Title: Application of the CALUX bioassay for the determination of low TEQ values in milk samples

Auteur(s): Van Overmeire I ; Chu M ; Brown D ; Clark G ; Carbonnelle S ; Goeyens L ;  ; 

Year: 2001

Journal: Organohalogen Compounds

Subject(s): bioassay ; CALUX ; milk ; TEQ ; food ; Belgium ; monitoring ;  ; 

Summary: The CALUX method has been evaluated earlier on its applicability as screening assay for food matrices. Several samples of largely different matrices and variable contamination levels (ranging from 0.5 to > 1000 pg TEQ/g lipid) were analyzed by GC-HRMS and by the CALUX assay in order to compare and correlate obtained results. This preliminary comparison has now been extended by new analyses of milk samples with low-level TEQ values. The objective was to qualitatively and quantitatively screen those samples, taking into account the compulsory norm of 5 pg TEQ/g lipid. Table 1 presents existing regulation for food items in Belgium. Concentrations in milk that were previously determined by GC-HRMS rarely exceed 5 pg TEQ/g lipid. These values were obtained within the framework of a monitoring program launched in 1990. The aim of this study was to investigate whether comparable results were obtained for poorly contaminated milk samples (background levels). Therefore a number of samples, already analyzed by GC-HRMS, were reanalyzed by CALUX.