Levels of PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs in sheep milk collected in Sardinia, Italy

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) are widespread contaminants with important implications for environmental and 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 15 farms in Sardinia (Italy). Mean concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs were 2.31 and 3.11 pg.g-1 fat basis, respectively. Among DL-PCBs, only PCB 118 was detected in 51.1% of samples. Contamination of milk by PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs (0.92 pg WHO-TEQ g-1 fat) being within the permissible limit set by the European Commission (6 pg WHO-TEQ g-1 fat) gives no indication of particular health risk. However, continuous surveillance in milk is needed to correctly evaluate both the environmental impact and the human health risk