Median (95th percentile) concentrations in the blood (expressed as WHO-TEQ) for PCDD/Fs, non-ortho PCBs and mono-ortho PCBs were 10.1 (25.0) pg g−1 lipid, 4.2 (14.9) pg g−1 lipid and 4.5 (14.2) pg g−1 lipid, respectively. The contribution of mono-ortho PCBs and non-ortho PCBs to total TEQ was 25 % and 24 % , respectively.
For each study subject, median intake levels for seven consecutive days were calculated. From these data, the median (95th percentile) daily intake via food was 0.12 (0.32) pg TEQ kg−1 b.w. for non-ortho congeners and 0.06 (0.12) pg TEQ kg−1 b.w. for the mono-ortho congeners. PCB 126, PCB 118 and PCB 156 accounted for about 93 % of the total PCB intake.
Our study indicates that dl-PCB exposure in adults consuming a normal mixed diet is quite low at present in Germany. The median and maximum daily intake contributed to 10 % and 25 % to the tolerable daily intake recommended for total PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs.