Number 75 November 1995
MAFF UK: DIOXINS IN COWS' MLK FROM THE BOLSOVER AREA
Index to MAFF UK Food Surveillance Information
Sheets, 1995
See also:
19: MAFF, UK: Dioxins in Cows' Milk
(November 1993)
43: MAFF,
UK: Dioxins in Cows' Milk (October 1994)
44: MAFF, UK: Contaminants in Cows'
Milk from the Clitheroe Area (October 1994)
100: MAFF, UK: Dioxins in Cows' Milk
from Farms Close to Industrial Sites (January 1997)
107: MAFF, UK - Dioxins and PCBs in Cows
Milk from Farms Close to Industrial Sites (June 1997)
120: MAFF UK - Dioxins in Cows'
Milk from Northern Ireland (August 1997)
123: MAFF, UK - Dioxins and PCBs in Cows
Milk from Farms Close to Industrial Sites: 1996 Survey Results (August 1997)
124: MAFF UK - Dioxins in Cows Milk from
the Bolsover Area (August 1997)
133:
MAFF, UK- Dioxins and PCBs in Cows' Milk from farms close to Industrial Sites:
Rotherham 1997 (November 1997)
134:
MAFF, UK- Dioxins and PCBs in Cows' Milk from the Bolsover Area - October 1997
(November 1997)
135: MAFF, UK-
Dioxins and PCBs in Cows' Milk from farms close to Industrial Sites:
Huddersfield 1997 (November 1997)
136: MAFF, UK- Dioxins and PCBs in Retail
Cows' Milk in England (December 1997)
143: MAFF UK - Dioxins and PCBs in Cows'
Milk from the Bolsover Area Collected in October and November 1997 (March 1998)
145: MAFF UK - Dioxins and PCBs in Farmed
Trout in England and Wales (March 1998)
184: MAFF UK - Dioxins and PCBs in UK and
Imported Marine Fish (August 1999)
Background
'Dioxins' is the generic term given to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins
and dibenzofurans. Concern over dioxins arose initially because one particular
dioxin, 2,3,7,8-TCDD, was found to produce clinical effects (chloracne) in
workers exposed to it through industrial accidents. It is also toxic to some
species of laboratory animals. The other dioxins are less toxic and
concentrations of those compounds are multiplied by a weighting factor
reflecting their relative toxicities to give a total dioxins content in terms of
'Toxic Equivalents' (TEQs). Dioxins may be produced during various combustion
processes and are also unwanted by-products in the manufacture of certain
compounds. As a result, dioxins are ubiquitous environmental contaminants and
are generally present in very low concentrations in all foods including cows'
milk. Past surveillance has shown that the normal expected range of dioxins
concentrations in cows' milk from farms close to urban/industrial areas is 0.12
- 0.27 ng TEQ/kg (1 ng/kg is one part per trillion).
Previous surveillance results for dioxins were summarised in the January
1993, November 1993 and October 1994 issues of the Food Safety Information
Bulletin (Nos 33, 43 and 54). These results showed elevated concentrations of
dioxins in cows' milk from three farms (Farms A, B and C) in the Bolsover area
of Derbyshire, although concentrations had fallen steadily since October 1990.
Further samples of milk were taken from three farms in the area, including Farm
B, in July 1995. Samples were not taken from Farm A, which had no cows in milk
in August this year, or from Farms C and G which no longer have cows.
Results
Samples from Farms F and H were taken from the bulk milk tanks on these
farms. Samples from Farm B were obtained from individual cows as this farm runs
a suckler herd and does not produce milk for human consumption. All samples
were analysed by high resolution gas chromatography-high resolution mass
spectrometry at the CSL Food Science Laboratory, Norwich.
As in July 1994, the concentrations of dioxins found (see
table) for all samples except those from Farm B were within the expected
range for farms close to urban/industrial areas. The concentrations in milk
from Farm B continue to exceed the expected range. These findings are not
unexpected as dioxins are very long-lived in the environment.
Interpretation
With the exception of Farm B, the concentrations of dioxins found in the
milk are well below the Maximum Tolerable Concentration of 0.7 ng TEQ/kg set by
MAFF and the Department of Health. Farm B does not produce milk for human
consumption and there is therefore no risk to human health from the milk.
Contact point
For further information, please contact:
Dr Nigel Harrison
MAFF,
Food Safety and Science Group
Food Contaminants Division
Room 234,
Ergon House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
Tel: (0171) 238 6235
Fax: (0171) 238 5331
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