Chemical-toxicological safety of the Hungarian foods of animal origin. 2. Environmental and technological contaminants

The second part of the review outlines the food toxicological importance of environmental chemicals and various contaminants of technological origin. Out of the major groups of environmental contaminants for food-producing animals, the toxicology and food-related health hazards of some toxic elements, such as cadmium, lead, mercury and arsenic, and polychlorinated organic compounds, including dibenzodioxins, dibenzofurans and polychlorinated biphenyls are discussed. it is emphasized that the potential health risk caused by these compounds is generally higher than that of residues of veterinary drugs or even pesticides. Out of the technological contaminants, the carcinogenic polyaromatic carbohydrates, heterocyclic amines and N-nitroso compounds are highlighted from food-toxicological point of view.