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MAFF UK - DIOXINS AND PCBs IN UK AND IMPORTED MARINE FISH

Index to MAFF UK Food Surveillance Information Sheets, 1998

Key Points

A survey for dioxins and PCBs in 132 samples of marine fish has been carried out by the MAFF/Department of Health (DH) Joint Food Safety and Standards Group. Concentrations of these chemicals in the samples tested were between 0.9 and 140 ng WHO-TEQ/kg fat.
The estimated exposures to these chemicals from the diet of UK consumers are within the current UK safety guideline (Tolerable Daily Intake, TDI). However, some sub-groups of the UK population may exceed the recently recommended WHO TDI.
Having looked at the results of this survey, the independent expert Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) has recommended that UK adults should follow the COMA advice to eat one portion of oily fish each week because of the demonstrated health benefits.

Summary

MAFF has completed a survey for dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in samples of various marine fish species, salmon and fish fingers. Dioxins and PCBs are known to accumulate in fish, and consumption of fish in the UK is increasing. This survey was carried out to enable the dietary exposures of UK consumers to dioxins and PCBs from consumption of these fish to be estimated. It complements an earlier survey for these chemicals in samples of farmed trout.

More than 100 samples of cod, haddock, plaice, whiting, red fish, herring, mackerel, salmon and fish fingers were analysed. Concentrations of dioxins and PCBs were in the range 0.9-140 ng WHO-TEQ/kg fat.

Exposure to dioxins and PCBs from the consumption of fish in combination with the rest of the diet was estimated to be 2.6 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bodyweight/day for an average UK adult consumer and 5.6 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bodyweight/day for a high level adult consumer. These estimated exposures are below the current UK Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of 10 pg WHO-TEQ/kg body weight/day for dioxins and PCBs. However high level adult exposure to dioxins and PCBs would slightly exceed the TDI recently proposed by WHO.

The independent expert Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA) has advised that people should eat an average of one portion of oily fish each week. On the basis of the results of this survey, the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) has recommended that adults should continue to follow the COMA advice, as it is likely to provide health benefits for most adults without exceeding safety guidelines for dietary exposure to dioxins and PCBs.

Background

Dioxins and PCBs are very persistent chemicals which are ubiquitous in the environment and are generally present in low concentrations in foods, especially fat-containing foods including milk, meat and fish. Further background information on dioxins and PCBs can be found in Food Surveillance Information Sheets Numbers 105 and 106.^1,2

Analytical results for dioxins and PCBs are expressed in terms of Toxic Equivalents (TEQs). The concept of toxic equivalency is explained in more detail in Food Surveillance Information Sheet Number 105.¹ In summary, this pragmatic approach enables an assessment of the toxicological significance of the complex mixtures of dioxin and PCB congeners found in foods by applying weighting factors to express the toxicity of a 'dioxin-like' compound in terms of the equivalent amount of one particular dioxin, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). These weighting factors are called Toxic Equivalency Factors (TEFs).

The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) originally recommended the use of International Toxicity Equivalency Factors (I-TEFs) for dioxins³ and TEFs for PCBs recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).⁴ Therefore, the results of all previous surveys for dioxins and those JFSSG surveys for PCBs reported since 1997, including a survey of farmed trout,⁵ have been reported using those TEF systems. More recently, however, the COT has endorsed⁶ the use of a revised set of TEFs recommended by the WHO for certain dioxins and PCBs congeners (WHO-TEFs).⁷ For some individual congeners, such as some dioxins, the TEFs have increased and so these compounds now make a greater contribution to the overall TEQ value. For other congeners, such as some individual PCBs, the weighting factors have been reduced or withdrawn and so these compounds now make a smaller or no contribution to the overall TEQ value.

Since in most food groups the levels (as TEQs) of dioxins exceed those of PCBs, the effect of using the new WHO-TEFs to express concentration data is to increase the overall concentrations compared with concentrations expressed using the previously used TEF systems. However, depending on the relative concentrations of dioxins and PCBs in individual foods and the pattern of the individual congeners, the overall change in reported concentrations is negligible, or even decreases for some food groups (including the fish group).

The concentrations of dioxins and PCBs in this information sheet are expressed as WHO-TEQs, using the new WHO-TEF system. Where concentrations from previous MAFF surveys and associated estimated dietary exposures are quoted, these have been revised and are also expressed in terms of WHO-TEQs unless otherwise stated. It is not generally possible to carry out such recalculations for data from other surveys reported in the scientific literature, and which are cited for comparison, as congener specific data are not usually given.

Total dietary exposures to dioxins and PCBs by UK consumers of different age groups, based on the concentrations of these chemicals found in 1992 Total Diet Study (TDS) samples,¹ are re-expressed in terms of WHO-TEQs in Table 1. Such estimated dietary exposures to dioxins and PCBs in the UK are currently assessed against a Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) recommended in 1997 by the COT of 10 pg TEQ/kg bodyweight/day for mixtures of dioxins and PCBs.⁸ However, a WHO-European Centre for Environment and Health/International Programme on Chemical Safety (ECEH/IPCS) consultation has recently proposed a lower TDI range of 1-4 pg TEQ/kg body weight/day for dioxins and PCBs.⁹ The COT will undertake a review of the data used to derive this recently proposed TDI when a full report of the consultation is available.

MAFF has been conducting surveys for dioxins in food since 1989.¹⁰ Work has concentrated mainly on cows' milk as it is widely consumed by a large proportion of the population. However, a limited number of retail samples of marine fish (cod, plaice, coley, skate, herring and mackerel) purchased in 1988 have also been analysed.¹⁰ The concentrations of dioxins in those fish samples were in the range 2.1-38 ng WHO-TEQ/kg fat basis and 0.17-2.1 ng WHO-TEQ/kg fresh weight respectively.

MAFF has been conducting surveys for PCBs in food since the 1960s.¹¹ Marine fish surveys have regularly been carried out by CEFAS (formerly MAFF's Directorate of Fisheries Research).^12,13 In the past, PCBs were analysed in combination with organochlorine pesticides by reference to commercial formulations and the results expressed as 'total PCB' concentrations. It is now possible to analyse for individual PCB congeners and CEFAS and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) monitor for certain PCB congeners in wild and farmed fish species respectively.

Since 1994, dioxins and PCBs have generally been analysed together in samples collected for JFSSG surveys. Total concentrations of dioxins and PCBs in a survey of farmed trout in England and Wales collected in 1995 were in the range 12-60 ng WHO-TEQ/kg fat basis, or 0.29-3.1 ng WHO-TEQ/kg fresh weight. Total concentrations of dioxins and PCBs in the fish groups of the 1982 and 1992 Total Diet Study (TDS) were 17 and 6.5 ng WHO-TEQ/kg fat basis, or 1.3 and 0.60 ng WHO-TEQ/kg fresh weight, respectively.¹ The TDS samples comprise retail food products, prepared for consumption, and then combined into composite samples in amounts reflecting average national dietary habits in that year. Each composite sample represents a defined food group. The composite fish group includes contributions from both marine and freshwater fish in quantities reflecting their consumption in the UK.

Methodology

No comprehensive survey for dioxins in marine fish has previously been carried out by MAFF. The current survey also represents the first comprehensive survey of marine fish for both dioxins and PCB congeners carried out by JFSSG using analytical methodology capable of quantifying individual PCB congeners. For this survey 108 samples of marine fish species (30 cod, 26 haddock, 13 plaice, 14 whiting, 2 red fish, 10 herring and 13 mackerel) were obtained through Billingsgate Fish Market or the former Torry Research Station, Aberdeen, at different seasons between November 1995 and December 1996. In addition, 12 samples of salmon were obtained through the former Torry Research Station around January 1996, and 12 samples of fish fingers were obtained from retail outlets in East Anglia between November 1995 and January 1996. The fish species were categorised as either white fish (generally those with a fat content less than 10 per cent) or oily fish (generally those with a fat content of greater than 10 per cent, but also including trout), in line with the definitions used in McCance and Widdowson's handbook of the composition of foods.¹⁴ The sampling plan was drawn up to reflect geographical and seasonal variations in fish landed and imported into the UK.¹⁵ Analysis of the samples was not completed until 1998 due to pressure on the analytical facilities.

The marine fish samples comprised either fillets, for larger species such as cod and haddock, or whole fish. Samples of whole fish were filleted, and all individual fillets were skinned, sub-sampled and homogenised. Fish fingers were homogenised complete with their bread crumb coatings. In contrast to the TDS samples in which the foods are prepared as for consumption before compositing and analysis (i.e. fish group components are cooked), the samples in the current survey and the earlier survey of farmed trout were analysed raw. Many of the samples in this survey have also been analysed for metals and other elements.¹⁶ A list of the samples analysed is given in Table 2.

The analytical methodology for determining dioxin and PCB concentrations in food has been reported previously.^1,17 In the current survey the 17 dioxin congeners to which WHO-TEFs have been assigned and the following PCB congeners were analysed: PCBs 77, 126 and 169 (non-ortho PCBs); and 18, 28, 31, 47, 49, 51, 52, 99, 101, 105, 114, 118, 123, 128, 138, 153, 156, 157, 167, 180 and 189 (ortho PCBs). This congener set was agreed by the COT before the concept of TEFs was extended from dioxins to PCBs. The only congener having a WHO-TEF which is not included is PCB 81. The contribution to WHO-TEQ concentrations made by this congener (which was included in the 1982 and TDS surveys)¹ is however generally small. The details of the analytical method and quality control criteria are given in the final report of the survey which is available for public access in MAFF's library.¹⁸

All samples were analysed by high resolution gas chromatography coupled with high or low resolution mass spectrometry (GC-MS) at the CSL Food Science Laboratory, Norwich. The laboratory has participated in inter-laboratory trials of measurement of dioxins and PCBs in human milk and human blood organised by the WHO and has recognised expertise in the analysis of foods for dioxins and PCBs. The reporting limit for ortho-PCBs in this survey was set to 0.13 micrograms/kg fat. Analytical difficulties associated with the low fat contents of many of the white fish samples, led to considerable variation in the limits of determination (LODs) for dioxins and non-ortho-PCBs, on a fat basis. In these cases the reporting limit was the LOD which prevailed in that instance. All analytical data were assessed for compliance with published acceptance criteria.¹⁹ The concentrations in this survey and dietary exposures calculated from them are upper bound values. Upper bound concentrations assume that all congeners which are present at concentrations below the reporting limit are present at the reporting limit, and are therefore an overestimate of the true concentrations.

The coefficients of variation of reference materials, obtained by the laboratory over a long period of time, are approximately 10 per cent for dioxins and non-ortho-PCBs and 5 per cent for ortho-PCBs. The coefficients of variation for the analysis of marine fish are likely to be of a similar order.

Results

The upper bound concentrations of dioxins and PCBs are summarised in Table 3. For those species for which both UK and imported samples were analysed, the results are reported separately in Table 3. Full congener specific data are available in the final contractor's report of the survey.¹⁸ Measured fat contents of the samples were in the range 0.27-20.5 per cent.

This survey was started before introduction of the policy of providing brand information with survey results. As the release of brand information was not considered when this survey was planned, some of the details on the individual samples tested (e.g. brand name, batch code, supplier, best before or use by dates) are not available. However, all available sample details are reported (see Table 8). The absence of a particular product means only that the product was not included in the survey. No further meaning should be read into the absence of that product from this survey.

In summary, the results for white fish (including fish fingers) were:

Dioxins concentrations were in the range 0.3-43 ng WHO-TEQ/kg fat.
PCBs concentrations were in the range 0.3-91 ng WHO TEQ/kg fat.
The combined dioxins and PCBs concentrations were in the range 0.9-110 ng WHO-TEQ/kg fat.

For oily fish:

Dioxins concentrations were in the range 1.0-38 ng WHO-TEQ/kg fat.
PCBs concentrations were in the range 2.5-110 ng WHO TEQ/kg fat.
The combined dioxins and PCBs concentrations were in the range 0.9-140 ng WHO-TEQ/kg fat.

Dioxins and PCBs are known to accumulate in fish, and fish therefore makes a significant contribution to the estimated dietary exposure to dioxins and PCBs in some countries where it is consumed in large quantities. Dietary exposures to dioxins and PCBs were estimated from the results of the current survey using the mean concentrations determined in each fish species. UK and imported fish have been considered together for the purpose of calculating the mean concentrations in individual fish species although red fish was not considered as reliable consumption data are not available for this type of fish. Concentrations of dioxins and PCBs in the fish portions of recipes made from species analysed in the current survey were assumed to be the same as in the raw parent fish; thus concentrations of dioxins and PCBs in kipper were assumed to be the same as in raw herring. Concentrations in fish cakes and cod in bread crumbs were assumed to be the same as in fish fingers. For trout, mean concentrations of dioxins and PCBs were assumed to be those found during the previous survey.⁵

For all other fish species, including shellfish, the concentrations of dioxins and PCBs were assumed to be that found in the 1992 TDS fish group (6.5 ng WHO TEQ/kg fat basis).¹ The concentrations of dioxins and PCBs found in the other 1992 TDS food group samples were assumed for the remainder of the diet, as appropriate.

Estimated average and high level (97.5th percentile) dietary exposures to dioxins and PCBs by UK adult, schoolchild and toddler consumers of marine fish, in combination with the rest of the diet, are summarised in Tables 4, 5 and 6 respectively. In summary, the dietary exposures to dioxins and PCBs from consumption of fish and the remainder of the diet were estimated to be:

2.6 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bodyweight/day for average adult consumers and 5.6 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bodyweight/day for a high level (97.5th percentile) adult consumer;
2.8 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bodyweight/day for the average schoolchild consumer and 4.7 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bodyweight/day for a high level schoolchild consumer; and
5.5-6.5 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bodyweight/day for average and 8.3-10 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bodyweight/day for high level toddler consumers respectively, depending on age group.

Adult dietary exposures to dioxins and PCBs were estimated using consumption data from the British Adult Study (see Table 4).²⁰ Dietary exposures were estimated separately for each species or fish product included in the current survey. Adult dietary exposures to dioxins and PCBs were estimated from consumption of (a) white fish, (b) oily fish and (c) all fish and fish products (Table 4). It should be noted that haddock and whiting were consumed by a limited number (less than 2.5 per cent) of participants in the British Adult Survey and so the estimated high level exposure to dioxins and PCBs from consumption of these fish can be only approximate.

Corresponding dietary exposures to dioxins and PCBs of school children have been estimated using consumption data from a 7-day weighed diary study of 2,697 10-to-11 and 14-to-15 year olds conducted in 1983.²¹ The estimated dietary exposures are summarised in Table 5. In the British Schoolchildren Survey, there were no consumers of haddock and only cod and fish fingers were consumed by more than 2.5 per cent of the participants.

Dietary exposures to dioxins and PCBs have also been estimated for UK toddlers using data from a dietary and nutritional study of children aged 1½ to 4½ (Table 6), in which all food eaten in a 4-day period by each of 1,675 children in 1992-93 was recorded.²² However, it is not yet possible to take account in the TDS of those foods which are consumed only by toddlers, which means that any dietary exposures estimated from this dietary study would take account only of consumption of adult foodstuffs. For this reason, provisional estimates of toddlers dietary exposure to dioxins and PCBs have, on the advice of the COT, previously been made on the assumption that the variety and proportions of foods eaten by toddlers are the same as the foods eaten by adults.¹ This assumption is reasonable when considering the overall diet as the majority of toddlers will in general consume the same foods as the rest of the family. Dietary exposures of toddlers have been estimated by assuming that, for both dioxins and PCBs, the dietary exposure is proportional to the energy content of the diet (Table 1). For consistency, the same approach has been used again here to revise the estimated dietary exposure of toddlers to dioxins and PCBs by incorporating the current data for dioxins and PCBs in fish species. The dioxins and PCB concentrations of a UK adult diet, including fish, were expressed on an energy basis (pg TEQ/kcal) using the mean adult energy intake and dioxins and PCB exposures of adult consumers in 1992. Multiplying these concentrations, expressed on an energy basis, by the average daily energy intake of toddlers gives the estimated toddler exposures to dioxins and PCBs shown in Table 6. In practice, the consumption of fish by toddlers is likely to be different from that of adults. For example, toddlers are more likely to consume a greater proportion of fish fingers than adults and eat less oily fish. Toddler exposure from the consumption of particular species have therefore not been estimated using this procedure.

Interpretation

The COT has considered the dietary exposures to dioxins and PCBs of adults, schoolchildren and toddlers estimated from the results of the current survey. Its full statement is given in an Annex 1. The estimated dietary exposure of the average UK adult consumer is below both the current UK TDI and the upper level of the recently recommended WHO TDI for dioxins and PCBs. The COT also noted that schoolchildren and toddlers may exceed the newly recommended WHO TDI but, in view of the assumptions made in their derivation, these exposure estimates should be viewed with caution. The Committee also reiterated their earlier advice that further monitoring for dioxins and PCBs in the UK diet should continue in order to confirm the declining trend in concentrations of these chemicals in food.

The Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA) has advised that there should be an increase in the consumption of oily fish to an average of one portion per person per week. This recommendation was made on the basis of evidence that an increasing exposure to certain long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) reduces mortality from cardiovascular disease. Oily fish are a rich source of PUFAs. Not all UK adults eat oily fish. Of those people who do, an average adult consumer of oily fish eats about one portion per week; the consequent exposure to dioxins and PCBs was estimated to be 0.82 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bodyweight/day. The COT have recommended that all adults adhere to the COMA advice to eat, on average, one portion of oily fish each week, as this will confer health benefits and yet not result in the majority of individuals exceeding either the recently recommended WHO TDI or the current UK TDI for dioxins and PCBs. Although the estimated exposure of a high level adult consumer of oily fish falls between the current UK TDI and the newly recommended WHO TDI, the COT has noted that this consumer will be eating more oily fish than is required to satisfy the recommendation of COMA, which was made on health grounds.

The samples for the current survey were analysed raw. It has been demonstrated that concentrations of PCBs in bluefish fillets decreased on average by 46 per cent when cooked by various methods.^23-26 It is probable that cooking also reduces concentrations of dioxins in fish, as has been demonstrated for meat.²⁷ This could have the effect of reducing the estimated dietary exposure to dioxins and PCBs from marine fish, especially if the fish juices produced during cooking are not consumed. It has also been demonstrated that removal of the skin from carp reduces the concentration of PCBs in the carp by around 50 per cent.²⁸

Concentrations of dioxins and PCBs found in this survey varied with the species of fish, fat content, and the month of sampling. Concentrations of dioxins and PCBs on a fat basis were significantly higher in herring, red fish and plaice than in the other species. Concentrations of dioxins and PCBs on a fat basis were significantly lower in haddock and mackerel. Concentrations were also significantly lower in fish samples collected in February 1996 than in those collected in November and May 1996.

In general, concentrations of chemicals such as dioxins and PCBs in fish depend on their fat contents, the extent to which the fish migrate, the number of times they spawn, and their ages, size and feeding habits.²⁹ For example, plaice are bottom-feeding fish and therefore may be more exposed to dioxins and PCBs bound to sediment. Herring has a relatively high fat content and is non-migratory, which renders it more subject to localised contamination sources.³⁰ The Scottish Office has found that concentrations of total PCBs in herring from the River Clyde are higher than in those from the North Sea and River Forth.³¹

For some years the International Committee for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has routinely analysed a limited set of 7 PCB congeners (PCB congeners 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180) in fish. The list is based on congeners which are relatively abundant in fish and was drawn up before the use of TEFs was extended to PCBs. The concentrations of PCBs expressed as the sum of these 7 congeners are generally referred to as SigmaICES 7 concentrations. The SigmaICES 7 concentrations of PCBs found in the current survey of 12 salmon samples are in the range 66-230 micrograms/kg fat, with a mean value of 140 micrograms/kg fat. In 1997 the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) reported that a total of 161 samples of salmon were assayed for the ICES 7 PCB congeners. All samples contained detectable concentrations in the range 23-630 micrograms/kg fat, with a mean value of 250 micrograms/kg fat.³² Dioxins are not analysed in the VMD monitoring.

Surveys of marine fish have also been carried out in other countries, especially for PCBs. The mean concentrations found in these surveys are presented in Table 7 with, for comparison, those found in the current survey. Where results from other countries were expressed as I-TEQs, those for the current survey have been also for convenience. Where PCB results were expressed in terms of SigmaICES 7 concentrations, this has also been done for the current survey. In general the concentrations found in the current survey are broadly similar to those found elsewhere. However, concentrations have been found to be higher in fish taken from the Baltic Sea, a sea which is known to be contaminated. Long term monitoring of PCBs in herring from the Baltic Sea since 1978 has shown that concentrations of PCBs have fallen by 6.3-13 per cent per year.³³ It is probable that dioxins and PCBs concentrations in marine fish on sale in the UK have also fallen since the samples for the current MAFF survey were taken, in line with the trend found in Total Diet Study samples between 1982 and 1992.¹

Units

kg	a kilogram (kg) is one thousand grams (g).
ng	a nanogram (ng) is one thousand millionth of a gram (g).
pg	a picogram (pg) is one million millionth of a gram (g).
microgram	a microgram is one millionth of a gram (g).
ng WHO-TEQ/kg	nanograms of WHO Toxic Equivalents per kilogram; equivalent to parts per million million (parts per trillion) by weight
ng I-TEQ/kg	nanograms of International Toxic Equivalents per kilogram; equivalent to parts per million million (parts per trillion) by weight
pg WHO-TEQ/kg	picograms of WHO Toxic Equivalents per kilogram; equivalent to parts per thousand million million (parts per quadrillion) by weight.

References

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Spreadsheet tables

Table 8: Concentrations of dioxins and PCBs individual marine fish, salmon and fish finger samples

Click here to view the Excel 5.0 version of Table 8
Click here to view the .csv version of Table 8 (if you have any other spreadsheet package)

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These pages were last updated on 30 July 1999