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Investigation of the occurrence of polychlorinated naphthalenes and polychlorinated short, medium and long chain paraffins in food

Project Code: C01039;
Publication:

Polychlorinated Naphthalenes (PCNs): Congener Specific Analysis, Occurrence in Food, and Dietary Exposure in the UK, Alwyn Fernandes, David Mortimer, Martin Gem, Frankie Smith, Martin Rose, Sean Panton & Melanie Carr,Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 44, No 9, (2010), Pages 3533 - 3538, DOI: 10.1021/es903502g

12/01/2012

Central Science Laboratory
Fernandes, A ;
Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ
Rose, M; Smith, F; Panton, S; Carr, M

This research project validated and developed analytical methods for the detection of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) and polychlorinated short, medium and long chain paraffins (CPs) in various foods and investigated their occurrence in selected food samples.

This project has developed methodologies for the analysis of PCNs and CPs to allow the investigation of these contaminants in foods using measurement by gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS). The occurrence of these contaminants was investigated in samples of
individual, commonly consumed foods, such as milk and dairy products, meat and meat products, fish, eggs and poultry, and vegetables. PCNs were positively identified in all samples at varying concentrations. CPs were more selectively detected, showing low occurrence in foods such as dairy products and eggs and relatively higher levels in meat and fish. CPs corresponding to medium chain compounds were generally more abundant.

Based on this small sample, the concentrations of PCNs do not appear to suggest any toxicological concerns in the UK. However, PCNTEQ could be seen as a contribution to the overall burden of human exposure to dioxin-like TEQ and other similar halogenated aromatic compounds.

Final report

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