Dietary intake of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from fish and meat by residents of Nanjing, China

Concentrations of 14 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDEs) and 28 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) congers were measured in 137 samples of fish and meat from Nanjing, a city in the Yangtze River Delta, China. Total concentrations of PBDEs were less in fish (mean of 180 pg/g ww; range 8.0–1100 pg/g ww), but more in non fish foods (mean of 180 pg/g ww; range 15–950 pg/g ww) than those reported from other countries. The total dietary intake of PBDEs and PCBs by humans were 9.9 ng PBDE/d and 870 ng PCB/d, respectively. The daily intake by a 60 kg adult of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TEQWHO) from PCBs was estimated to be 49 pg PCBTEQWHO/d (0.82 pg PCBTEQWHO/kg bw), which is less than the tolerable daily intake suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO). The daily intake of meat and fish accounted for 57.2% and 42.8% of the total intake of PCBTEQWHO.

► We determined total concentrations of 14 PBDEs and 28 PCBs in 137 samples of fish and meat from Nanjing.
► The PBDEs’ concentrations were less than those reported from other countries in fishes, but were relatively higher than other countires in meat.
► Current exposures of common people to 28 PCBs in Nanjing was estimated to be 0.82 pg PCBTEQWHO /kg bw.