Minnema, JWesterhout, JHoogenboom, RNotenboom, SJeurissen, S2024-12-162024-12-162024-12-1610.21945/RIVM-2024-0134https://rivm.openrepository.com/handle/10029/627910In a number of areas between rivers and dykes (floodplains), grazing by wild cattle is used as a form of nature management. Some animals are slaughtered to keep the herd in good shape. Attention is paid to the number of animals and the composition of the herds, such as different ages. The meat of the slaughtered animals is sold as 'wilderness meat'. In 2020, excessive dioxin levels were discovered in the meat of some of the wild cattle as a result of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in the grass and soil of floodplains. In response to this situation, a transfer model was developed in 2021 to estimate the extent to which these substances end up in the meat of these cattle via grass and soil. The RIVM and Wageningen Food Safety Research did this. They have now further developed the model, enabling better estimations of the amounts of dioxins in meat. This was possible because more measurements have become available in the past years. In addition, the new version of the model takes into account the differences in properties of the different dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs. These substances behave differently in the body of the animal (kinetic behaviour). For example, they are absorbed from grass and soil and excreted in amongst others milk at different rates. The model will be made available online for use. This technical report describes the set-up of the model, the assumptions that are used and how certain values (parameters) are estimated. Dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs are chemical substances that are created during the incineration of waste and other substances. Despite the strong decrease in emissions in the last 25 years, dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs are still present in the Netherlands. For example in grass, the soil and river sediment. Dioxins can be harmful to the immune system, brain development and reproduction. This model contributes to the risk assessement and the risk management.application/pdfenRIVM rapport 2024-0134Report2024-12-16