Dioxins and related PCBs: tolerable intake level updated

EFSA has confirmed the conclusion of previous assessments that dietary exposure For the purposes of risk assessment, measurement of the amount of a substance consumed by a person or animal in their diet that is intentionally added or unintentionally present (e.g. a nutrient, additive or pesticide) to dioxins and dioxin Persistent, chlorine-containing organic pollutant which occurs as by-product of industrial processes. It can accumulate in the food chain and pose a serious public and environmental health risk-like PCBs – environmental pollutants present at low levels in food and feed – is a health concern. Data from European countries indicate an exceedance of EFSA’s new tolerable intake The amount of a substance (e.g. nutrient or chemical) that is ingested by a person or animal via the diet level across all age groups.

Dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs are toxic chemicals that persist in the environment for years and accumulate at low levels in the food chain, usually in the fatty tissues of animals. Their presence in food and feed has declined in the last 30 years thanks to the efforts of public authorities and industry.

EFSA’s expert Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) has completed the Authority’s first comprehensive review of the risks to human and animal health from these substances in food and feed. The European Commission asked EFSA for this risk assessment A specialised field of applied science that involves reviewing scientific data and studies in order to evaluate risks associated with certain hazards. It involves four steps: hazard identification, hazard characterisation, exposure assessment and risk characterisation following its 2015 review of differences between tolerable intake levels set by various scientific advisory bodies.

New tolerable intake

The risk assessment considered effects seen in humans and used data from animal testing as supportive evidence. EFSA discussed its scientific approach, including the use of human (‘epidemiological’) studies, with national partners in European countries to support further understanding of the methods and data used.

Dr Ron Hoogenboom of the CONTAM Panel and chair of the dioxins working group, said: “The Panel has set a new tolerable weekly intake The maximum intake of substances in food, such as nutrients or contaminants, that can be consumed weekly over a lifetime without risking adverse health effects [ TWI The tolerable weekly intake (TWI) is the maximum intake of substances in food, such as nutrients or contaminants, that can be consumed weekly over a lifetime without risking adverse health effects] for dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in food of 2 picograms* per kilogram of body weight.“

The new TWI is seven-times lower than the previous EU tolerable intake set by the European Commission’s former Scientific Committee on Food in 2001.

“The main reasons for the decrease were the availability of new epidemiological and experimental animal data on the toxicity The potential of a substance to cause harm to a living organism of these substances and more refined modelling techniques for predicting levels in the human body over time.”

Decreased semen quality

“The new TWI is protective against effects on semen quality, the adverse health effect seen at the lowest levels of these contaminants in human blood,” Dr Hoogenboom added.

The TWI is also protective against other effects observed in studies with human subjects: lower sex ratio of sons to daughters, higher levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone in new-borns and developmental enamel defects on teeth.

Exposure Concentration or amount of a particular substance that is taken in by an individual, population or ecosystem in a specific frequency over a certain amount of time for all ages exceeds TWI

The main contributors to average dietary exposure for most age groups in European countries are fish (in particular fatty fish), cheese and livestock meat.

Dr Hoogenboom said: “Average and high exposures were, respectively, up to five and 15 times the new TWI in adolescents, adults and the elderly. Toddlers and other children up to 10 years of age had a similar range of exceedance of the TWI.”

Panel recommendations

“These exceedances are a health concern, but the toxicity of the most harmful dioxin-like PCB may be overestimated,” stated Dr Hoogenboom. “When calculating the toxicity of substances like these, we use internationally-agreed values known as ‘toxicity equivalency factors’ (TEFs). The Panel would support a review of the TEFs for both dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in light of new scientific data. If confirmed to be less toxic, this would reduce the concern for consumers.

Follow up to EFSA’s opinion

The European Commission and EU Member States will discuss risk management The management of risks which have been identified by risk assessment. It includes the planning, implementation and evaluation of any resulting actions taken to protect consumers, animals and the environment measures following EFSA’s scientific advice to ensure a high level of consumer protection.

*A picogram is one trillionth (or 10⁻¹²) of a gram.

• Scientific opinion on the risk for animal and human health related to the presence of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in feed and food
• Information Session on the EFSA Opinion on PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in food and feed

More information:

Dioxins are unwanted by-products generated by thermal and industrial processes. PCBs had numerous industrial applications before being banned in the EU by the 1980s. Twelve PCBs are referred to as “dioxin-like PCBs” as they share toxicological properties with dioxins. For more information see our Topic on Dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs.