Elsevier

Chemosphere

Volume 35, Issue 10, November 1997, Pages 2167-2179
Chemosphere

Levels of PCDDs and PCDFs in farm cow's milk located near potential contaminant sources in Asturias (Spain). Comparison with levels found in control, rural farms and commercial pasteurized cow's milks

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-6535(97)00295-6Get rights and content

Abstract

Cows milk samples from 12 dairy farms in Spain and 23 samples of pasteurised cows milk were analysed for PCDD/F. Farms located in rural areas without specific dioxin sources (background levels) ranged from 1.3 to 2.47 pg TEQ/g fat basis. These values were slightly lower than those found in milk from the vicinity of potential dioxin emission sources (waste incinerator, chemical and metallurgical industry) and similar to milk near paper industry. The waste incinerator seems to be the emission source with the highest influence on the cows milk gathered in its vicinity. Thus, milk near the waste incinerator exhibited the highest PCDD/F levels, the highest PCDF/PCDD ratio and its congener PCDD pattern showed the highest difference respect to its control point. The PCDD/F average concentrations found in pasteurised commercial milk were lower than those found in raw milk and were comparable to those found in retail milk from other countries.

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