Assessment of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans contribution from different media to surrounding duck farms

J Hazard Mater. 2009 Apr 30;163(2-3):1185-93. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.07.079. Epub 2008 Jul 25.

Abstract

Since the "Toxic Egg Event" broke out in central Taiwan, the possible sources of the high content of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in eggs have been a serious concern. In this study, the PCDD/F contents in different media (feed, soil and ambient air) were measured. Evaluation of the impact from electric arc furnace dust treatment plant (abbreviated as EAFDT plant), which is site-specific to the "Toxic Egg Event", on the duck total-PCDD/F daily intake was conducted by both Industrial Source Complex Short Term model (ISCST) and dry and wet deposition models. After different scenario simulations, the worst case was at farm A and at 200 g feed and 5 g soil for duck intake, and the highest PCDD/F contributions from the feed, original soil and stack flue gas were 44.92, 47.81, and 6.58%, respectively. Considering different uncertainty factors, such as the flow rate variation of stack flue gas and errors from modelling and measurement, the PCDD/F contribution fraction from the stack flue gas of EAFDT plant may increase up to twice as that for the worst case (6.58%) and become 13.2%, which was still much lower than that from the total contribution fraction (86.8%) of both feed and original soil. Fly ashes contained purposely in duck feed by the farmers was a potential major source for the duck daily intake. While the impact from EAFDT plant has been proven very minor, the PCDD/F content in the feed and soil, which was contaminated by illegal fly ash landfills, requires more attention.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed
  • Animals
  • Animals, Domestic
  • Benzofurans / analysis*
  • Ducks*
  • Eggs
  • Food Contamination*
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / analogs & derivatives*
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / analysis
  • Soil Pollutants

Substances

  • Benzofurans
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins
  • Soil Pollutants
  • dibenzofuran