VDI 2310 Blatt 32:2017-11

There are 209 different congeners among the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) which can be separated in two toxicological different groups: dioxin-like (dl) and non dioxin-like (ndl) PCBs. In the environment as well as in or on fodder and food products a mixture of both subgroups is always present. The maximum immission values defined in this standard apply only for non dioxin-like PCBs and have the purpose to protect farm animals and to make certain that food products which do not pose any health hazard can be obtained from these animals. The proposed limits were derived from long-term experiments which were designed to determine dose-time-response-relationships in farm animals. They are confined to those animals with which such experiments were conducted. The present conditions of keeping and feeding farm animals expose all species to PCBs no matter whether they are kept outdoors part of the year or year-round. The use of fodder contaminated with PCBs also poses a hazard outside areas with atmospheric air pollution.