Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in meat and meat products from the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

The levels of six polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs) were evaluated in 55 samples of meat (bovine and pork) and meat products (sausage, hot dog sausage, bologna sausage, canned export meat and salami) from 11 cities of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between July and August 2002. PCB congeners were found (in fat basis) in the following rank 52 (5.18 ng/g) > 180 (1.69 ng/g) > 10 (1.35 ng/g) > 28 (1.19 ng/g) > 153 (0.47 ng/g) > 138 (0.43 ng/g), with a ∑PCB amounting to 10.30 ng/g. Meat products had higher PCB levels than meat. PCB levels in samples followed the rank: mixed meat products > pork meat > bovine meat. These results indicate the presence of PCBs in food samples from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, but the levels found were well below the maximum level established for animal food products in Brazil (3000 ng/g fat). Only one sample exceeded the maximum level established by the European Community (200 ng/g fat). This is the first paper describing background concentrations of PCBs in meat and meat products from Brazil.