® method for Total TEQ. In this paper we present the results of around 490 food samples, 100 feed samples and 634 sediment samples. In the cases of food samples only 6.5% of the samples were found to exceed the EU guideline for only dioxins, while in case of feed samples 17% exceeded these EU limits. For sediment samples our evaluation study shows that 11% of the here tested samples would exceed the Dutch guidelines. Methods and materials Food, feed and sediment samples All samples analyzed were received in the period from the end 2004 to early 2006. In total we report here median results of 490 food samples, 100 feed samples and 634 sediment samples. The results shown in Figure 1, 3 and 5 describes in times weather or not the samples match to the corresponding EU limit for the specific food or feed sample matrix. Figures 2, 4 and 6 describes the distribution of levels for food, feed and sediment samples. DR CALUX bioanalysis The procedure for the DR CALUX by BDS bioassay is described in detail previously3. Briefly, H4IIE cell, stably transfected with an AhR-controlled luciferase reporter gene construct, were cultured in α-MEM culture medium supplemented with 10% (v/v) FCS under standard conditions (37oC, 5% CO2, 100% humidity). Cells were exposed in triplicate on 96-well microtiterplates containing the standard 2,3,7,8-TCDD calibration range, a DMSO blank, an internal reference material and various samples extracts at multiple dilutions (e.g. sediment, foodstuffs, feedingstuffs). Following a 24 hour incubation period, cells were lysed. A luciferine containing solution was added and the luciferase activity was measured using a luminometer equipped with 2 dispensers. Overall, 1224 sample were evaluated.