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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Food Animal Metabolism Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #126034
Title: DIOXINS IN FOOD: A MODERN AGRICULTURAL PERSPECTIVE.

Author
item Huwe, Janice

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/16/2001
Publication Date: 2/1/2002
Citation: Huwe, J.K. 2002. Dioxins in food: a modern agricultural perspective. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 50(7):1739-1750.

Interpretive Summary: Although polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDDs/PCDFs) are considered an industrial problem because they are produced by incineration and chemical processes, human exposure to PCDD/PCDFs is mainly through the food supply. Thus PCDD/PCDFs become a concern for agriculture. This review attempts to cover and summarize the literature available on PCDD/PCDFs in the environment with regards to problems of interest to agriculture. The coverage of the literature is extensive (112 references) but, by all means, not complete. Issues which are addressed in this review include a background summary of dioxins in the environment and their potential human health risks; current knowledge on the levels of dioxins in the U.S. food supply and comparisons to European data; descriptions of recent food contamination episodes; an evaluation of methods which may reduce exposures to dioxins; and the status and limitations of dioxin analysis and rapid screening methods with regards to widespread monitoring programs. Research areas of interest to agriculture where data and experimental results are scarce or non-existent are also pointed out.

Technical Abstract: This review attempts to cover and summarize the literature available on polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans in the environment with regards to problems of interest to agriculture. The coverage of the literature is extensive (112 references) but, by all means, not complete. Issues which are addressed in this review include a background summary of dioxins in the environment and their potential human health risks; current knowledge on the levels of dioxins in the U.S. food supply and comparisons to European data; descriptions of recent food contamination episodes; an evaluation of methods which may reduce exposures to dioxins; and the status and limitations of dioxin analysis and rapid screening methods with regards to widespread monitoring programs. Research areas where data and experimental results are scarce or non-existent are also pointed out.