Dietary intakes of polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins, dibenzofurans and polychlorinated biphenyls in Finland

Abstract
Samples of cow milk, pork, beef, eggs, rainbow trout, flours and vegetables were analysed for 17 polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) and 36 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). Daily dietary intake of PCDD/Fs as toxic equivalent (I-TEq) and PCBs (PCB-TEq) was assessed using food consumption data from a 24-h dietary recall study for 2862 Finnish adults. The calculated intake of PCDD/F was 46pg I-TEq day -1. The current level was about half of the earlier estimation of intake in Finland made in 1992. The assessed PCB intake was 53pg PCBTEqday -1. Thus, the total intake of PCDD/Fs and PCBs was 100pg TEqday -1 (1.3pg TEqkg -1b.w.day -1), which is within the range of tolerable daily intake (TDI) proposed by the WHO (1-4pg TEqkg -1 b.w.day -1).