Dietary exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and polychlorinated biphenyls of the French population: Results of the second French Total Diet Study

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) bioaccumulate through the food chain and are therefore of public health concern. Exposure to these compounds was assessed in the second French Total Diet Study (TDS). Food samples (n = 583) were collected to be representative of the whole diet of the population, prepared as consumed, and analyzed. Contamination data were combined with national individual food consumption data.Mean exposure (95th percentile) to PCDD/F + DL-PCBs was assessed to be 0.57 (1.29) pg TEQWHO-98 (kg bw)−1 d−1 in the adult population and 0.89 (2.02) pg TEQWHO-98 (kg bw)−1 d−1 in the child and teenager population. Less than 4% of the population exceeded the health-based guidance value for PCDD/F + DL-PCBs. Mean exposure (95th percentile) to the six indicator PCBs (PCB 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180) was estimated at 2.71 (7.90) ng (kg bw)−1 d−1 in the adult population and 3.77 (11.7) ng (kg bw)−1 d−1 in the child and teenager population. Only 2.6% of the adults [CI95%: 1.9; 3.3] and 6.5% of the children and teenagers [5.2; 7.8] exceeded the health-based guidance value for total PCBs.These results show that the contamination levels in food and therefore the exposure of the general French population to PCDD/Fs and PCBs have declined (by a factor of 3.2 for PCDD/F + DL-PCBs and about three for total PCBs) since the last evaluation, which was conducted using another methodology in 2005 and 2007, and show the efficiency of the European risk management measures which came into force after these evaluations.

► Dioxins and PCBs are bioaccumulating environmental and food contaminants.
► Food levels in dioxins and PCBs were analyzed and dietary exposure was assessed.
► Food contamination and exposure in France have declined since 2005–2007.
► The health risk linked with dioxin and PCB exposure is of low public health concern.