Dioxins Testing

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Introduction

Dioxins are among the most hazardous environmental pollutants known to science. Despite being unintended by-products, their persistence, lipophilicity, and extreme toxicity make them a critical concern in food safety. Most human exposure to dioxins occurs through consumption of contaminated food, particularly animal-based products, placing regulatory agencies, food producers, and laboratories under constant pressure to ensure proper monitoring and mitigation.

What Are Dioxins?

Dioxins are a group of chlorinated organic compounds that belong to the broader class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The term "dioxins" commonly refers to two major groups:

Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs)
Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans (PCDFs)

In addition, dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs)—a subgroup of PCBs with similar toxicological properties—are monitored in food as part of the dioxin group.

The most toxic member of this group is 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the IARC.

Sources of Dioxins in the Environment

Dioxins are not commercially produced but are released through thermal and chemical processes involving chlorine, carbon, and organic matter. Key sources include:

Source	Description
Industrial Emissions	Waste incineration, chemical manufacturing, steel production
Combustion Processes	Burning of fuels, forest fires, or biomass with chlorine content
Chlorine Bleaching	Use in pulp and paper industries
Accidental Spills	Improper waste disposal, PCB leaks
Agricultural Practices	Use of contaminated feed, pesticides, and sludge application

Once released, dioxins settle in soil, water, and plants—bioaccumulating in animals, particularly in fat tissues.

How Do Dioxins Enter Food?

Food becomes contaminated primarily through environmental exposure and bioaccumulation:

1. Animal Feed and Soil Contamination

Cattle, poultry, and fish ingest contaminated feed or graze on tainted pastures. Dioxins are fat-soluble and build up in tissues over time.

2. Industrial Pollution

Nearby agriculture and aquaculture operations may absorb atmospheric fallout from incineration or industrial zones.

3. Food Processing & Packaging

Though rare, certain materials or production processes may inadvertently introduce dioxins.

Foods Most at Risk for Dioxin Contamination

Food Category	Examples	Reason for Risk
Meat & Poultry	Beef, pork, lamb, chicken, organ meat	Bioaccumulation in animal fat
Dairy Products	Butter, milk, cream, cheese	Lipid-rich content attracts dioxins
Fish & Seafood	Salmon, catfish, mackerel, eel, shrimp	Contaminated water and feed
Eggs	Chicken and duck eggs	Exposure via contaminated feed
Animal Fats & Oils	Lard, tallow, ghee, rendered fat	Direct concentration of fat-bound toxins
Processed Foods	Products containing animal fat, gelatin, or dried eggs	Multiple ingredient sources

Health Risks of Dioxin Exposure

Dioxins are known for their chronic toxicity even at extremely low concentrations (parts per trillion). Long-term exposure has been associated with:

Carcinogenicity: TCDD is a known human carcinogen.
Endocrine Disruption: Alters hormone systems, particularly reproductive and thyroid hormones.
Reproductive & Developmental Effects: Reduced fertility, fetal abnormalities, and immune suppression.
Neurotoxicity: Impaired neurological development in infants and children.
Dermatological Conditions: Causes skin lesions like chloracne.

Even a single exposure to high levels can cause serious health damage due to the compound’s persistence in fat tissues.

Environmental Impact

Dioxins are classified as POPs under the Stockholm Convention and are considered a global pollutant due to:

Long-range transport via wind and water
Bioaccumulation in wildlife and aquatic systems
Ecotoxicity in fish, birds, and mammals
Contamination of food webs, posing a risk to biodiversity and agriculture

Importance of Dioxin Testing in Food Safety

Why Do We Test?

Objective	Explanation
Protect Public Health	Prevent chronic exposure to high-toxicity compounds
Meet Regulatory Standards	Mandatory testing for global trade and domestic sales
Ensure Product Quality	Detect contamination early in production and supply chain
Traceability & Recall Support	Quickly isolate and remove contaminated batches
Support Import/Export	Required certifications for regulated markets (EU, US, Japan)

Testing Methods and Analytical Parameters

Method	Purpose
HRGC-HRMS	High-Resolution Gas Chromatography–High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (gold standard)
GC-MS/MS	Gas Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry for screening
Bioassay (e.g., CALUX)	Pre-screening and fast assessment of dioxin-like activity

Key Parameters Analyzed

Parameter	Details
PCDDs (7 congeners)	Including 2,3,7,8-TCDD, PeCDD, HxCDD, HpCDD, OCDD
PCDFs (10 congeners)	Including TCDF, PeCDF, HxCDF, HpCDF, OCDF
Dioxin-like PCBs (12)	Including PCB 77, PCB 126, PCB 169, etc.
Total WHO-TEQ	Toxicity-weighted sum of all dioxins and dl-PCBs
Fat Content	Needed for expressing concentration in pg TEQ/g fat
Limit of Quantification	Typically <0.01 pg TEQ/g, depending on matrix and instrumentation

Where Is Dioxin Testing Applied?

Application Area	Use Case
Livestock Products	Meat, milk, eggs tested before processing/export
Seafood and Aquaculture	Contamination monitoring in fish, crustaceans, and feed
Edible Oils and Ghee	Quality assurance and compliance before packaging or export
Infant Foods	Ensure zero exposure in baby formula and milk powder
Animal Feed & Additives	Prevent entry of dioxins at source
Environmental Testing

Standards and regulations

Dioxins and PCBs are toxic chemicals that can accumulate in food, especially in fatty products like dairy, meat, and fish. Regulation (EU) 2023/915 sets maximum limits for these substances in various foods to protect public health. For dairy products, the limits are 2.0 pg for dioxins and 4.0 pg for dioxin-like PCBs per gram of fat. These regulations help ensure safe levels of these pollutants in food.

Product Category	Dioxins (pg WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ/g)	Dioxins & Dioxin-like PCBs (pg WHO-PCDD/F-PCB-TEQ/g)	Non-Dioxin-like PCBs (ng/g)
Meat and Meat Products
Bovine, Ovine, and Caprine Animals	2.5 pg/g fat	4.0 pg/g fat	40 ng/g fat
Pigs	1.0 pg/g fat	1.25 pg/g fat	40 ng/g fat
Poultry	1.75 pg/g fat	3.0 pg/g fat	40 ng/g fat
Horse	5.0 pg/g fat	10.0 pg/g fat	-
Wild Game (Boar, Birds, Cervidae, etc.)	2.0–5.0 pg/g fat	4.0–10.0 pg/g fat	-
Liver and Derived Products
Bovine, Caprine, Pigs, Poultry, Horse	0.30–0.50 pg/g wet weight	3.0 ng/g wet weight	-
Ovine	1.25–2.0 pg/g wet weight	3.0 ng/g wet weight	-
Wild Game Birds	2.5–5.0 pg/g wet weight	3.0 ng/g wet weight	-
Fishery Products
Fish (except specified)	3.5 pg/g wet weight	6.5 pg/g wet weight	75 ng/g wet weight
Freshwater Fish (Wild-caught)	3.5 pg/g wet weight	6.5 pg/g wet weight	125 ng/g wet weight
Spiny Dogfish, Eel, etc.	3.5–10.0 pg/g wet weight	6.5–10.0 pg/g wet weight	200–300 ng/g wet weight
Fish Liver	-	20.0 pg/g wet weight	200 ng/g wet weight
Dairy Products
Raw Milk and Dairy Products (Including Butter Fat)	2.0 pg/g fat	4.0 pg/g fat	40 ng/g fat
Eggs and Egg Products	2.5 pg/g fat	5.0 pg/g fat	40 ng/g fat
Vegetable Oils and Fats	0.75 pg/g fat	1.25 pg/g fat	40 ng/g fat
Food for Infants and Young Children	0.1 pg/g wet weight	0.2 pg/g wet weight	1.0 ng/g wet weight

Eurofins Dioxin Testing Services

Eurofins provides industry-leading analytical solutions for detecting and managing dioxin contamination in food, feed, and environmental samples. With ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories across the globe, Eurofins supports clients with rapid turnaround, ultra-sensitive detection, and global regulatory compliance.

Core Testing Services

Service	Description
Ultra-Trace Detection	Dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs analyzed using HRGC-HRMS (High-Resolution GC–MS) and GC-MS/MS
PCDD/F Profiling	Complete analysis of all 17 toxic congeners (7 PCDDs + 10 PCDFs)
Dioxin-like PCB Analysis	Monitoring of 12 marker PCBs with toxicological equivalence
WHO-TEQ Calculation	Toxicity equivalence evaluated as per WHO 2005 TEFs for global compliance
Matrix Versatility	Analysis of food (meat, dairy, eggs, fish, oils), animal feed, packaging, and environmental samples
Regulatory Support	Results aligned with FSSAI, EU 2017/644, Codex, and US FDA/EPA limits

Advanced Analytical Capabilities

Limit of Quantification (LOQ): Detection down to sub-picogram levels (pg TEQ/g fat)
Lipid Extraction & Clean-up: Advanced sample preparation for high-fat matrices
Dual Column Confirmation: Orthogonal confirmation for highest data reliability
Toxic Equivalency Assessment: Accurate WHO-TEQ computation with congener-specific data

Value-Added Support Services

Service	Purpose
Toxicological Risk Assessment	Expert evaluation by Eurofins toxicologists to assess consumer risk
Supply Chain Risk Mapping	Identify contamination points in feed, ingredients, or packaging
Recall and Crisis Management	Support for traceability, re-testing, and documentation
Declaration of Compliance (DoC)	Compliance certification for packaging materials and food contact substances
Export Readiness Audits	Testing and dossier preparation for EU RASFF, US FDA, and Asian markets
Product Validation	Verification of new product compliance before launch

Multi-Residue & Integrated Testing Options

PCBs and Dioxins: Simultaneous screening for non-dioxin-like PCBs and marker PCBs
PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons): Often co-occurring with dioxins
Heavy Metals (Cd, Pb, Hg, As): In feed and environmental matrices
Pesticides and Mycotoxins: Optional multi-contaminant profiling for full product safety
Packaging NIAS Screening: Detection of non-intentionally added substances in materials that may carry dioxins

Scientific & Regulatory Consulting

Custom Method Development: For niche food matrices or special client needs
Training & Seminars: On POPs management, dioxin chemistry, and regulatory updates
Regulatory Documentation: Full support for regulatory submissions and audit preparation
SOP Review and Development: In-house laboratory process optimization