Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in fish from the Baltic Sea, Sweden, 2000-2002

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/DFs) are still an environmental problem in Sweden, although the use and production of PCBs have been banned for decades and the release of PCDD/DFs have decreased significantly. In general, the concentrations in food have declined since the 1970s. However, in fish from some parts of the Baltic Sea, the decline of PCBs and PCDD/DFs appears to have ceased in the 1990s (Bignert, 2002). For risk assessment purposes, the Swedish National Food Administration has conducted a fish survey 2000-2002 of levels of selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs), PCBs, PCDD/DFs and persistent pesticides, in fish from the Baltic Sea region. Also polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), ubiquitously used flame retardants, have been added to this list because of results suggesting the PBDE group as candidate for a new environmental hazard. The aim is to get relevant data to be used in the continuous evaluation of the dietary recommendations and to follow changes in the levels of these environmental contaminants in fish. The ambition is to use the data as a basis for intake estimations for human body burdens and compare with internationally established tolerable weekly intakes (TWI). In addition, in November 2001, the European Commission (EC) published legislation aimed at achieving a reduction in human exposure to PCDD/DFs and PCBs (Council Regulation 2375/01/EC). One of the strategies to reduce the human exposure for PCDD/DFs and dioxin-like PCBs has been to set maximum levels for PCDD/DFs in foodstuffs. Sweden and Finland currently have a derogation from the Council regulation that allows national marketing of fish that exceed the maximum level for PCDD/DF. The legislation came into force from 1 July 2002. The Council Regulation also carries with it an obligation for Member States to monitor the levels of dioxin-like PCBs and PCDD/DFs in foodstuffs and to report the levels to the EC. These data will ultimately be used to both review the maximum limits and measure the effectiveness of the reduction strategy and set new maximum limits. For example, during 2004 the Commission is planning to set maximum levels for dioxin-like PCBs based on reported background levels from the member states. The following report includes results from parts of the sampling carried out in the Baltic Sea area in 2000-2002. Only results of PCBs, persistent pesticides, PBDEs and HBCD are reported here. The corresponding PCDD/DF levels are reported on www.slv.se in three interim reports