Perfluorinated compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine pesticide contamination in composite food samples
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic chemicals that resist degradation and bioaccumulate. Despite attempts to limit the use and distribution of these chemicals, they are still widely detected in the environment. Schecter et al. determined the presence of POP contamination of food in the United States by measuring perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), organochlorine pesticides (OPs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in composite food samples purchased from supermarkets. The authors measured 32 OPs, 7 PCBs, and 11 PFCs. Contamination varied greatly among chemical and food types. The highest level of pesticide contamination was from the dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) metabolite p,p