Accumulation of polychlorinated naphthalenes in domestic animal related samples

Abstract

Concentrations of polychlorinated naphthalene (PCN) congeners were measured in domestic animal related samples such as feed ingredients, mixed feed and animal fat. Mean concentrations of total PCNs in feed ingredients ranged from 500 to 1500 pg g⁻¹ lipid wt with a high concentration found in fish meal. Total PCN concentrations were similar among mixed feeds, which ranged from 98 to 110 pg g⁻¹ lipid wt. The total PCN concentration in chickens was more than twice the amount in pigs. Tetra-CNs were the predominant homologues in all samples. Biomagnification of higher chlorinated PCN congeners, especially penta- and hexa-CNs, was a few fold greater in chickens compared to pigs. The estimated concentrations of 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro dibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TEQs) of some selected PCNs in feed ingredients, mixed feeds, chickens and pigs were 0.008 to 0.063, 0.001 to 0.002, 0.033 and 0.011 pg g⁻¹ lipid wt, respectively. Based on predicted luciferase inducing potency for each PCN congener, the estimated PCN-TEQs in feed ingredients and animal fat were similar to those that were estimated from selected PCNs.