PCDD/Fs and PCBs in Baltic fish – Recent data, risk for consumers

Highlights: • PCDD/F and PCB levels in Baltic fish from Polish fishing areas are presented. • Dioxin levels are decreasing in Baltic fish. • Consumption of the majority Baltic fish causes TWI dose exceedances. This study determines the levels of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in Baltic fish caught in ICES areas 24, 25, and 26, and the related risk for fish consumers in relation to the newly established Tolerable Weekly Intake dose (TWI) (2 pg WHO-TEQ kg −^-1 body weight). The total PCDD/F/DL-PCBs toxic equivalents in the fish muscle ranged from 0.12 to 10.34 pg WHO-TEQ g − ^-1 wet weight. Salmon muscles contained the highest average concentration and cod the lowest, below 0.5 pg WHO-TEQ g − ^-1 wet weight of total TEQ. The average intake of PCDD/F/DL-PCBs (portion of fish 200 g) was 91–2420% of the TWI for children, and 30–799% of the TWI for adults. It appears that despite the decreased levels of PCDD/F and PCBs in Baltic fish, in relation to the newly established TWI dose, this decrease is not enough to make the Baltic fish safe for frequent consumers.