Decreased daily intake of PCDDs, PCDFs and Co-PCBs from foods in Japan from 1977 to 1998

Since 1977, pooled total diet samples(13 food group composites) from one di strict of Japan were analyzed for PCDDs, PCDFs and co-PCBs. Daily intakes o f PCDDs+PCDFs decreased from 3.75 (4.68) pgTEQ/kg bw/day in 1977 to 0.92 (1 .79) pgTEQ/kg bw/day in 1998, calculated at ND (not detected)=0 (and ND = h alf the detection limit). Over the same period, daily intake of co-PCBs dec reased from 4.43 (4.72) pgTEQ/kg bw/day to 1.80 (2.06) pgTEQ/kg bw/day, cal culated at ND=0 land ND=half the detection limit). This amounts to a decrea se of 76% for PCDDs+PCDFs and 59% for co-PCBs. In contrast, total dioxin in take decreased by approximately one-third over the same period. A strong co rrelation between decreasing dioxin intake and dioxin concentration in brea st milk in the same district was found (r=0.969, total dioxin). These resul ts show a downtrend in the dietary intake of dioxins in Japan.