Residues of polychlorinated biphenyls in food of animal origin

摘要

The paper presents the results of monitoring of PCB residues in food of animal origin for the 12 year period of 1997-2008. The residue control plan included analysis of PCB congeners IUPAC No 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180 in a variety of food samples.The residue control program exists in accordance with Council Directive 96/23/EC and legislation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The residue examinations are performed by the National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy (National Reference Laboratory) and Veterinary Inspection Laboratories (ZHW) located in Bialystok, Gdansk, Katowice, Poznan, Warsaw and Wroclaw. The determinations of PCB congeners were conducted using capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection.Over the period of 12 years residues of PCB congeners were determined in 19 767 samples. The examinations involved the adipose tissue of pigs, cattle, sheep, horses, game (wild boar, roe deer, and deer), chickens, geese, turkeys, ducks and rabbits, farmed fish muscles, cow milk, eggs, honey and import food (mainly marine fish).More than 35% of the samples were found to contain low concentrations of PCBs. In swine and poultry tissues the lowest frequency of PCB residues has been noted. The following highly chlorinated congeners were most frequently detected: PCB 153, PCB 138 and PCB 180. The mean concentrations of indicator PCB congeners were higher in fish and game animals then in other animal species. Generally the levels of PCB congeners were several times lower in comparison to the permitted maximum residue limits in other countries.The regular testing within the national residue control program indicates that Polish food of animal origin contains low levels of these contaminants and is safe for consumers.