Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, and polychlorinated biphenyls in semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) and wild moose (Alces alces) meat in Finland

Semi-domesticated reindeer and wild moose meat samples were analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Both calves and adults were studied. Individual reindeer and moose meat samples and pooled reindeer calf meat samples were collected from the northern, the middle, and the southern reindeer herding regions in Finland. Samples represented the edible parts of carcasses.In individual samples of reindeer the fat based WHO–PCDD/F–PCB–TEQ concentration was on average 3.2 pg g−1 in calves and 2.3 pg g−1 in adults. In moose calves the fat based WHO–PCDD/F–PCB–TEQ concentration (1.9 pg g−1) was lower than in reindeer calves. WHO–PCDD/F–PCB–TEQ concentration in the adult moose samples was equal as in the adult reindeer samples.The mean fat based WHO–PCDD/F–PCB–TEQ concentration was highest in reindeer calf samples from the middle region. These samples contained also the highest content of fat. Individual samples of reindeer contained on average more WHO–PCB–TEQ than WHO–PCDD/F–TEQ, while the opposite was true for moose samples, and also samples of adult reindeer from the southern area. The contributions of PCDD/Fs and PCBs to the total TEQ were similar in the reindeer calves’ pooled samples which were collected from more western regions than individual samples.