Update of daily intake of PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs from food in Japan

Total diet study (TDS) samples of 14 food groups from 16 locations in Japan , collected in 1999 and 2000, were analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-d ioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biph enyls (dioxin-like PCBs) to estimate the update of daily intake of these co ntaminants from food. The mean daily intake of toxic equivalency (TEQ) for an adult weighing 50 kg, calculated at non-detected isomer concentrations e qual to zero (ND = 0), was estimated to be 2.25 pg TEQ/kg: b.w./day. When n on-detected isomer concentrations are assumed to be equal to half of the li mits of detection (ND = 1/2 LOD), the mean daily intake was estimated to be 3.22 pg TEQ/kg b.w./day. These values were below the tolerable daily intak e (TDI) of 4 pg TEQ/kg b.w. for PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs set in Japan. In both the estimates, the mean daily intakes were highest from fish and sh ellfish (76.9% at ND = 0 and 53.9% at ND = 1/2 LOD of the total TEQs), foll owed by those from meat and eggs (15.5% at ND = 0 and 11.7% at ND = 1/2 LOD of the total TEQs). Congener specific data revealed that these total TEQ l evels were dominated by 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF and 3,3',4,4',5-Pe CB in each case (71.7% at ND = 0 and 63.1% at ND = 1/2 LOD of the total TEQ s). The dioxin-like PCBs (non-ortho and mono-ortho PCBs) accounted for abou t 50% of these total TEQs. These data will be very useful in the risk asses sment of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs from food in Japan. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.