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Sampling seafood for assessment of TBT exposure : Did we get it right?. Willemsen, FH 1 , Morabito, R 2 , Wegener, JW 1. EU-supported project QLK1-2001-01437 “OT-SAFE” . Aim of OT-SAFE. “to assess the risk of TBT in seafood for European consumers”
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Sampling seafood for assessment of TBT exposure : Did we get it right? Willemsen, FH1, Morabito, R2, Wegener, JW1 EU-supported project QLK1-2001-01437 “OT-SAFE”
Aim of OT-SAFE • “to assess the risk of TBT in seafood for European consumers” • Tolerable daily intake has been established at (0.25μg/kg bodyweight) • Leaves : • differences in bodyweight (differs with age, sex, geographic region, etc.) • exposure
Estimating the exposure level • Exposure through seafood only -realistic scenario • Exposure = Σ Seafoodt,x * TBT-content t,x • For as many foods as feasible with: • t= time of the catch (if necessary) • x= location (if necessary)
Estimating the exposure level • Necessary data is consumption data • Dutch Seafood Consumption (1997)
Seafood consumption data • Food consumption data
Sampling strategy • Expected TBT-levels from literature • Consumption figures (as detailed as possible) • Calculate expected relative contribution • If feasible, differentiate for location
Estimating the exposure level • Figures on TBT-content • First estimate (NL-example) based on taxonomic groups and regional specifics:
Sampling procedure 174 samples in total 28 species Almost 50% of samples are molluscs and cephalopods
So did we get it right? • Pro: Preliminary data suggests that the assumptions are born out, e.g. low conc. in pelagic fish • Contra: There is still a spread in concentrations, that we cannot explain