PCDD/Fs in food products produced near a contaminated former sawmill – concentrations, congener profiles and risk assessment

Hillringsberg, a former sawmill site in Sweden, is severely contaminated with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). This study collected site-specific data to assess the human health risks associated with locally produced food. To evaluate potential exposure, samples of salmon, perch, cow's milk, cattle, and sheep were collected near the site and analyzed for PCDD/Fs. The findings reveal that the most frequently detected congeners in the food samples corresponded with the most abundant congeners in the soil, underscoring the impact of contaminated sites on PCDD/F concentrations in locally produced food. Particularly concerning is the level of PCDD/Fs in sheep meat, which was found to be 11 times higher than the Tolerable Weekly Intake (TWI) for adults and 26 times higher for children. Comparing food samples from the sawmill site to those from the National Swedish Control Programme revealed that all food samples from Hillringsberg exhibited some level of contamination, even though the concentrations of PCDD/Fs remained below the European Maximum Limits (MLs) and Action Limits (ALs). The concentrations and patterns of contaminants in nearly all samples, particularly those from sheep, cattle and perch, were influenced by local contamination from the historical use of pentachlorophenol (PCP) at the old sawmill site. PCA showed that sheep and soil samples from the storage area exhibited strong covariance. Perch and sediment samples from the sawmill pond were also grouped together. These findings highlight the necessity of evaluating food production activities near contaminated sites during the initial stages of site-specific risk assessments. Ensuring food safety in these areas is crucial, and if necessary, relocating grazing lands, fish farms, and similar operations can help mitigate health risks associated with contaminated food.