PARENT SESSION

4E - Food Safety
Poster Hall
8:30 AM - Wednesday, 30 April 2003
Chair: Van Hemmen, J.¹, ¹
Co-chair: Trapp, S.², ²

(WEP/202) XtraFOOD: A model for the impact analysis of contaminants in primary food production.

Seuntjens, Piet¹, Cornelis, Christa¹, Claeys, Sarah², Ruttens, Ann³, Steurbaut, Walter², Vangronsveld, Jaco³, ¹ Vito, Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Mol, Belgium² UG, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium³ LUC, Limburg University Centre, Diepenbeek, Belgium

ABSTRACT- In view of recent food crises, quality control and risk assessment of the food chain from the farm to primary food products is an important issue. Integrated models calculating transfer and impacts of contaminants in primary food production are needed. We present the development of an integrated model that calculates transfer of contaminants in the agro-ecosystem and related impacts on human health. The transfer model consists of modules calculating transfer to the farm (e.g., atmospheric deposition, import of manure, fodder, incidental transfers...), transfer in soil (i.e., leaching, plant uptake, volatilisation, degradation), and transfer in cattle (intake, transfer to organs, fat, milk, muscular tissue, ...). Model outputs are contamination levels in various primary food products such as crops, grains, milk, meat, and eggs. Calculated concentrations will be evaluated by comparison with measured concentrations in various matrices. Levels in food products will be evaluated against food quality standards or human exposure will be calculated using food survey data and compared to the available toxicological levels. Related socio-economic impacts of contaminated food will be based on dose-resonse curves for the contaminants concerned, the representative exposure routes and population subgroups. The impacts will be aggregated and weighed using a set of methods (Daly′s, monetary valuation). The model is applicable to persistent contaminants accumulating in the food chain and causing residues in food products (i.e., persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals). Modifications to the model will be made for specific contaminants such as pesticides to account for differences in mode of application. In our presentation we will focus on the development of the soil module.

Key words: transfer modeling, food safety, agro-ecosystem, contaminants