Risk Assessment of Dioxin in Japan

In 1990, Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of 10 pg TCDD/kg/day for dioxins based on carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity was determined by WHO/EURO, that resulted in the establishment of TDIs in other countries. In Japan, Ministry of Health and Welfare and Environment Agency, respectively established the TDI of 10 pg TCDD/kg/day and Health Risk Assessment Index of 5 pg TCDD/kg/day in 1996. Accumulation of new scientific data, especially by molecular toxicology since 1990, resulted in the reevaluation of TDI by WHO-ECEH and IPCS in May, 1998. At this meeting, it was stressed that \circled1 toxic effects of dioxin is mediated through Ah-receptor in both animals and humans, \circled2 use of ebody burdeni concept is better than the use of traditional NOAEL/UF approach, \circled3 inclusion of coplanar PCBs in the TDI by the use of new WHO-TEF. LOAELs (0.16~200 ng TCDD/kg/day) obtained from reproductive toxicity and immunotoxicity in rats, and neurobehavioral toxicity and induction of endometriosis in rhesus monkeys are calculated to be the body burden of 10~50 ng TCDD/kg that is 14~37 pg TEQ/kg/day as human daily intake. Finally TDI of 1~4 pg TEQ/kg/day was established by applying the UF of 10. In Japan, reproductive toxicity and immunotoxicity in rats were used to obtain LOAELs (100~200 ng TCDD/kg/day). Finally TDI of 4 pg TEQ/kg/day was established in June 1999 by applying the UF of 10 to human daily intake of 43.6 pg TEQ/kg/day which corresponds to the body burden of 86 ng TCDD/kg.