Foraging animal origin food samples as passive indicators of dioxin-like POPs contamination in industry sites: Method development, characterisation and risk assessment
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Titanium dioxide production may release dioxin-like persistent organic pollutants (dl-POPs). Foraging animal foods like milk and eggs near production sites show higher dl-POP levels, indicating potential health risks for local populations.
Area Of Science
- Environmental Chemistry
- Food Safety
- Toxicology
Background
- Titanium dioxide (TiO2) production, particularly via the chloride process, is suspected to generate unintentional dioxin-like persistent organic pollutants (dl-POPs).
- Assessing ultra-trace dl-POPs in industrial zones is challenging due to their low environmental distribution.
- Foraging animal-origin foods offer a novel approach as sensitive indicators for dl-POP contamination.
Purpose Of The Study
- To assess background levels of dl-POPs near a TiO2 production facility in Southern India.
- To investigate the utility of foraging cow's milk and free-ranging hen's eggs as bioindicators.
- To evaluate potential health risks associated with dl-POP exposure in the local population.
Main Methods
- Systematic sampling of foraging cow's milk and free-ranging hen's eggs from the industrial vicinity and control sites.
- Utilisation of a cost-effective, in-house developed Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) analytical method.
- Tracing contaminant loads to environmental compartments (soil, sediment) and assessing congener fingerprints.
Main Results
- Median dl-POP levels in foraging animal products were approximately 3 times higher than control samples.
- Correlations were observed between dl-POPs in food samples and environmental matrices (soil, sediment).
- Inferred elevated health risks for the industrial zone population, with weekly intakes 0.15-17 times EFSA levels; children faced higher risks.
Conclusions
- Foraging animal-origin foods can serve as effective bioindicators for dl-POPs associated with TiO2 production.
- TiO2 production sites pose significant health risks, particularly from milk consumption, impacting children disproportionately.
- The validated GC-MS/MS method is suitable for regulatory monitoring of dl-POPs, especially in developing economies.
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