Levels of Organic Pollutants in Vegetables and Human Exposure Through Diet: A Review

• Published in: Critical reviews in environmental science and technology Vol. 44; no. 1; pp. 1 - 33
• Main Authors: Lü, Huixiong, Cai, Quan-Ying, Jones, Kevin C., Zeng, Qiao-Yun, Katsoyiannis, Athanasios
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2014; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Contaminants; Equivalence; exposure; Food toxicology; Human; Human exposure; Medical sciences; organic contaminant; Organic contaminants; Pollutants; polybrominated diphenyl ethers; polychlorinated biphenyls; polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Toxic; Toxicology; vegetable; Vegetables; Human; Vegetables; Polychlorobiphenyls; polybrominated diphenyl ethers; organic contaminant; Review; Polycyclic aromatic compound; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; vegetable; polychlorinated biphenyls; exposure; Bromine Organic compounds; polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans; Bibliographic review; Food; Chemical contamination
• ISSN: 1064-3389; 1547-6537
• DOI: 10.1080/10643389.2012.710428

The authors summarize the scientific literature on toxic organic microcontaminants in vegetables published during the last 15 years. A wide range of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic organic pollutants have been studied, namely polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), phthalic acid esters (PAEs), and perfluorinated substances. The available literature data covers the occurrence of organic contaminants in vegetables and the subsequent human exposure, through ingestion. Benzo[a]pyrene equivalents (BaP eq ) were calculated following the concentrations of individual PAH in the literature and then compared. This review also summarizes Toxic Equivalent Concentrations (TEQ) and daily intake of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and PBDEs through vegetable consumption. Temporal and spatial variations in contaminants concentrations are discussed. The existing scientific literature is critically evaluated regarding gaps, implications, and needs for future research.