Question

The average TEQ of meat products is about 0.4 pg of TCDD equivalent per gram and the LD50 for 2,3,7,8-TCDD is about 0.001 mg per kg of body weight. If a typical person weighs about 60 kg, how much meat products would a person need to consume to ingest a fatal dose of 2,3,7,8-TCDD? Please provide the answer in kg.

Answer 1

Based on the information provided:

Average TEQ (Toxic Equivalence factor) of animal based food = 0.4 pg of TCDD equivalent per gram

= 0.4 x 10-12 g per gram (1 pg = 1 x 10-12 gram)

LD50 (lethal dose) for 2,3,7,8 TCDD = 0.001 mg/kg body weight

Mass of meat products to consume to ingest a fatal dose can be calculated as below:

1gm of meat product has average TEQ = 0.4 pg (pico gram)

Assuming average body weight - 60 kg

Since lethal dose per kg = 0.001 mg, therefore for 60 kg lethal dose = 0.001 x 60 = 0.06mg OR 0.076 x 10^-3g

Amount of animal mass to be consumed to ingest a fatal dose =(0.06 x 10^-3 / 0.4 x 10^-12 ) = 0.15 x 10^9 g

OR 1.5 x 10^5 Kg of animal mass.

Or doubt kindly comment.