Monitoring of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and polychlorinated biphenyls in Estonian food

Persistent organic pollutants are mainly compounds that include chlorine, which are posing a threat to human health and impairing living organisms and ecosystems due to their toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation. National authorities have the responsibility and obligation to ensure that toxic chemicals are not present in food at levels that may adversely affect the health of the consumers. The concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins/polychlorinated dibenzofurans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in food samples (pork, mutton, beef, poultry, butter, milk, eggs, fish preserves, and rape oil) were analysed and compared to overall food consumption data in Estonia. The results indicated that the food consumed in Estonia was safe concerning these chemicals and that the recommended two servings of fish a week would not be harmful to Estonian people’s health.