Abstract:This report gives a summary of the historic use, former management and current release of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Germany and assesses the impact of the life cycle of PCBs on the contamination of the environment and of food products of animal origin. In Germany 60,000 t of PCBs were used in transformers, capacitors or as hydraulic oils. The use of PCB oils in these "closed applications", has been banned in Germany in 2000. Thirty to 50% of these PCBs were not appropriately managed. In West Germany,… Show more
“…For farms where point sources of PCDD/Fs or PCBs caused contamination of food, the management measure consists of removing the source or excluding or restricting access for livestock. This is what was done in the 1980s following the discovery that PCB paints in feed silos caused the PCB-contamination of milk exceeding the former German regulatory limit for ndl-PCBs [ 3 , 99 ]. At that time, a great number of farms were screened and the PCB-painted silos were removed [ 29 ].…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 81%
“…2 ), combined with grass/feed levels around 0.15 ng PCB-TEQ/kg dm. These critical grass levels are considerably below the EU regulatory limits for feed of plant origin of 1.25 ng TEQ/kg (moisture content of 12%) for the sum of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs [ 3 , 17 ]. Fig.…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…In recent years, floodplains of rivers with historic industrial inputs were identified as a possible PCB and PCDD/F exposure pathway for dairy cows and beef in Germany and the UK [ 120 – 122 ]. dl-PCB levels in soils of floodplains of several rivers in Germany were unfit for cattle grazing or for chicken/egg production [ 3 ], and caused contamination of beef and sheep meat [ 17 , 120 ]. Open burning: in the Campania region in Italy, large amount of wastes have been dumped and burned in the open.…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The use of PCBs and their weak life-cycle management have resulted in a widespread contamination of the technosphere and the environment. Former open applications such as sealants are still contributing to environmental release and human exposure [ 3 ]. Similarly, the release of PCDD/Fs over the last two centuries’ industrial emissions and one-century chlorine/organochlorine production has impacted and contaminated soils and sediments, generating contaminated sites and hot spots [ 4 – 9 ].…”
BackgroundIn 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionsThe 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.
“…For farms where point sources of PCDD/Fs or PCBs caused contamination of food, the management measure consists of removing the source or excluding or restricting access for livestock. This is what was done in the 1980s following the discovery that PCB paints in feed silos caused the PCB-contamination of milk exceeding the former German regulatory limit for ndl-PCBs [ 3 , 99 ]. At that time, a great number of farms were screened and the PCB-painted silos were removed [ 29 ].…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 81%
“…2 ), combined with grass/feed levels around 0.15 ng PCB-TEQ/kg dm. These critical grass levels are considerably below the EU regulatory limits for feed of plant origin of 1.25 ng TEQ/kg (moisture content of 12%) for the sum of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs [ 3 , 17 ]. Fig.…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…In recent years, floodplains of rivers with historic industrial inputs were identified as a possible PCB and PCDD/F exposure pathway for dairy cows and beef in Germany and the UK [ 120 – 122 ]. dl-PCB levels in soils of floodplains of several rivers in Germany were unfit for cattle grazing or for chicken/egg production [ 3 ], and caused contamination of beef and sheep meat [ 17 , 120 ]. Open burning: in the Campania region in Italy, large amount of wastes have been dumped and burned in the open.…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The use of PCBs and their weak life-cycle management have resulted in a widespread contamination of the technosphere and the environment. Former open applications such as sealants are still contributing to environmental release and human exposure [ 3 ]. Similarly, the release of PCDD/Fs over the last two centuries’ industrial emissions and one-century chlorine/organochlorine production has impacted and contaminated soils and sediments, generating contaminated sites and hot spots [ 4 – 9 ].…”
BackgroundIn 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionsThe 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.
“…as hydraulic fluids and dielectric fluids in transformers and as additives in paints, paper, sealants and plastics [22]. Today, sources of PCB are formed unintentionally in combustion processes, released from PCBcontaining sealants and paints still present in buildings or mobilised from contaminated sites [23].…”
Background: Draft standards for the determination of organic pollutants in the solid matter of environmental matrices such as sludge, treated biowaste and soil have been basically developed in the framework of the European standardisation project HORIZONTAL. A research project financed by the German Federal Environment Agency was initiated to finalise some of these CEN standard drafts, since fully validated standard procedures are crucial for the evaluation of their reliability in the context of implementation in legislation on environmental health. Approach: Appropriate test materials (< 2 mm particle size) were prepared and homogenised from contaminated soils, sludge and treated biowaste containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), dioxins, furans and dioxin-like-PCB and served, along with reference solutions, as the basis for international interlaboratory comparisons. Performance data of three analytical standard procedures were obtained by the statistical evaluation of results received from 11 to 29 participants per test material. Results: The overall variation coefficients of reproducibility (between-lab standard deviations) for the sum parameters were roughly between 10 and 35%. The variation coefficients of repeatability (within-lab standard deviations) range between 3 and 8% and show no trend considering the substance groups or matrices. The highest coefficients of reproducibility were found for the analysis of PAH, which were between 26 and 35%, depending on the matrix, whereas 7-17% reproducibility was observed for toxicity equivalents (TEQ) comprising dioxins, furans and dl-PCB. Conclusions: Overall, the results confirm that the procedures described in the Technical Specifications are fit for purpose for all three matrices and that the feasibility of the HORIZONTAL approach, to cover several matrices with one standard per analyte, was thereby proven.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) represent organic contaminants that are persistent hazardous, carcinogenic, and genotoxic, thereby endangering both human well‐being and the ecosystem. This research delved into concentration patterns, sources, and health hazards associated with PCBs in dust collected from vehicle parks in Lagos metropolis. PCBs in samples of Lagos park dust extended from 1.00 to 36.80 ng/g, with PCB 18 exhibiting the highest mean concentration of 17.02 ng/g. Among the 12 PCBs studied, 5 Cl atom PCBs contributed the highest percentage, constituting 30% of the total PCB content in Lagos park dust. Dioxin‐like PCBs (DLPCBs) made up 27% of the overall PCBs composition in the dust. Using the positive matrix factorization method, eight sources of PCBs were identified, with biomass combustion contributing the highest proportion at 42% of the total PCB emissions. Health risk estimates revealed that the magnitude of PCBs exposure in human followed the order: ingestion > dermal contact > inhalation. PCBs exposure through ingestion in children was 9.33 times higher than that of adults, potentially attributed to the inadvertent intake of dust particles by children via hand‐to‐mouth contact. Cancer risk assessments for all PCB congeners remained below 10−6, indicating acceptable risk levels. PCB 18 had the highest cancer risk values, reaching 8.69 × 10−9 for children and 1.19 × 10−9 for adults.
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