Carry-over of dioxins and PCBs from feed and soil to eggs at low contamination levels--influence of mycotoxin binders on the carry-over from feed to eggs

• Published in: Food additives and contaminants 2006-05, Vol.23 (5), p.518-527
• Main Authors: Hoogenboom, L.A.P, Kan, C.A, Zeilmaker, M.J, Eijkeren, J. van, Traag, W.A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdomen; Adipose Tissue - chemistry; Animal Feed - analysis; Animals; binding properties; bioaccumulation; Biological and medical sciences; carry-ver; Chickens; Dietary Supplements; Dioxins; Dioxins - analysis; Dioxins - pharmacokinetics; dosage; dose response; Egg and egg product industries; eggs; Eggs - analysis; feed; Feed and pet food industries; feed contamination; feed intake; Female; food contamination; Food Contamination - analysis; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; hen feeding; laying hens; milk; mycotoxins; Mycotoxins - metabolism; Ovary - chemistry; p-dioxins; PCBs; pesticide residues; polychlorinated biphenyls; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - analysis; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - pharmacokinetics; quantitative analysis; residual effects; soil; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - pharmacokinetics; soil pollution
• ISSN: 0265-203X; 1464-5122
• DOI: 10.1080/02652030500512037

Laying hens were fed with compound feed containing six different levels of dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and indicator PCBs for a period of 56 days. This was followed by a period of 56 days on clean feed. Dioxin levels in feed varied from background levels to three times the current EU tolerance limit of 0.75ng TEQ/kg. At all dose levels a rapid increase was observed in the dioxin levels in eggs. There was a clear linear dose-response relationship between the dioxin levels in eggs and feed. The feed containing 0.4ng TEQ dioxins per kg resulted in egg levels just above the EU limit of 3pg TEQ/g fat. Dioxin-like and indicator PCB residues followed a pattern very similar to that of dioxins. Exposure to the highest indicator PCB level of 32μg/kg resulted in egg levels around 300ng/g fat. Exposure to dioxins through contaminated soil, mixed at 10% into the feed, resulted in a similar carry-over as from feed. Mycotoxin binders, mixed at 0.5% into the feed, had little effect on the carry-over of dioxins from the feed to the egg. It can be concluded that consumption of feed or soil with even moderate levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs rapidly results in increased levels in eggs. The current EU dioxin limit for feed cannot guarantee egg dioxin levels below the EU-limit.