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Published on: October 14, 2013
Kaolinic clay derived PCDD/Fs in the feed chain from a sorting process for potatoes
Ron Hoogenboom1, Marco Zeilmaker, Jan van Eijkeren
1RIKILT Institute of Food Safety, Bornsesteeg 45, 6708 PD Wageningen, The Netherlands. ron.hoogenboom@wur.nl
Chemosphere
|November 6, 2009
Summary
High levels of dioxins (PCDDs/Fs) in milk were traced to kaolinic clay used in French fry production, contaminating animal feed. A pharmacokinetic model accurately predicted dioxin level decreases in milk after the source was removed.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Food Safety
- Toxicology
Background:
- Routine monitoring in late 2004 detected elevated polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) in milk from two farms.
- The contamination source was identified as kaolinic clay used in potato processing for French fries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the source of PCDD/F contamination in dairy milk.
- To model the pharmacokinetic behavior of dioxins in dairy cows and predict contamination levels.
- To assess the effectiveness of source removal on dioxin reduction.
Main Methods:
- Bioassay and High-Resolution Gas Chromatography/High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) for congener pattern analysis.
- Physiologically Based PharmacoKinetic (PB-PK) modeling to simulate contamination and elimination kinetics.
- X-ray analysis to confirm clay composition.
Main Results:
- Potato peelings used as feed contained high PCDD/F levels (44 ng WHO(1998)-TEQ kg(-1)).
- Maximum milk contamination reached 20 pg WHO(1998)-TEQ g(-1) fat.
- PB-PK model accurately predicted the rapid decrease in milk dioxin levels below 3 pg WHO(1998)-TEQ g(-1) fat within 2 months post-remediation.
- Contaminated kaolinic clay and other by-products necessitated precautionary measures on hundreds of farms.
Conclusions:
- Kaolinic clay used in food processing can be a significant source of dioxin contamination in the food chain.
- PB-PK modeling is a valuable tool for understanding and predicting contaminant kinetics in animals.
- Effective source removal rapidly reduces dioxin levels in animal products, ensuring food safety.
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