348
Views
18
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Articles

Occurrence of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in eggs from free-range hens in Campania (southern Italy) and risk evaluation

, , , , , & show all
Pages 56-64 | Received 06 Sep 2016, Accepted 03 Nov 2016, Published online: 08 Dec 2016
 

ABSTRACT

Hens’ eggs collected in home-producing farms located in different areas of the Campania region of southern Italy were analysed for six NDL-polychlorobiphenyls (PCB indicators), 17 polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDFs), and 12 congeners of dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs). In the investigated area, waste from civil, industrial and hospital activities was illegally dumped and in many cases burned, so the area is called the ‘Land of fire’. This illicit practice has been considered the main source of pollution in this territory and the cause of the persistent organic pollutants’ (POPs) contamination in the neighbouring lands intended for agricultural use and livestock. The results, which were obtained from the analysis of 56 samples of eggs, showed levels of contamination by dioxins and PCBs that have often exceeded the action levels set by European Union Recommendation 711/2013 and sometimes even exceeded the maximum levels set by Commission Regulation (EU) 1259/2011. The median PCDD/Fs was 0.41 pg TEQ g−1 fat (range = 0.01–6.18 pg TEQ g−1 fat) and the median concentration of DL-PCBs was 0.70 pg TEQ g−1 fat (range = 0.01–14.60 pg TEQ g−1 fat), whereas NDL-PCBs median was 7.35 ng g−1 fat (range = 0.48–67.55 ng g−1 fat). Nevertheless, the estimated weekly intake (EWI) calculated for consumers of eggs home produced in Campania is lower than the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) established by the European Union Scientific Committee on Food (SCF).

KEYWORDS:

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Veterinary Services of AA.SS.LL. of Campania for the collection of samples.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was carried out with the financial support of the Campania region.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.