Assessment of the dietary exposure to non-dioxin-like PCBs of the Italian general population

The dietary intake of non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL-PCBs) has been estimated using the sum of six indicator PCBs (Σ6(PCBs)) in the Italian general population. Data from a national food consumption survey were combined with the mean concentration values of the individual six indicator PCBs (IUPAC Nos. 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, and 180) in foodstuffs available on the European market. Mean concentrations were estimated from the raw data set provided by the European Commission (DG SANCO). The purpose was to describe the distribution of NDL-PCB dietary intake in the Italian population, and to investigate to what extent the variability in dietary habits may cause higher exposures to the aforesaid contaminants. Results indicated a mean dietary intake of Σ6(PCBs) corresponding to 24.6, 16.1, and 10.9 ng kg-bw−1 day−1 for toddlers (0.5–6 years old, excluding breastfeeding), children (7–12 year old), and adults (13–94 years old), respectively. Fish and fishery products and milk and dairy products were the major contributors to the total dietary intake. The highest exposures due to variation in dietary habits were in general two–three times higher than the corresponding mean values and they were generally due to a higher fish consumption rate. The NDL-PCB dietary intake decreased with age until about 10–12 years; afterwards it appeared to remain constant. The tolerable daily intake (TDI) has not been established for these contaminants; however, action and maximum allowed levels in feeding stuffs and food recently established by the European Commission for dioxin-like PCBs could also protect consumers from exposure to NDL-PCBs.