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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Food Animal Metabolism Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #428804
Research Project: Detection and Fate of Environmental Chemical and Biological Residues and their Impact on the Food Supply

Location: Food Animal Metabolism Research

Title: Survey of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and non-ortho-polychlorinated biphenyls in U.S. meat from 2023-2024: Toxic equivalency levels, temporal trends, and implications

Author
item Lupton, Sara
item OCHOA, CRISTIAN - Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS)
item DOMESLE, ALEXANDER - Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS)

Submitted to: Food Additives & Contaminants. Part A: Chemistry, Analysis, Control, Exposure & Risk Assessment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/20/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has conducted statistically-based surveys every 5 years of the domestic meat supply (beef, pork, chicken, turkey, dairy cow, and catfish) over the last 30 years to determine the current residue levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and non-ortho-polychlorinated biphenyls (no-PCBs). Poultry has declined significantly over the last two decades, however, beef and pork concentrations from previous surveys have not declined as much throughout the surveys. In 2023-2024, fat samples for beef, pork, and catfish fillets were collected from U.S. federally inspected slaughter facilities, processed, and analyzed for 17 PCDD/Fs and 3 no-PCBs. For consistency and comparison purposes, toxic equivalency concentrations were calculated using 2005 toxic equivalency factors and summed (sum-TEQ) for samples analyzed. The sum-TEQs ranged from non-detect (nd) to 2.75 pg TEQ/g lipid. The median sum-TEQs, when nd = ½ LOD, for beef, pork, and catfish were 0.15, 0.03, and 0.08 pg TEQ/g lipid (wet weight for catfish), respectively. A comparison of the current and previous surveys depicts significant declining trends beef and pork median values. The congener patterns for some high concentration beef and samples suggested that pentachlorophenol treated wood continues to be a likely on-farm dioxin exposure source.

Technical Abstract: For the past three decades, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has conducted surveys of the domestic meat supply every 5 years to determine the temporal trends and current levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and non-ortho-polychlorinated biphenyls (no-PCBs). The 2023-24 survey collected fat samples from beef and pork along with siluriform muscle from U.S. slaughter facilities which were analyzed for 17 PCDD/Fs and 3 no-PCBs. For comparison to the previous surveys, toxic equivalency factors TEFs from 2005 were utilized to calculate the sum-TEQ for all samples. The sum-TEQs ranged from non-detect (nd) to 2.75 pg TEQ/g lipid for the current survey. Beef, pork, and siluriform median sum-TEQs (nd = ½ LOD) were 0.150, 0.032, and 0.076 pg TEQ/ g lipid or wet weight for siluriformes, respectively. Declining trends in median concentrations are observed for the surveys over the last 30 years. Statistical analysis of this survey compared to previous survey, shows significant decreases in the median concentrations. Such temporal declines provides evidence that measures for PCDD/F and no-PCB release have been working.