35 research outputs found

    Strategies for estimating human exposure to mycotoxins via food

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    In this review, five strategies to estimate mycotoxin exposure of a (sub-) population via food, including data collection, are discussed with the aim to identify the added values and limitations of each strategy for risk assessment of these chemicals. The well-established point estimate, observed individual mean, probabilistic and duplicate diet strategies are addressed, as well as the emerging human biomonitoring strategy. All five exposure assessment strategies allow the estimation of chronic (long-term) exposure to mycotoxins, and, with the exception of the observed individual mean strategy, also acute (short-term) exposure. Methods for data collection, i.e. food consumption surveys, food monitoring studies and total diet studies are discussed. In food monitoring studies, the driving force is often enforcement of legal limits, and, consequently, data are often generated with relatively high limits of quantification and targeted at products suspected to contain mycotoxin levels above these legal limits. Total diet studies provide a solid base for chronic exposure assessments since they provide mycotoxin levels in food based on well-defined samples and including the effect of food preparation. Duplicate diet studies and human biomonitoring studies reveal the actual exposure but often involve a restricted group of human volunteers and a limited time period. Human biomonitoring studies may also include exposure to mycotoxins from other sources than food, and exposure to modified mycotoxins that may not be detected with current analytical methods. Low limits of quantification are required for analytical methods applied for data collection to avoid large uncertainties in the exposure due to high numbers of left censored data, i.e. with levels below the limit of quantification

    Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and biphenyls in fish from the Netherlands: concentrations, profiles and comparison with DR CALUX® bioassay results

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    Fish from Dutch markets were analysed for concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) and compared with the new European maximum residue levels (MRLs), set in 2006. In a first study on 11 different fish and shellfish from various locations, concentrations of PCDD/Fs were nearly all below the MRL for PCDD/Fs [4 pg toxic equivalents (TEQ) per gram wet weight (ww)] and nearly all below 8 pg total TEQ/g ww, the new MRL for the sum of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs. Some samples exceeded the total TEQ MRL, such as anchovy, tuna and sea bass. Furthermore, 20 (out of 39) wild eel samples exceeded the specific MRL for eel (12 pg total TEQ/g ww), as the study revealed PCDD/F TEQ levels of 0.2-7.9 pg TEQ/g ww and total TEQ values of 0.9 to 52 pg/g ww. TEQ levels in farmed and imported eel were lower and complied with the MRLs. Smoking eel, a popular tradition in the Netherlands, only had marginal effects on PCDD/F and DL-PCB concentrations. Owing to volatilization, concentrations of lower-chlorinated PCBs were reduced to below the limit of quantification after smoking. DL-PCBs contributed 61-97% to the total TEQ in all eel samples. This also holds for other fish and shellfish (except shrimps): DL-PCB contributed (on average) from 53 (herring) to 83% (tuna) to the total TEQ. Principal-component analysis revealed distinctive congener profiles for PCDD/Fs and non-ortho PCBs for mussels, pikeperch, herring and various Mediterranean fish. The application of new TCDD toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) set by the World Health Organization in 2006 (to replace the 1997 TEFs) resulted in lower TEQ values, mainly owing to a decreased mono-ortho PCB contribution. This decrease is most pronounced for eel, owing to the relative high mono-ortho PCB concentrations in eel. Consequently, a larger number of samples would comply with the MRLs when the new TEFs are applied. The DR CALUX (R) assay may be used for screening total TEQ levels in eel, in combination with gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry confirmation of suspected samples. An almost 1:1 correlation was found when the 1997 TEFs were applied, but, surprisingly, a 1.4-fold overestimation occurred with application of the 2006 TEFs

    Determination of the furaltadone metabolite 5-methylmorpholino-3-amino-2-oxazolidinone (AMOZ) using liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray tandem mass spectrometry during the nitrofuran crisis in Portugal

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    Abstract The use of nitrofuran veterinary drugs as antibacterial compounds in food-producing animals has been banned in the EU since 1995. As nitrofurans are extensive and rapidly metabolized, control of their illegal use in animal production must be done in edible tissues by LC-MS/MS analysis in order to determine persistent tissue-bound metabolites. The introduction during 2002 of the multi-residue detection of nitrofuran tissue-bound metabolites by LC-MS/MS for nitrofuran control in Portuguese Residues Monitoring Plan, revealed the presence of 5-morpholinomethyl-3-amino-2-oxozolidinone (AMOZ), the bound residue of furaltadone, in a large number of samples, namely in meat poultry samples. From the 226 analysed samples in the last 4 months of 2002, 78 were non-compliant due to the presence of AMOZ (61 broilers, 11 turkeys, 5 quails and 1 pig). In this context, the aim of this paper is to describe the analytical data obtained on meat samples collected from various animal species under official Portuguese control for nitrofuran drug residues during the so-called “Portuguese nitrofuran crisis”

    De inname van polybroomdifenylethers in Nederland via voedsel

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    Alleen digitaal verschenenPolybroomdifenylethers (PBDE's) zijn stoffen die als vlamvertrager in allerlei producten worden gebruikt. Deze stoffen zijn via het milieu in voedsel terechtgekomen, waardoor mensen ze via hun voeding kunnen binnenkrijgen. Uit berekeningen van het RIVM blijkt dat de inname van drie PBDE's (-47, -99 en -153) zodanig laag is dat het risico op schadelijke gezondheidseffecten verwaarloosbaar is. Voor twee andere (PBDE-100 en -183) ontbreken richtwaarden om hier een uitspraak over te kunnen doen. Aangezien PBDE's oplosbaar zijn in vet, komen ze vooral voor in dierlijke voedselproducten, zoals vis, schelpdieren, melk, eieren, vlees, oliën en vetten. Daarnaast komen ze in plantaardige oliën en vetten voor. In totaal kunnen 209 PBDE's worden gemaakt, maar zijn er acht aantoonbaar aanwezig in het milieu. Om conclusies te kunnen trekken over effecten op de gezondheid van de inname van PBDE's via voeding, zijn meerdere soorten gegevens nodig. Naast gegevens over de hoeveelheden die mensen van een product eten, betreft dit gegevens over de concentraties van PBDE's in de geconsumeerde producten en gegevens over de zogeheten richtwaarden. Richtwaarden geven aan hoeveel van een stof mensen langdurig binnen kunnen krijgen zonder dat dit op termijn nadelige gevolgen heeft voor de gezondheid. Drie van de acht in het milieu voorkomende PBDE's zijn niet meegenomen in deze studie (PBDE-28, -154, en -209), omdat de beschikbare concentratiegegevens niet bruikbaar of betrouwbaar bleken te zijn; voor PBDE-28 en -154 ontbreken tevens richtwaarden. Voor de innameberekeningen zijn voedselconsumptiegegevens van de Voedselconsumptiepeiling (VCP) gecombineerd met concentratiegegevens van deze groep stoffen in producten.Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) are organobromine compounds that are used as flame retardant in a wide range of products. PBDEs have ended up in food products via environmental contamination, and can therefore be ingested via the diet. Calculations performed by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) show that the intake of three PBDEs (-47, -99 and -153) is so low that the risk to health is negligible. No conclusion could be drawn about the health effects of two other PBDEs (-100 and -183) due to the absence of guidance values. PBDEs are fat-soluble and hence predominantly found in food products of animal origin, including fish, shellfish, milk, eggs, meat, oils and fats. They are also found in vegetable oils and fats. In total, 209 PBDEs can be produced, but in practice only eight are detectable in the environment. Conclusions about the health effect of dietary PBDE intake can only be drawn when the required data are available. In addition to data on the consumption of food products, information is also needed on PBDE concentrations in consumed food products, and on so-called guidance values. These values quantify the amount of a compound to which a person may be exposed on average over a long period without detrimental consequences for health. Three of the eight PBDEs present in the environment (PBDE-28, -154 and -209) were not considered in this study. The concentration data available for these compounds proved to be unsuitable or unreliable; in addition, no guidance values are available for PBDE-28 and -154. To calculate the dietary exposure, food consumption data derived from the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey were combined with PBDE concentration data in food products.NVW

    Dioxinen en dioxine-achtige PCB's in voedingsmiddelen : voorkomen en inname in Nederland aan het eind van de 20ste eeuw

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    Er wordt een overzicht gegeven van het recente (1998/99) voorkomen van dioxinen in voedingsmiddelen, gebaseerd op twee meetprogramma's waarbij in verschillende consumentenproducten en primaire agrarische producten concentraties werden gemeten van PCDD/PCDF's (dioxinen) en dioxine-achtige PCBs. Door deze informatie te combineren met recente voedselconsumptiegegevens (de derde Voedsel Consumptie Peiling) kon een berekening gemaakt worden van de lange termijn inname van dioxinen en dioxine-achtige PCB's. De mediane inname in de bevolking wordt geschat op 1.2 pg WHO TEQ/kg lichaamsgewicht/dag. Voor 50% van de bevolking ligt de inname hoger dan dit niveau. De bijdrage van de verschillende groepen voedingsmiddelen aan de inname van dioxinen en dioxine-achtige PCB's is redelijk uniform verspreid over ons voedselpakket, met 70% via dierlijke producten (vleesproducten 23%, melkproducten 27%, vis 16% en eieren 4%). Daarnaast dragen plantaardige producten 13% en industriele olien en vetten 17% bij aan de totale inname. De belangrijkste constatering in het rapport is dat sinds 1991 de concentraties in de meeste voedingsmiddelen sterk zijn afgenomen. Dit heeft geleid tot meer dan een halvering van de inname van dioxinen en dioxine-achtige PCB's vergeleken met 1991. Desalniettemin is de verdeling van de inname over de bevolking zodanig dat voor een aanzienlijk deel (8%) van de bevolking de niveaus hoger zijn dan de TDI (tolereerbare dagelijkse inname) van 2 pg WHO TEQ/kg lichaamsgewicht/dag, zoals afgeleid door de Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) van de Europese Commissie.Here a survey is presented of the most recent (1998/99) information on the occurrence of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in foodstuffs in the Netherlands. The data on occurrence collected during measurement programmes on occurrence were combined with food consumption data to assess the dietary intake of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in the general population. This yielded the following results. The estimated median lifelong-averaged intake of dioxins in the population is 0.65 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bw per day. The estimate for the sum of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs is 1.2 pg WHO-TEQ per/kg bw per day. The 90th percentile of intake in the population is 1.6 times higher than the median intake. The contribution of different food groups to the total intake of TEQ (dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs) is fairly uniformly distributed over the foods consumed: meat products (23%), dairy products (27%), fish (16%), eggs (4%), vegetable products (13%), and industrial oils and fats (17%). A comparison was made between these results and those of the 1990/91 survey. After a correction was made for methodological differences, an average reduction in intake of 50% for dioxins (PCDDs and PCDFs) and 60% for non-ortho PCBs was estimated. This substantial reduction is related to the decrease in the concentration of dioxins (PCDDs and PCDFs) and dioxin-like PCBs in the majority of foodstuffs. Nevertheless, 8% of the population is exposed to intake levels above the TDI (Tolerable Daily Intake) of 2 pg TEQ/kg bw per day, as recently derived by the Scientific Committe on Food (SCF) of the European Commission.Keuringsdienst van WarenRIKIL

    Dioxinen en dioxine-achtige PCB's in voedingsmiddelen : voorkomen en inname in Nederland aan het eind van de 20ste eeuw

    No full text
    Here a survey is presented of the most recent (1998/99) information on the occurrence of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in foodstuffs in the Netherlands. The data on occurrence collected during measurement programmes on occurrence were combined with food consumption data to assess the dietary intake of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in the general population. This yielded the following results. The estimated median lifelong-averaged intake of dioxins in the population is 0.65 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bw per day. The estimate for the sum of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs is 1.2 pg WHO-TEQ per/kg bw per day. The 90th percentile of intake in the population is 1.6 times higher than the median intake. The contribution of different food groups to the total intake of TEQ (dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs) is fairly uniformly distributed over the foods consumed: meat products (23%), dairy products (27%), fish (16%), eggs (4%), vegetable products (13%), and industrial oils and fats (17%). A comparison was made between these results and those of the 1990/91 survey. After a correction was made for methodological differences, an average reduction in intake of 50% for dioxins (PCDDs and PCDFs) and 60% for non-ortho PCBs was estimated. This substantial reduction is related to the decrease in the concentration of dioxins (PCDDs and PCDFs) and dioxin-like PCBs in the majority of foodstuffs. Nevertheless, 8% of the population is exposed to intake levels above the TDI (Tolerable Daily Intake) of 2 pg TEQ/kg bw per day, as recently derived by the Scientific Committe on Food (SCF) of the European Commission.Er wordt een overzicht gegeven van het recente (1998/99) voorkomen van dioxinen in voedingsmiddelen, gebaseerd op twee meetprogramma's waarbij in verschillende consumentenproducten en primaire agrarische producten concentraties werden gemeten van PCDD/PCDF's (dioxinen) en dioxine-achtige PCBs. Door deze informatie te combineren met recente voedselconsumptiegegevens (de derde Voedsel Consumptie Peiling) kon een berekening gemaakt worden van de lange termijn inname van dioxinen en dioxine-achtige PCB's. De mediane inname in de bevolking wordt geschat op 1.2 pg WHO TEQ/kg lichaamsgewicht/dag. Voor 50% van de bevolking ligt de inname hoger dan dit niveau. De bijdrage van de verschillende groepen voedingsmiddelen aan de inname van dioxinen en dioxine-achtige PCB's is redelijk uniform verspreid over ons voedselpakket, met 70% via dierlijke producten (vleesproducten 23%, melkproducten 27%, vis 16% en eieren 4%). Daarnaast dragen plantaardige producten 13% en industriele olien en vetten 17% bij aan de totale inname. De belangrijkste constatering in het rapport is dat sinds 1991 de concentraties in de meeste voedingsmiddelen sterk zijn afgenomen. Dit heeft geleid tot meer dan een halvering van de inname van dioxinen en dioxine-achtige PCB's vergeleken met 1991. Desalniettemin is de verdeling van de inname over de bevolking zodanig dat voor een aanzienlijk deel (8%) van de bevolking de niveaus hoger zijn dan de TDI (tolereerbare dagelijkse inname) van 2 pg WHO TEQ/kg lichaamsgewicht/dag, zoals afgeleid door de Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) van de Europese Commissie
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