Victoria Castell

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in foods and estimated PAH intake by the population of Catalonia, Spain: Temporal trend

The concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were determined in various foodstuffs randomly purchased in Catalonia (Spain) during November and December of 2008. Dietary intake of PAH was subsequently estimated according to age and sex for the general population of Catalonia. The current results were compared with those of previous studies performed in 2000 and 2006. The highest PAH levels corresponded to phenanthrene (18.18 microg/kg), naphthalene (13.31 microg/kg), and pyrene (8.46 microg/kg), whereas the lowest concentrations were those of dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (0.89 microg/kg), indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene (0.94 microg/kg), and benzo[k]fluoranthene (1.00 microg/kg). With respect to the contribution of total carcinogenic PAH, benzo[a]pyrene contributed 47.77% or 48.22%, depending on the TEF value used. By food groups, the current highest levels of total PAH were detected in meat and meat products (38.99 microg/kg), followed by oils and fats (18.75 microg/kg), and dairy products (7.57 microg/kg). The highest contribution to PAH dietary intake corresponded to the group of meat and meat products (4.75 microg/day). The estimated mean dietary intake for a standard male adult (70-kg body weight) was 6.72 microg/day, a lower value than those found in our 2000 (8.42 microg/day), and 2006 surveys (12.04 microg/day). With regard to the results of other recent studies, the current PAH concentrations were comparatively lower.

Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, hexachlorobenzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in various foodstuffs before and after cooking

The cooking-induced changes in the levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in various foodstuffs were investigated. Foods included fish (sardine, hake and tuna), meat (veal steak, loin of pork, breast and thigh of chicken, and steak and rib of lamb), string bean, potato, rice, and olive oil. For each food item, raw and cooked (fried, grilled, roasted, boiled) samples were analyzed. There were some variations in the concentrations of PBDEs before and after cooking. However, they depended not only on the cooking process, but mainly on the specific food item. The highest HCB concentrations were found in sardine, being lower in cooked samples. All cooking processes enhanced HCB levels in hake, while very scarce differences could be noted in tuna (raw and cooked). In general terms, the highest PAH concentrations were found after frying by being the values especially notable in fish, excepting hake, where the highest total PAH levels corresponded to roasted samples. The results of this study show that, in general, cooking processes are only of a limited value as a means of reducing PBDE, HCB and PAH concentrations in food.

Human exposure to PBDEs through the diet in Catalonia, Spain: Temporal trend A review of recent literature on dietary PBDE intake

The mean concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) (sum tetra- to octaBDEs) were determined in samples of foodstuffs widely consumed by the population of Catalonia, Northeast Spain. The following six tetra-through heptabrominated congeners were also individually analyzed: PBDEs 47, 99, 100, 153, 154 and 183. Food samples were randomly acquired in 12 cities of Catalonia between March and June of 2006. The dietary intake of PBDEs was estimated for the population of this region. In order to determine the temporal trend on the exposure to PBDEs through the diet, the results were compared with those of a previous survey performed during 2000. The highest concentration of total PBDEs was found in fish and shellfish (563.9 ng/kg of wet weight), followed by oils and fats (359.3 ng/kg ww), and bakery products (98.8 ng/kg ww). Among six individually analyzed congeners, for most food groups BDE-47 and BDE-99 showed the highest levels. The dietary intake of PBDEs for a standard male adult of 70 kg body weight was 75.4 ng/day (or 1.1 ng/kg body weight/day, assuming ND=LOD/2). On a body weight basis, it means a decrease of 23% with respect to the daily intake of the 2000 survey (97.3 ng/day or 1.4 ng/kg/body weight/day). Finally, the current PBDE intake is compared with the results of recent studies on the dietary intake of PBDEs performed in various European, North American, and Asian countries.

Evolution of the dietary exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Catalonia, Spain

The concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in samples of foodstuffs widely consumed by the population of Catalonia, Spain. All samples were randomly acquired in 12 cities of Catalonia between March and June of 2006, and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The dietary intake of total and carcinogenic PAHs was estimated for various age/gender groups of population. In order to determine the temporal trend on the dietary exposure to PAHs, the current results were compared with those of a previous survey (2000). The highest individual PAH levels corresponded to phenanthrene (29.66 microg/kg), naphthalene (25.87 microg/kg) and fluoroanthene (13.66 microg/kg), while the lowest levels were benzo[a]pyrene (1.28 microg/kg), benzo[k]fluoranthene (1.31 microg/kg) and indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene (1.44 microg/kg). According to food groups, the highest levels of total PAHs were detected in meat and meat products (25.56 microg/kg), oils and fats (23.48 microg/kg), and cereals (20.44 microg/kg). For an average male adult (70-kg body weight), the current dietary intake of the sum of PAHs was higher (12.0 microg/day) than that found in our 2000 survey (8.4 microg/day).

Significant decreasing trend in human dietary exposure to PCDD/PCDFs and PCBs in Catalonia, Spain.

The concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDFs), and 18 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in samples of foodstuffs widely consumed by the population of Catalonia, Spain. The dietary intake of PCDD/PCDFs and dioxin-like (DL)-PCBs was subsequently estimated for the population of this Spanish region. These results were compared with those of a previous survey performed during 2000. For PCDD/PCDFs, the highest WHO-TEQ values corresponded to oils and fats (0.223 ng/kg), followed by fish and seafood (0.131 ng/kg) and dairy products (0.057 ng/kg), while the lowest levels were found in fruits (0.003 ng/kg), as well as in vegetables and milk (0.009 ng/kg). For DL-PCBs the highest WHO-TEQ values corresponded to the groups of fish and seafood (0.761 ng/kg) followed by oils and fats (0.169 ng/kg), and dairy products (0.039 ng/kg), while the lowest values were observed in fruits (0.004 ng/kg), and vegetables (0.005 ng/kg) and tubers (0.006 ng/kg). The current dietary intakes of PCDD/PCDFs, DL-PCBs, and PCDD/PCDFs plus DL-PCBs were estimated to be 25.7, 52.4, and 78.1 pg WHO-TEQ/day vs. 95.4, 150.1, and 245.5 pg WHO-TEQ/day found in our previous survey. It means reductions of 73%, 65%, and 68%, for PCDD/PCDFs, DL-PCBs, and PCDD/PCDFs plus DL-PCBs, respectively. The current estimated intake for an adult male, 1.12 pg WHO-TEQ/kg body weight per day, is lower than most intakes recently reported in a number of countries over the world.

Assessment of the temporal trend of the dietary exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs in Catalonia, over Spain: health risks.

The concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), as well as those of 18 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), including 12-dioxin like (DL)-PCBs, were measured in foodstuffs randomly acquired in Catalonia (Spain) in November-December 2008. A total of 65 composite samples, belonging to various food groups were analyzed by HRGC/HRMS. The dietary intakes of PCDD/Fs and PCBs were subsequently estimated for four age groups of the population of Catalonia: children, teenagers, adults, and seniors, which were in turn divided according to sex. The highest dietary exposure to PCDD/Fs corresponded to fish and seafood (28.0%), dairy products (15.4%), and oils and fats (10.6%), while that of PCBs corresponded to fish and seafood (58.6%), and dairy products (8.9%). In contrast, the lowest contributions of PCDD/Fs and PCBs corresponded to vegetables, fruits and pulses. Concerning the sum of PCDD/Fs plus DL-PCBs, the current total intake expressed in pg WHO-TEQ/kg per day (0.60) showed a notable decreasing trend with respect to those found in previous surveys performed also in Catalonia in 2000 (3.51) and 2006 (1.12pg/kg per day). The current dietary intake of PCDDs plus DL-PCBs is similar or lower than that recently reported in studies performed in a number of regions and countries.

Human exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs through consumption of fish and seafood in Catalonia (Spain): Temporal trend

The concentrations of PCDD/Fs and 18 PCBs (DL- and NDL-) were analyzed in 16 fish and seafood species widely consumed in Catalonia (Spain). The exposure of these pollutants was subsequently estimated according to various groups of population. The concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PCBs showed an important decrease in relation to the baseline study (2000) and our last survey (2008). Sardine and red mullet were the species showing the highest pollutant concentrations, while canned tuna and cuttlefish presented the lowest levels. Sardine was the main contributor to the exposure of PCDD/Fs and PCBs. In contrast, swordfish was the species with the lowest contribution to the exposure of PCDD/Fs, DL-PCBs, and PCDD/Fs+DL-PCBs, while clam was the minor contributor for NDL-PCBs and total PCBs. For all groups of population, the current intakes of PCDD/Fs and PCBs were lower than the TDI (1-4 pg WHO-TEQ/kg body weight/day), being children the group with the highest exposure. However, this exposure should not mean a health risk for this group of population. The current intake of PCDD/Fs and PCBs through fish and seafood consumption was similar or even lower than most values reported in recent studies all over the world.

Human dietary exposure to hexachlorobenzene in Catalonia, Spain.

The concentrations of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were measured in samples of foodstuffs widely consumed by the population of Catalonia, Spain. Food samples were randomly acquired in 12 cities of Catalonia between March and June of 2006. HCB levels were determined by high-resolution gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. The dietary intake of HCB was subsequently estimated for the population of Catalonia, and the results were compared with those of a survey performed in 2000. The highest HCB concentrations were found in oils and fats, fish and seafood, and dairy products, with mean levels of 0.481, 0.330, and 0.284 ng/g of fresh weight, respectively. HCB intake was estimated for four population groups: children, adolescents, adults, and seniors (aged >65 years). The highest and lowest HCB intake corresponded to children and seniors, respectively. Similar results were found in our 2000 survey. For a standard male adult of 70-kg body weight, in the 2000 study, total dietary intake of HCB was 166.2 ng/day (2.4 ng/kg of body weight per day), whereas in the current survey the intake was 71.6 ng/day (1.0 ng/kg of body weight per day). On a body-weight basis, it means a decrease of 57%, which was mainly due to the important reductions in the contribution of dairy products (mainly cheese), as well as those of meat and meat products and fish and seafood. All the intakes are considerably lower than the World Health Organization tolerable daily intake, which is 0.17 microg/kg/day for noncancer effects and 0.16 microg/kg/day for neoplastic effects in humans.

Dietary intake of trace elements by the population of Catalonia (Spain): results from a total diet study

This study aimed to analyse the concentrations of Al, Ba, Bi, Cu, Cr, Ge, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sb, Se, Sr and Zn in food samples collected in 2008 in Catalonia (Spain). The dietary intake of these 13 trace elements was subsequently estimated by different age–gender groups of the population: children, adolescents, adults and seniors. In general terms, fish and shellfish, cereals, and pulses were the food groups showing the highest levels for most elements. Higher dietary intakes were associated with male groups (adolescents, adults and seniors). However, none exceeded the tolerable levels. When exposure was estimated based on body weight, children were the group with the highest dietary intake. Notwithstanding, only the weekly intake of Al by children exceeded the recommendations of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). It is a consequence of the higher intake of cereals in relation to their respective body weights. In addition to the periodical food surveillance of toxic metals (As, Cd, Hg and Pb), it is also important to determine the levels of other trace elements in order to ensure that the dietary exposure by the Catalan population is under control.

Total Diet Studies in Catalonia, Spain

The first total diet study (TDS) in Catalonia was contacted between 2000 and 2002 with the objective of estimating the mean dietary exposures for different population cohorts by age and gender to the main environmental contaminants, which included heavy metals and a number of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as dioxins and PCBs. A second TDS was conducted in 2006 with improved food consumption data and with additional analytes, such as certain POPs pesticides and mycotoxins. The levels and trends in these diet-related exposures are described in the context of their potential impact on public health.