Screening for PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in local and imported food and feed products available across the State of Kuwait and assessment of dietary intake Adnan Husain a,n , Bondi Gevao b , Basma Dashti a , Abraham Brouwer c , Peter Aleaxnder Behnisch c , Majed Al-Wadi b , Mohamad Al-Foudari a a Food and Nutrition Program, Environmental and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait b Environment Management Program, Environmental and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait c BioDetection Systems BV (BDS), Science Park 406, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands article info Article history: Received 25 June 2013 Received in revised form 24 November 2013 Accepted 2 December 2013 Available online 20 December 2013 Keywords: PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs Food Feed DR-CALUX bioassay abstract A total of 318 local and imported meat, milk, eggs, fish, and animal feed samples collected in Kuwait were analyzed by cell-based reporter gene assay (Dioxin-Responsive Chemical Activated LUciferase gene eXpression DR-CALUX) for PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs. The bioanalytical equivalents (BEQs) obtained by DR- CALUX bioassay were compared with the official maximum limits according to the European Commis- sion (EC) regulations. Suspected and randomly chosen negative samples were analyzed by gas chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry (GC–HRMS). The results showed that among suspected samples, one sample was confirmed to be non-compliant. The positive sample was of imported origin. The correlation coefficient of 0.98 between DR-CALUX and GC–HRMS was found. Moreover, the average daily intakes of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs for the Kuwaiti population were estimated. Results obtained in this study were discussed and compared with other published data. & 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and polychlorinated diben- zofurans (PCDD/Fs) are persistent organic pollutants which are of concern to public health. Among the 210 existing PCDD/F con- geners, seventeen commonly known as dioxins are of toxicological concern (Fontcuberta et al., 2009). It is known that twelve out of 209 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) congeners, due to a chlorine substitution and their planar geometry have the same aryl hydro- carbon receptor (AhR)-dependent mechanism of toxicity and thus they are known “dioxin-like” PCBs (dl-PCBs) (Alcock et al., 1998). Food contamination by hazardous PCDD/Fs, and dl-PCBs is a worldwide public concern. Due to their lipophilic nature, they tend to accumulate in food chain. Therefore, food of animal origin is considered as the primary source of human exposure to PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs (Arisawa et al., 2005). Several studies have recently been carried out worldwide monitoring the levels of these con- taminants in the human food chain and assessing their dietary intakes (Loutfy et al., 2006; Baeyens et al., 2007; Hsu et al., 2007; Loutfy et al., 2007; Roots, 2007; Zhang et al., 2008; Bilau et al., 2008; Chen et al., 2008; Fontcuberta et al., 2009; Cirillo et al., 2009). Because of their toxicity, ubiquitous environmental distribution and persistence, PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs are being continuously and routinely monitored in food by many industrialized countries (Bergkvist et al., 2008; Marin et al., 2011; Windal et al., 2010). The cell and receptor based reportergene bioassay DR-CALUX (Dioxin Responsive Chemically Activated Luciferase Gene Expres- sion), based on the mechanism of uptake of cellular receptor AhR for dioxins and dioxin-like compounds (such as dioxin-like PCBs), is a validated method for screening for PCDD/Fs, and dl-PCBs in feed as well as food according to international standards such as EC/252/2012 and EC/278/2012. In Kuwait, food testing for quality, safety, and wholesomeness fall under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health/Food Laboratory. Currently, the Ministry of Health/Food Laboratory does not conduct testing for food contaminants such as PCDD/Fs and dl- PCBs. At present there are no data available on the levels of PCDD/ Fs and dl-PCBs in foods consumed by the Kuwaiti population. In view of the carcinogenicity of some PCDD/Fs, and the fact that over 90 percent foodstuffs in Kuwait are being imported from different countries, it is important to investigate the levels of these contaminants in food marketed in the State of Kuwait and estimate their dietary intakes by the Kuwaiti population. Contents lists available at ScienceDirect journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ecoenv Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 0147-6513/$ - see front matter & 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2013.12.002 n Corresponding author. E-mail address: ahussain@kisr.edu.kw (A. Husain). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 100 (2014) 27–31