Contamination and human health risk assessment of indicative polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in meats and eggs in five provincial-level regions across China

  Objective  To investigate levels and the risk of dietary exposure to indicative polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in ribbonfish, beef, pork, and eggs sampled in representative regions of China for providing data to developing limit standard of PCBs in food.

  Methods  Totally 244 meat and egg samples were collected in five representative provincial-level administrative divisions in China. Seven congeners of indicator PCBs were analyzed with isotope dilution high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). Indicator PCBs concentrations were also analyzed among different kinds of food as well as risks of dietary exposure to the PCBs among local residents.

  Results  Seven kinds of indicator PCBs (Ʃ₇ PCBs) were detected in four kinds of food sample, with the 50th percentile (P₅₀) wet weight (ww) concentrations (ng·g^–1 ww) of 0.29 for ribbonfish, 0.034 for pork, 0.026 for eggs, and 0.018 for beef, respectively. The estimated average daily intake and 95th percentile (P₉₅) exposure level of Ʃ₇ PCBs were 0.28 ng·kg^–1 body weight (bw) and 1.33 ng·kg^–1 bw for local residents through meat and eggs consumption. The estimated overall lifetime carcinogenic risk was the highest for the residents having high consumption of ribbonfish (≥ 1 time/day) contaminated with Ʃ₇ PCBs at the P₉₅ concentration of 2.26 ng·g^–1 ww.

  Conclusion  The contents of indicator PCBs in ribbonfish, beef, pork and egg samples from five representative regions of China were far lower than the limit standards stipulated by the Chinese government and the European Union; whereas the residents with high consumption of PCBs-contaminated ribbonfish may be exposed to a potential carcinogenic risk.