TRANSFER PATHWAYS OF PCDD PCDF TO FRUITS

In a field experiment the transfer of PCDD/PCDF from contaminated soil s to apples and pears was investigated. The soil PCDD/PCDF contaminati on differed in total PCDD/PCDF content and in the homologue pattern. P CDD/PCDF content in whole fruits ranged from 1 - 4 ng/kg FW. Soil PCDD /PCDF contamination was not correlated with the PCDD/PCDF concentratio ns of the fruits. The higher PCDD/PCDF concentrations of the peel in c omparison to the pulp indicate that air-borne PCDD/PCDF is the major p athway for fruit contamination. Therefore peeling of fruits can possib ly reduce PCDD/PCDF intake.