PCDDs, PCDFs AND DIOXIN-LIKE PCBs IN SHEEP MILK IN SARDINIA

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) are widespread contaminants with important implications for the environment protection and for the human health. Milk and dairy products consumption has been classified as one of the primary pathways of human exposure to these toxic chemicals. In this study we evaluated the levels of 17 laterally substituted PCDD/Fs and 12 DL-PCBs in 45 sheep milk samples collected from small dairy sheep farms in Sardinia (Italy). Mean concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs were 2.31 and 3.11 pg g-1 fat basis, respectively. With regard to the DL-PCBs only PCB 118 was detected in 51.1% of samples (0.73 ng g-1 fat basis), while the rest of the studied congeners was never detected. The contamination of milk by PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs (0.92 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat) being within the permissible limit set by the European Commission (6 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat) gives no indication of particular health risk. However, continuous surveillance on PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs levels in milk is needed in order to correctly evaluate either the environmental impact and human health risk.