From January 2009 to March 2015, 14,969 foodstuffs were tested for hexachlorobenzene (HCB) at AGES. No HCB was detected in 97 % of all samples, which included the food groups fruit, vegetables, baby food, cereals, meat and eggs. Quantifiable levels were determined in only 3% of all samples, namely in the food groups "fats, oils, butter", "milk and milk products", "fish and fish products, crustaceans and molluscs" and "nuts, oil and other seeds". The highest average concentrations were observed in the food groups "fats, oils, butter" with 7.9 to 18.6 µg/kg (lower bound (LB) to upper bound (UB)) and "nuts, oil and other seeds" with 10.8 to 15.8 µg/kg. The highest maximum concentration of HCB was found in a pumpkin seed oil at 950 µg/kg. Two samples of pumpkin seed oil and one sample of pumpkin seeds had HCB levels above the European maximum levels.

For children, the average exposure to HCB ranges from 6 to 224 ng/kg bw/d (LB and UB). For females, the average estimated intake of HCB is between 6 and 211 ng/kg bw/d. For men, the average intake is between 4 and 173 ng/kg bw/d. With high consumption of fats, oils, and butter, daily intake increases to 26 to 257 ng/kg bw/d for children, 26 to 244 ng/kg bw/d for women, and 21 to 200 ng/kg bw/d for men.

At average consumption levels, the tolerable intakes derived by various bodies are not exceeded in the LB by any population group. However, in the UB, which represents a worst-case scenario, the tolerable intakes of HCB are already reached or exceeded at average consumption in all population groups except those for acute intake. At high consumption levels, the picture is similar with one exception. The tolerable daily intake (DTA) of 0.01 µg/kg bw/d is already exceeded in the LB by all population groups.

Based on the available data, a possible health risk for the Austrian population seems to be low at average consumption. However, at high consumption levels, especially of fats, oils and butter, a health risk for the population with regard to the endocrine system cannot be completely excluded.