PCB and organochlorine pesticides in home-produced eggs in Belgium

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 407; no. 15; pp. 4430 - 4437
• Main Authors: Windal, I., Hanot, V., Marchi, J., Huysmans, G., Van Overmeire, I., Waegeneers, N., Goeyens, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15-07-2009; [Amsterdam; New York]: Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animals; Belgium; chemical concentration; Chickens; contamination sources; DDT; DDT (pesticide); dietary exposure; egg contamination; Eggs; environmental exposure; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; excreta; Feces - chemistry; feed contamination; Female; food contamination; Food Contamination - analysis; Home-produced eggs; home-produced food; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - analysis; laying hens; Organochlorine pesticides; PCB; Pesticides - analysis; polychlorinated biphenyls; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - analysis; Risk Assessment; Seasons; Soil; soil pollution; Belgium; Home-produced eggs; DDT; PCB; Eggs; Organochlorine pesticides
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.11.063

The level of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and persistent organochlorinated pesticides (OC) in home-produced eggs was investigated in Belgium. The concentration of dichlorodiphenytrichloroethane (DDT) is above the norm for 17% of the eggs collected during the spring on 58 different locations. For PCB, aldrin, dieldrin, and chlordane, 3–5% of the samples are above the norm too. These levels are surprisingly high for compounds banned for about 30 years. Higher concentrations in home-produced eggs are expected compared to battery eggs because of contact with the environment and especially the soil. For ten selected locations, the concentration in soils, excreta and feed was measured, but no simple correlation between egg and feed or soil level could be established. Hexachlorohexane, endosulfan, endrin, methoxychlor and nitrofen were not detected in any sample.