A retrospective investigation into the occurrence and human exposure to polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) and PCBs through cod liver products (1972–2017)

A retrospective analysis of a number of historical medicinal grade cod-liver oil samples produced in Northern Europe revealed relatively high contamination levels of PCNs, PCDD/Fs and PCBs. The total toxic equivalence (TEQ) associated with PCDD/Fs, dl-PCBs and PCNs was in the range 95 to 427 pg g-1 for Baltic cod-liver oils and from 70 to 148 pg g-1 for oils sourced from the North Atlantic. The corresponding range for canned cod liver products (Baltic Sea) sampled in 2017 ranged from 52 to 104 pg g-1 fat (33 to 34 pg g-1 ww). The contribution from PCBs to the overall TEQ toxicity was around 3 to 6-fold higher than from PCDD/Fs and ranged from 24 to 318 pg TEQ g-1ww. The estimated summed TEQ intakes of PCDD/Fs, dl-PCBs and dl-PCNs resulting from the consumption of the daily recommended doses was highest for the Baltic cod-liver oils ranging from 16 to 293 pg kg-1 body mass (bm) day-1 for an adult, 20 to 183 pg kg-1 bm day-1 for a teenager and 15 to 131 pg kg-1 bm day-1 for a child. The contribution to daily adult TEQ intake from PCNs alone, although relatively small is estimated to contribute up to 5-fold above the recent EFSA proposed TWI of 2 pg kg-1 bm. The results indicate that although currently produced fish oils may undergo rigorous purification procedures and show low contaminant levels, cod livers sourced from the Baltic and consumed locally, continue to contribute substantially to the dietary intake of these contaminants

Polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PBDD/Fs): Contamination in food, humans and dietary exposure

Polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs) have been recognised as environmental pollutants for decades but their occurrence in food has only recently been reported. They elicit the same type of toxic response as analogous polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) with similar potencies and effects, and share similar origins - inadvertent production during combustion and occurrence as by-products in industrial chemicals. Surprisingly, PBDD/Fs have received considerably less attention than PCDD/Fs, perhaps because determination requires a higher degree of analytical competence, a result of the higher adsorptivity and lability associated with carbon-bromine bonding. For most populations, the principal exposure pathway is dietary intake. The PBDD/F toxicity arising from occurrence in foods has often been expressed as toxic equivalents (TEQs) using the same scheme developed for PCDD/Fs. This approach is convenient, but resulting TEQ estimates are more uncertain, given the known differences in response for some analogous congeners and also the different patterns of PBDD/F occurrence confirmed by the newer data. Further studies to consolidate potency factors would help to refine TEQ estimates. Characteristically, most foods and human tissues show more frequent and higher PBDF concentrations relative to PBDDs, reflecting major source patterns. Occurrence in food ranges from < 0.01 to several thousand pg/g (or up to 0.3 pg TEQ/g whole weight) which is comparable to PCDD/F occurrence (ΣPBDD/F TEQs are underestimated as not all relevant congeners are included). Plant based foods show higher PBDD/F: PCDD/F TEQ ratios. Reported PBDD/F dietary intakes suggest that some population groups, particularly young children, may exceed the revised tolerable weekly intake for dioxin-like contaminants (2 pg TEQ/kg bw/week), even for mean consumption estimated with lower bound data. It is evident that the omission of PBDD/Fs from the TEQ scheme results in a significant underestimation of the cumulative toxicity and associated risk arising from this mode of action

Compositional profiles, persistency and toxicity of polychlorinated naphthalene (PCN) congeners in edible cod liver products from 1972 to 2017

Edible cod liver products including cod liver oil and canned cod liver, sampled over the last five decades from the North Atlantic region, including the Baltic Sea were analysed for a set of persistent and toxicologically significant polychlorinated naphthalene (PCN) congeners with some of the highest relative potencies (dioxin-like toxicity) among PCNs. The targeted congeners showed a near-universality of occurrence in all samples apart from the most recent sample of cod liver oil which was assumed to be highly purified, as cod livers from the same period and location showed appreciable amounts of PCNs. The majority of dominant congeners in legacy technical PCN mixtures were absent or occurred in low concentrations, raising the possibility that congeners arising from combustion related sources may be acquiring a greater significance following the decline and elimination of PCN production. The apparent appreciation in the relative amounts of PCN#70 in the last three to four decades may provide support for this view. The PCN contribution to dioxin-like toxic equivalence (TEQ) that was estimated for these samples (range 1.2–15.9 pg TEQ g −1) was significant in comparison to the EU regulated value of 1.75 pg TEQ g −1 for dioxins in fish oils. Most of the TEQ was associated with PCNs 66/67, 64/68, 69 and 73. Although metabolic processes are likely to influence this distribution, the profile is a little different to that observed in the tissues of higher order animals where PCNs #66/67 and #73 may contribute approximately 90% to the summed TEQ. The PCN contribution to dioxin-like toxic equivalence (TEQ) that was estimated for cod liver products (range 1.2–15.9 pg TEQ g −1) was significant in comparison to the EU regulated value of 1.75 pg TEQ g-1 for dioxins in fish oils. Most of the TEQ was associated with PCNs 66/67, 64/68, 69 and 73

Multivariate analysis of mineral constituents of edible Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) and soils beneath fruiting bodies collected from Northern Poland

Caps and stipes of 141 fruiting bodies of Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) and surface layer of soils collected from 11 spatially distant and background (pristine) areas in Northern Poland were analyzed for Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sr, and Zn by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy and cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy. In terms of bioconcentration and bioexclusion concept, K, Ag, Cu, Rb, and P were highly bioconcentrated in caps, and their bioconcentration factor values varied for the 11 sites between 120 and 500—67–420, 70–220, 10–170, and 45–100, respectively. Cd, Zn, Mg, and Na showed bioconcentration factors (BCFs) between 3.3 and 36, 3.7–15, 0.92–6.3, and 1.4–44 while Al, Ba, Ca, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Sr were excluded (BCF < 1). The Parasol Mushroom is a species harvested in the wild, and its caps are of unique taste and can contain a spectrum of essential and hazardous mineral compounds accumulated at elevated concentrations, even if collected at the background (pristine) areas. These elevated mineral concentrations of the caps are due to the efficient bioconcentration potential of the species (K, Ag, Cu, Rb, P, Cd, Zn, Mg, and Na) and abundance in the soil substrates (Al, Ca, Fe, Mn). The estimated intake rates of Cd, Hg, and Pb contained in Parasol Mushroom’s caps show a cause for concern associated with these metals resulting from the consumption of between 300- and 500-g caps daily, on a frequent basis in the mushrooming season

Perzistentni, bioakumulativni i toksični spojevi u zemljama srednje i istočne Europe - kritična mjesta

The sources and environmental levels of the PBTs in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe are broadly described. Most of the countries in the region produce and/or formulate pesticides. The pesticide registration is a primary requirement for import, production and distribution. The special attention must be given to unwanted pesticides. The problem of unwanted and expired pesticides pose the greatest danger to the natural environment and people which is brought about by the use of chemicals in agriculture in CEE countries. Countries still have not solve the problem of safety storage for PBTs and other chemicals classified as poisons and they have no special sites or facilities for destruction of these chemicals. This region has very specific problems of environmental pollution, which are the results of the recent wars. Destruction of industrial facilities and spilling of chemicals have the worst effect for the environment (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro).U radu su iscrpno opisani izvori i razine u okolišu perzistentnih bioakumulativnih i toksičnih spojeva (PBTs) u zemljama srednje i istočne Europe. U većini zemalja te regije proizvode se i/ili formuliraju pesticidi. Registracija pesticida osnovni je uvjet za uvoz, proizvodnju i distribuciju. Posebna pozornost mora se posvetiti nepoželjnim pesticidima. Nepoželjni pesticidi i oni kojima je istekao rok upotrebe najveća su opasnost za okoliš i ljude, uzrokovana primjenom kemijskih sredstava u poljoprivredi u zemljama srednje i istočne Europe. U većini zemalja još nije riješen problem sigurnosti skladištenja PBTs-a i ostalih kemikalija klasificiranih kao otrovi, a također nema posebnih mjesta ni ure|aja za uništavanje takvih kemikalija. Ova regija ima i specifičan problem onečišćenja okoliša kao posljedicu nedavnog rata. Razaranje industrijskih postrojenja i rasipanje kemikalija ima najgori učinak na okoliš (Bosna i Hercegovina, Hrvatska, Srbija i Makedonija)

Perzistentni, bioakumulativni i toksični spojevi u zemljama srednje i istočne Europe - najsuvremeniji izvještaj - izloženost ljudi

This review describes problems with persistent and bioaccumulative organic substances which posses toxic characteristics likely to cause adverse human health or environmental effects in countries of Central and Eastern Europe as far as human exposure is concerned. This paper is a part of a more detailed report on the subject.Ovaj pregledni rad dio je opsežna izvještaja koji opisuje probleme vezane uz perzistentne, bioakumulativne i toksične spojeve (PBT) u srednjoj i istočnoj Europi. Opisani su problemi izloženosti ljudi u zemljama srednje i istočne Europe perzistentnim i bioakumulativnim organskim spojevima koji imaju toksična svojstva, a koji mogu uzrokovati nepovoljne učinke na zdravlje ljudi