Dioxins & Dioxin like PCBs
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Dioxins cover a group of 75 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin ( PCDD ) congeners and 135 polychlorinated dibenzofuran ( PCDF ) congeners of which 17 are of toxicological concern. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of 209 different congeners which can be divided into two groups according to their toxicological properties: 12 congeners exhibit toxicological properties similar to dioxins and are therefore often termed dioxin-like PCBs.
Both dioxins and PCBs enter the human food chain mainly through the intake of animal fats. Dioxins are ubiquitous environmental contaminants and are generally present at very low concentrations in all foods but are especially found in fatty foods such as cows' milk.
Commission Regulation (EC) No. 466/2001 came into force on 1st July 2002, setting legally binding limits ( which is likely to be reduced as more research is carried out ) for dioxins and other contaminants in feed and foodstuffs.
MSS uses modern analytical Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry methods to detect dioxins and PCBs in samples of food. Using the latest technology it is possible to measure concentrations of dioxins of one part per trillion. This detection accuracy can be compared to finding one grain of wheat in a load of 100,000 tonnes.
Dioxin Analysis
MSS provides a UKAS accredited analysis for dioxins in food. Analysis for dioxins utilizes solvent extraction and chromatographic clean-up prior to GC/High Resolution Mass Spectrometry. Sample analysis would be undertaken using reference method US EPA Method 1613. As required by the international regulatory bodies ( WHO, US EPA, EC etc) the analysis will involve identification and quantification of the most toxic dioxins and furans and calculation of the I-TEQ value in order that a comparison with prescribed limits and typical background levels can be made.
Dioxin-like PCB analysis
The determination of dioxin-like PCBs and PCBs is preformed using solvent extraction, chromatographic clean-up followed by analysis using High Resolution Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ( Ref. Method US EPA 1668A/1613). This analysis provides data for the WHO-12 suite of dioxin-like PCBs. In addition we are able to offer the analysis of the EC-7 suite of PCBs.
