Detection of polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins in Belgian cattle and estimation of the maximal potential exposure in humans through diets of bovine origin.

The methodology used to detect a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)/dioxin contamination in a Belgian cattle population that was not exposed to the PCB/dioxin incident in 1999 is presented. This population is directly or indirectly destined for human consumption. The methodology consisted in the systematic sampling of all calf-fattening stations and groups of cattle destined for export, and in the random sampling of slaughter cattle.