C01039: Investigation of the occurrence of polychlorinated naphthalenes and polychlorinated short, medium and long chain paraffins in food
Monday 12 February 2007
This research project will validate and develop the analytical methods for and investigate the occurrence of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) and polychlorinated short, medium and long chain paraffins (CPs) in various foods.
Background
PCNs have been detected in fish and human milk in other countries, while CPs have occasionally been detected in fish, but there is currently no UK data for either group. The chemicals are known to be toxic, and certain PCN congeners may be included in a future revision to the Toxic Equivalency Factors for dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs scheme.
Research Approach
An existing analytical method for PCNs will be validated for additional congeners, and a new method developed for CPs, in five test samples. Further samples encompassing a variety of foodstuffs will be analysed for PCNs and CPs to investigate their occurrence in UK foods.