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POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCB) IN FOODS I. PESTICIDE PROGRAM ' . I* Since Noverr,l>er;>1969, the Food and Drug Administration has analyzed all food _ commodities sampled in the.Pesticide Program for polychlorinated biphenyls (PC5). More than 15,000 samples representing 59 food commodity classes of both domestic and foreign origin hove been collected and cnalyzed during this period. As of June 30, 1971 PCB were detected in 475 of the samples examined. This includes seme reported residues which v/culd be considered below the sensitivity of the analytical methodology. Of the total 475 scmples in which PCB were detected, 27? con be clcssed as objective (surveillance) samples (i.e., samples collected where no prior knowledge of a problem existed) end the remaining 194 can be classed as selective (compliance) samples (i.e., samples collected as a follow-up to a known problem). . % The following is a summary of the findings. "Trace" in normal analyses v/culd be jess than approximately 0.1 ppm in fish; I-L5 ppm In milk or cheese fat; 0.2 ppm in eggs; 0.2 pom in fruits and vegetables. * Commodity Class No. of Positive Samples ' Total Objective Selective . PCB (ppm) Low High Averc Fish 312 195 "117 Trace 35.2? 2,13 Cheese Fluid Whole Milk 43 . 60 1 42 Trace 1.00 0.30 39 21 Trace 13.00 2.C5 Shell Eggs 18 8 10 Trace 0.50 - Shellfish . 14 Fish & Marine By-Products 5 13 . 5 1 Trace 0.24 - - "0.20 5.00 2.10 Vegetable By-Products . 5 3 2 0.10 1.73 0.76 Processed Vegetables & Vegetable Products 5. 5 0.60 4.20 1.7! Oil DSW 031083 STLCOPCB4015045 A Poge 2 Commodity Class Miscellaneous Animal Feeds Silage ' i Miscellaneous Processed Foods -- Hoy (Naturally Cured) No, of Positive Samples Total Objective Selective * i PCB (ppm) Low ' High Avercce 42 2 0.43 6.49 2.89 33 a 0.15 1.12 * 0.70 22 - 0.20 0.70 0.45 11 V--0.30 0.30 0.30 ' Frog Legs 11 - 0.90 0.90 0.90 Grains 11 0.32 0.32 C.32 Fruit by-Prcduc:: i ~i ! Trace Trace Tvoct- PCD were encountered most frequently in fish; 312 of the 475 samples in which PCD were detected were of this commodify clcss. ' .^ -2.-TOTALDIET STUDIES ' The FDA Total Diet Studies for 60 market boskets representing a total of 720 composite samples during FY *70 and FY `71 show 22 composite scmples to contain PCD residues ranging from c frcce to 0.36 ppm. Seventeen of these composites represented the meat, , fish, ond poultry composite. Other positive findings v/ere in the dairy end the crcin end cereal composites. PCD residues in two of the grain and cereal composites from the ` April-May, 1971 market baskets v/ere troced to product contamination by PCD migration " from the packaging material which had been fabricated from recycled paper (for additional information see below). 3. PCD IN PAPERB'OARD AND PACKAGED PRODUCTS In early 1971, a follow-up to a finding of PCD contamination of-poultry disclosed tha; the poultry feed fed the flock cppcrently was contaminated by chopping ond grinding stale brood, including v/roppers that contained PCB, } DSW 031084 STLCOPCB4015046 Poge 3 PCB residues of levels of opproximafely 27 ppm were defected In o sample of shredded wheat collected ond examined os part of the Apri 1-May, 1971 market bosket survey. ' Semples of row materials, packaging materials, ond finished products were collected during a follow-up inspection'bt the manufacturer. Analyses of samples of row materials (shredded wheal from the production line and cleaned V/heat ond cuttings from bag) revealed no PCB ccntcmination. PCB residues were defected in samples of bleached manila lined chipboard and boxes used for packaging shredded wheat at levels of 5.13 ppm and 17.6 ppm respectively. Examination of o sample of the finished product pockaged on the day of the inspection disclosed that PCB, if present, were less than confirmation levels. Analyses of five samples from previous production lots showed PCB confcminalicn of the shredded wheat in all five samples renging from 0.3 to "1.9 ppm. Follov.'-up inspections of the plcnts fabricating the packaging materials showed lhaf recycled paper was being used to make the boxes and dividers. . In August 1971, Cincinnati District analyzed samples of verious packaging materials. PCB residues ranged from 1.9 to 4J3 ppm. The highest level was delected in o box . intended to be used in pockooino soltlnes. . 4. PCB CONTAMINATION DUE TO LEAKAGE OF HEAT EXCHANGE FLUID ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ~ Heat exchange fluids containing PCB are used in certain pasteurization equipment. Problems Jo dale hove involved direct PCB contamination ,ofj3nimaI by-products intended for animal feed purposes. ' leakage of the heat exchanger fluid frem equipment at the Last Coast Terminal, --Wilmington, N. C. caused the PCB contamination of fish meal which was then used os a component of cnimal feed. Analyses of 166 samples of shell eggs fiom chickens fed the contaminated feed showed 117 samples v/iih PCB levels ranging from c trace to 4.2 ppm. PCB residues in 55 scmpics were above 0.5 ppm. ' Fourteen of 29 samples of catfish fed PCB contaminated fish rr.eol were found to conlcin PCB residues renging from a trace to 3.1 ppm. '' Since the incident ot East Coast Terminal, suspected leakage of PCB from equipment hos allegedly caused confcminofion of animal by-products and animal feeds at three other plants. Investigations of these other plc-nts ore continuing. , 5. PCB IN PAINT AND SEALANT . In 1970 dairy silos treated with paint and sealant containing PCB resulted in extensive ' contamination of dairy herds ond raw milk in Ohio and Kentucky. Reportedly, paint ond sealant with PCB has since been removed from the merket. DSW 031085 STLCOPCB4015047 KCKiC 4 6. PCB IN HERBICIDE SPRAY '. |n 1969 PCB ranging cs high as 13.0 ppm v/ere detected in samples of mil!: in West Virginia; Foltow-up investigation disclosed that discarded Irc.-wformer fluid contai nlng PCB was being used os a solvent for spraying herbicides on power compcny right-of-ways. This resulted in PCB contamination of grazing orccs and jubsecjvent contamination of milk. PCB IN POTATO PRODUCTS AND BY-PRODUCTS Seattle District has encountered PCB contamination in potato products ar.d potato by products for animal feed. Investigation has been unable to trace the source of the contamination. Bosed on available information if appears that PCB contamination occurs sporadically during Ihe processing of potatoes. PCD contamination has been detected more frequently in by-products for animol feed than in in-process finished potato products. ,,_ / DSW 031086 # STLCOPCB4015048