Non-dioxin-like PCB and PBDE deposition on Zeamays L. leaves: modelled contamination in milk from dairy animals fed on silage

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) can intercept airborne pollutants before their deposition on soil. Selected non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (Σ₆NDL-PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (Σ₈PBDEs) with feed and food safety relevance were measured on maize leaves harvested for silage in dairy animals from 28 fields in Italy. Analyses were carried out by gas chromatography coupled to high- and low-resolution mass spectrometry. Contamination ranged from 0.65 to 5.3 ng g⁻¹ with 12% moisture for Σ₆NDL-PCBs, and from 2.7 to 6.2 for Σ₈ PBDEs. Modelled contamination in cow’s milk was estimated to fall within the range 0.27–16 ng g⁻¹ for PCBs, 0.17–1.9 for PBDE number 47, and 0.22–2.1 for PBDE number 99 on a lipid basis. The results indicate that maize silage alone may raise Σ₆NDL-PCB contamination in dairy milk up to the 95th percentile in the European Union. Results are discussed in terms of air quality standards able to support food safety.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• polychlorinated biphenyls
• polybrominated diphenyl ethers
• deposition
• maize leaves
• silage
• dairy products

Acknowledgements

The authors also wish to thank Mrs Fabiola Ferri for editing; and Dr Pellegrino Cerino and Mr Federico Monti for on-field sampling activities.

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge funding from The Italian Ministry of Health [grant number 2009–1534860] ‘ENVIFOOD’ project.