Probabilistic intake assessment and body burden estimation of dioxin-like substances in background conditions and during a short food contamination episode

Abstract

The objective was to perform a dioxin body burden estimate based on a probabilistic intake assessment of PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs because of the so-called 1999 'Belgian dioxin incident'. Monte Carlo simulation techniques were used to combine detailed 7-day food intake data on the individual level from a sample of 14-18-year-old adolescents with 'background' and 'incident-related' food contamination data. In background conditions, 3% of the adolescents had an intake <1 pg TEQ kg(-1) bw day(-1), while 85% had <4 pg TEQ kg(-1) bw day(-1). Milk and other dairy products were the basic source of dioxin-like contaminants, while fish constituted the main source at the higher percentiles of intake. During the dioxin incident, the estimated median dioxin intake showed a moderate increase. At the 99th percentile, the highest intake level, and the 95% upper bound uncertainty level, peak body burden-23.73 ng TEQ kg(-1) bw-remained below body burdens that in the experimental animal or in man are accompanied by a population-based observable increase in the incidence of adverse effects. The 1999 Belgian dioxin incident most likely did not affect public health in Belgium in a measurable way, although exceptions remain possible on the individual level.

Dietary intake of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs of the Belgian population

“…This is considerably less than the value of 2.53 pg TEQ kgbw À1 d À1 estimated by Vrijens et al (2002) (Fig. 3).…”

“…Levels in pork, duck, rabbit and mixed meat preparations and products (mainly composed of pork) were extremely low. The highest level was found in horse meat (5.99 pg TEQ g fat À1 ), a level clearly lower than reported by others Vrijens et al, 2002). The difference may be due to the difference in age and/or origin of the samples.…”

“…A first estimation of the PCDD/Fs and non-ortho PCBs dietary intake in Belgium was done by Focant et al (2002). An estimation of the exposure of the Belgian population was done at the same time by Vrijens et al (2002). A more recent study from Bilau et al (2008) used CALUX data from the Belgian Federal monitoring program in Belgium to estimate intake of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds.…”

The relation between the estimated dietary intake of PCDD/Fs and levels in blood in a Flemish population (50–65 years)

“…Therefore, a dietary intake assessment is often performed as an exposure and risk estimate for the general population regarding this type of contaminants (Bilau et al, 2008;Bocio and Domingo, 2005;Charnley and Doull, 2005;Darnerud et al, 2006;Fattore et al, 2006;Kiviranta et al, 2004;Sasamoto et al, 2006;Taioli et al, 2005;Vrijens et al, 2002).…”

“…Both food groups were expected to have an important contribution because of the large amounts consumed (meat/meat products) and the relatively high contaminant levels (fish/seafood) (Bilau et al, 2008;Vrijens et al, 2002).…”