Terms and risk of transfer of persistent organic pollutants into milk

Abstract

Human activities produce polluting compounds such as the Persistent Organic Pollutants group (POP) which may interact with agriculture. These molecules have raised concern about risk of transfer through the food chain via the animal product. The POP are characterised by a strong persistence in the environment, a high volatility and a lipophilicity, which lead to their accumulation in fat tissues. These compounds are enlisted in international conventions so that the information about their potential toxicity for humans and the environment may be organised. The aim of this paper was to study transfer through the food chain of three groups of POP: the dioxins-furans (PCDD/F), the polychlorobiphenyls (PCB) and the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH). The results show that the contamination of fodder by these compounds is observed when they are exposed to emission sources as compared to those in remote areas. They also show that a differential transfer of the molecules is detected towards biological matrices (milk).