Location: Food Animal Metabolism Research
Project Number: 3060-32420-001-018-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Oct 1, 2018
End Date: Sep 30, 2020
Objective:
To quantify 17 toxic dioxins and furans, 3 co-planar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and16 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in approximately 600 beef, pork, chicken, and turkey samples. The analyses will be conducted in support of a USDA FSIS survey of persistent organic pollutants in the U.S. meat supply.
Approach:
The USDA ARS will conduct dioxin analysis on approximately 510 fat samples from steers/heifers, market hogs, young chickens, and young turkeys collected by the USDA FSIS. An additional 100 samples from other production classes and possibly liver samples will also be analyzed. The analyses include sample purification and quantification of 17 toxic dioxins and furans, 3 co-planar PCBs, and 16 PBDEs by high resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry methods. All compounds can be isolated from a single purification procedure. The analytical methods are based on EPA Method 1613 “Tetra- through octa-chlorinated dioxins and furans by isotope dilution HRGC/HRMS” and EPA Draft Method 1614 "Brominated diphenyl ethers in water, soil, sediment, and tissue by HRGC/HRMS." The project will follow the same Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) implemented for the 2002-2003, 2007-2008, and 2012-2013 surveys, with minor revisions to reflect changes in personnel and software.
