DIOXINS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS IN FOOD

In order to reduce exposure to dioxins and other environmental contaminants from the food supply, four objectives have been outlined for this research project. 1) Develop inexpensive, rapid, sensitive, assays or improved diagnostic tools to screen samples for dioxins, pesticides, chemical residues, and other environmental contaminants. 2) Investigate sources which contribute to levels of these contaminants in food animals and identify intervention strategies that may reduce the levels. 3) Investigate the uptake, metabolism, distribution, excretion, and fate after excretion of environmental contaminants in animal systems. 4) Update data on levels of dioxins and related compounds in the domestic food supply to provide Food Safety agencies with an adequate profile of the situation and confirm the safety, security, and competitiveness of U.S. foods and food supply.