Perfluorinated Compounds, Polychlorinated Biphenyls, and Organochlorine Pesticide Contamination in Composite Food Samples from Dallas, Texas, USA

Abstract

ObjectivesThe objective of this article is to extend our previous studies of persistent organic pollutant (POP) contamination of U.S. food by measuring perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), organochlorine pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in composite food samples. This study is part of a larger study reported in two articles, the other of which reports levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and hexabromocyclododecane brominated flame retardants in these composite foods [Schecter et al. 2010. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclodecane (HBCD) in composite U.S. food samples, Environ Health Perspect 118:357–362].MethodsIn this study we measured concentrations of 32 organochlorine pesticides, 7 PCBs, and 11 PFCs in composite samples of 31 different types of food (310 individual food samples) purchased from supermarkets in Dallas, Texas (USA), in 2009. Dietary intake of these chemicals was calculated for an average American.ResultsContamination varied greatly among chemical and food types. The highest level of pesticide contamination was from the dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) metabolite p,p′- dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, which ranged from 0.028 ng/g wet weight (ww) in whole milk yogurt to 2.3 ng/g ww in catfish fillets. We found PCB congeners (28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, and 180) primarily in fish, with highest levels in salmon (PCB-153, 1.2 ng/g ww; PCB-138, 0.93 ng/g ww). For PFCs, we detected perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in 17 of 31 samples, ranging from 0.07 ng/g in potatoes to 1.80 ng/g in olive oil. In terms of dietary intake, DDT and DDT metabolites, endosulfans, aldrin, PCBs, and PFOA were consumed at the highest levels.ConclusionDespite product bans, we found POPs in U.S. food, and mixtures of these chemicals are consumed by the American public at varying levels. This suggests the need to expand testing of food for chemical contaminants.

Industrial Contaminants and Pesticides in Food Products

“…Compared to the FDA's Total Diet Study, p,p'-DDE and HCB are found more frequently but in lower concentrations. This compares with a recent study of Schecter et al who reported p,p'-DDE in 23 out of 31 samples in concentrations ranging from 0.06 to 9.0 ng/g with a median value of 0.51 ng/g (Schecter et al, 2010). …”

“…PFOS is widely detected in the environment, animals and humans and therefore expected. Surprisingly, Schecter et al did not find PFOS, but do find PFOA in 50% of the analysed samples in concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 1.8 ng/g (Schecter et al, 2010).…”

The Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with a Plant-Based Diet

“…Regulations are often either not enforced or subscribed to [76][77][78][79][80][81]. There is evidence of long range transport of these substances to regions where they have never been used or produced, resulting in exposure of most human populations to POPs through consumption of fat-containing food such as fish, dairy products, and meat [78][79][80][81][82][83], with the highest POP concentrations being commonly found in fatty fish [75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86]. Humans bioaccumulate these lipophilic pollutants in their adipose tissues for many years because POPs are highly resistant to metabolic degradation [78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87].…”

Impact of Contraceptive Use Upon Women’s Health Status Attending Health Family Planning Centers in Kut City

“…Several hormonal fluctuations and hormone -associated sleep alterations occur over the course of a lifetime in women and these changes in sleeping pattern have been documented for both humans and rats. [7] Pain Pain is an unpleasant feeling that is an essential component of the body's defense system. It provides a rapid warning to the nervous system to initiate a motor response to minimize physical harm.…”