Dietary exposure to non-dioxin-like PCBs of different population groups in Austria

• Levels of ndl-PCBs were determined in foods from the Austrian market.
• Dietary exposure was assessed for children, women and men.
• Dietary intake was well below the tolerable daily intake proposed by WHO.
• The health risk from the dietary intake of ndl-PCBs in Austria appears to be low.

The dietary exposure to the sum of the six indicator PCBs (Σ6 PCBs; PCB 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, and 180) across different Austrian population groups was assessed in this study by combining data on occurrence from food of the Austrian market (n = 157) analysed during 2006–2011 with national food consumption data. The most contaminated food group was meat, poultry, game and offal with average levels of ndl-PCBs of 5.20 ng g−1 fat. In fish and fish products and eggs, mean concentrations of 3.89 ng g−1 fresh weight (fw) and 4.00 ng g−1 fat, respectively, were found. In milk and dairy products average concentrations ranged from 3.07 to 4.44 ng g−1 fat. The mean dietary intake of Σ6 PCBs was estimated to be 3.37 ng kg−1 bw d−1 for children (6–15 years old), 3.19 ng kg−1 bw d−1 for women (19–65 years) and 2.64 ng kg−1 bw d−1 for men (19–65 years). In all three population groups, milk and dairy products was the major contributing food group to the total dietary intake (50–55%) followed by fish and fish products (23–27%). The exposure of all Austrian population groups is well below the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 10 ng kg−1 bw d−1 proposed by WHO, accounting for 34% in children, 32% in women and 26% in men.