏感的途径，需要在土壤指南中加以考虑。该研究还发现，来自乳牛群的小牛最容易受到 dl-PCB 污染的影响，因为它们通过牛奶排泄/积累。自由放养牛的 PCB（和 PCDD/F）摄入量来自饲料和土壤。乳牛群的每日 dl-PCB 摄入量平均必须低于 2 ng PCB-TEQ/天。这意味着草中的最大浓度为 0.2 ng PCB-TEQ/kg dm，低于当前欧盟最大允许水平的 1/6。本审查汇编了与食品安全相关的环境污染的 PCDD/F 和 PCB 的来源。它还包括对新兴持久性有机污染物评估的考虑。

结论

德国动物源性食品中 PCDD/F 和 dl-PCB 污染的主要来源是 (1) 过去 PCB 和 PCDD/F 排放污染的土壤；(2) 建筑物和建筑物排放的多氯联苯；(3) 农场中存在多氯联苯。需要评估受影响地区对食用动物的潜在污染。畜牧管理技术可以减少接触 PCDD/F 和 PCB。需要进一步的研究和监管行动来克服差距。建议对排放源和新列出的和新出现的 POPs 采取控制和减排措施，以确保食品安全。