Levels and spatial profile of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in edible shrimp products from Japan and neighboring countries; a potential source of dietary exposure to humans.

Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is of great concern for human health because of their persistence and potentially adverse effects. Dietary intake, particularly through aquatic products, is a significant route of human exposure to PFAS. We analyzed perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid (PFSA with carbon numbers from 6 to 8 and 10 (C６-C8, C10)) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (FOSA), and perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (PFCA with carbon numbers from 6 to 15 (C6-C15)) in 30 retail packs of edible shrimps, which included seven species from eight coastal areas of Japan and neighboring countries. The most prevalent compounds were perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS, C8) and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA, C11), accounting for 46 % of total PFAS. The concentrations ranged from 6.5 to 44 ng/g dry weight (dw) (equivalent to 1.5 to 10 ng/g wet weight (ww)) and varied according to species and location. For example, Alaskan pink shrimp (Pandalus eous) from the Hokuriku coast, Japan contained high levels of long-chain PFCAs (38 ng/g dw (equivalent to 8.7 ng/g ww)), while red rice prawn (Metapenaeopsis barbata) from Yamaguchi, Japan contained a high concentration of PFOS (29 ng/g dw (equivalent to 6.7 ng/g ww)). We also observed regional differences in the PFAS levels with higher concentrations of long-chain PFCAs in Japanese coastal waters than in the South China Sea. The PFAS profiles in shrimp were consistent with those in the diet and serum of Japanese consumers, suggesting that consumption of seafood such as shrimp may be an important source of exposure. The estimated daily intake of sum of all PFAS from shrimp from Japanese coastal water was 0.43 ng/kg body weight/day in average, which could reach the weekly tolerable values (4.4 ng/kg body weight /week) for the sum of the four PFSA set by the EFSA for heavy consumers. The high concentration of PFAS in shrimp warrants further investigation.

Carry-over rate of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to raw milk and human exposure risks in different regions of China.

The widespread presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in various environmental matrices and their adverse health effects have gained worldwide attention. Therefore, numerous studies have focused on human exposure to PFAS through different pathways, such as fish and drinking water, and little attention has been paid to milk consumption. This study aimed to explore the transfer of PFAS by investigating the occurrence of PFAS in cow feed, drinking water, and raw milk from 20 regions of China and to assess the risk of human exposure to PFAS from raw milk. In total, 13, 15, and 7 PFAS were detected in cow feed, drinking water, and raw milk with total concentrations (∑PFAS) of 5.59 ± 2.91 ng/g (mean ± standard deviation), 11.91 ± 23.12 ng/L, and 0.15 ± 0.13 ng/mL, respectively. Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) was dominant with a concentration of 2.28 ± 1.75 ng/g, approximately 40.7 % of ∑PFAS in feed. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) were the dominant compounds found in drinking water at 4.80 ± 14.37 and 3.01 ± 6.06 ng/L, respectively. Additionally, PFOA (0.08 ± 0.09 ng/mL) was the most significant compound in raw milk, contributing 51.5 % of ∑PFAS. Moreover, the results of the carry-over rate (COR) were as follows: perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS, 29.58 %) > PFOA (15.78 %) > perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS, 9.45 %). According to the reference dose (RfD) established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2018, there is a potential toxicological hazard of PFOA exposure for preschool children through milk consumption. Notably, the health risk from PFOS for 1-year-old children in Central China exceeded that observed for humans in other regions and age groups. Our results showed that PFOS and PFOA were more likely to accumulate in cows and to be constantly transferred to milk, thus increasing the human health risk, especially in children.

Association of diet with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in plasma and human milk in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are related to various adverse health outcomes, and food is a common source of PFAS exposure. Dietary sources of PFAS have not been adequately explored among U.S. pregnant individuals. We examined associations of dietary factors during pregnancy with PFAS concentrations in maternal plasma and human milk in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. PFAS concentrations, including perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), and perfluorodecanoate (PFDA), were measured in maternal plasma collected at ∼28 gestational weeks and human milk collected at ∼6 postpartum weeks. Sociodemographic, lifestyle and reproductive factors were collected from prenatal questionnaires and diet from food frequency questionnaires at ∼28 gestational weeks. We used adaptive elastic net (AENET) to identify important dietary variables for PFAS concentrations. We used multivariable linear regression to assess associations of dietary variables selected by AENET models with PFAS concentrations. Models were adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and reproductive factors, as well as gestational week of blood sample collection (plasma PFAS), postpartum week of milk sample collection (milk PFAS), and enrollment year. A higher intake of fish/seafood, eggs, coffee, or white rice during pregnancy was associated with higher plasma or milk PFAS concentrations. For example, every 1 standard deviation (SD) servings/day increase in egg intake during pregnancy was associated with 4.4 % (95 % CI: 0.6, 8.4), 3.3 % (0.1, 6.7), and 10.3 % (5.6, 15.2) higher plasma PFOS, PFOA, and PFDA concentrations respectively. Similarly, every 1 SD servings/day increase in white rice intake during pregnancy was associated with 7.5 % (95 % CI: -0.2, 15.8) and 12.4 % (4.8, 20.5) greater milk PFOS and PFOA concentrations, respectively. Our study suggests that certain dietary factors during pregnancy may contribute to higher PFAS concentrations in maternal plasma and human milk, which could inform interventions to reduce PFAS exposure for both birthing people and offspring.

Microplastic contamination in marine mussels from the Atlantic coast of North Portugal and human risk of microplastic intake through mussel consumption.

Microplastic (MP) pollution has become a global concern due to its potential impacts on the environment, ecosystem services and human health. The goals of the present study were to document the MP contamination in wild specimens of Mytilus galloprovincialis sampled along the Atlantic coast of the North region of Portugal continental (NW Portuguese coast), and to estimate the human risk of MP intake (HRI) through the consumption of local mussels as seafood. Mussels were collected at four sampling sites along the NW Portuguese coast (40 mussels per site), and the whole soft body of each mussel was analysed for MP content. HRI estimates were based on the mean of MP items per wet weight of mussel analysed tissue (MP/g) and consumption habits. A total of 132 MP items were recovered from mussels. MP had diverse sizes (98-2690 µm) and colours. The most common shapes were fibres (39%) and pellets (36%). Five polymers were identified in the MP: polyethylene (50%), polystyrene (15%), poly(ethylene vinyl acetate) (14%), polyamide (12%) and polypropylene (9%). From the 160 analysed mussels, 55% had MP. The mean and standard error of the mean of mussel contamination ranged from 0.206 ± 0.067 and 0.709 ± 0.095 MP/g. Compared to estimates based on MP contamination in mussels from other areas and varied consumption habits, the HRI through the consumption of mussels from the NW Portuguese coast is relatively low.

Neonicotinoid insecticides in paddy fields: Dissipation dynamics, migration, and dietary risk.

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs) have caused widespread contamination of multiple environmental media and posed a serious threat to ecosystem health by accidently injuring non-target species. This study collected samples of water, soil, and rice plant tissues in a water-soil-plant system of paddy fields after spaying imidacloprid (IMI), thiamethoxam (THM), and clothianidin (CLO) to analyze their distribution characteristics and migration procedures and to assess related dietary risks of rice consumption. In the paddy water, the concentrations of NNIs showed a dynamic change of increasing and then decreasing during about a month period, and the initial deposition of NNIs showed a trend of CLO (3.08 µg/L) > THM (2.74 µg/L) > IMI (0.97 µg/L). In paddy soil, the concentrations of the three NNIs ranged from 0.57 to 68.3 ng/g, with the highest residual concentration at 2 h after application, and the concentration trend was opposite to that in paddy water. The initial deposition amounts of IMI, THM, and CLO in the root system were 5.19, 3.02, and 5.24 µg/g, respectively, showing a gradual decrease over time. In the plant, the initial deposition amounts were 19.3, 9.36, and 52.6 µg/g for IMI, THM, and CLO, respectively, exhibiting concentration trends similar to those in the roots. Except for IMI in soil, the dissipation of the NNIs conformed to the first-order kinetic equation in paddy water, soil, and plant. The results of bioconcentration factors (BCFs) and translocation factor (TF) indicated that NNIs can be bi-directionally transported in plants through leaf absorption and root uptake. The risk of NNIs intake through rice consumption was low for all age groups, with a slightly higher risk of exposure in males than in females.

Parabens and triclosan in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) from China: Concentrations, tissue distribution and related human dietary intake risk.

Parabens (PBs) and triclosan (TCS) are commonly found in pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). As a result, they have been extensively found in the environment, particularly in aquaculture operations. Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) consumption has significantly risen in China. Nevertheless, the levels of PBs and TCS in this species and the associated risk to human dietary intake remain undisclosed. This study assessed the amounts of five PBs, i.e., methyl-paraben (MeP), ethyl-paraben (EtP), propyl-paraben (PrP), butyl-paraben (BuP) and benzyl-paraben (BzP), as well as TCS in crayfish taken from five provinces of the middle-lower Yangtze River. MeP, PrP and TCS showed the highest detection rates (hepatopancreas: 46-86 %; muscle: 63-77 %) since they are commonly used in PPCPs. Significantly higher levels of ∑5PBs (median: 3.69 ng/g) and TCS (median: 7.27 ng/g) were significantly found in the hepatopancreas compared to the muscle (median: 0.39 ng/g for ∑5PBs and 0.16 ng/g for TCS) (p < 0.05), indicating bioaccumulation of these chemicals in the hepatopancreas. The estimated daily intake values of ∑5PBs and TCS calculated from the median concentrations of crayfish were 6.44-7.94 ng/kg bw/day and 11.4-14.0 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. Although no health risk was predicted from consuming crayfish (HQ <1), consumption of the hepatopancreas is not recommended.

Characterizing Important Dietary Exposure Sources of Perfluoroalkyl Acids in Inuit Youth and Adults in Nunavik Using a Feature Selection Tool.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have identified the consumption of country foods (hunted/harvested foods from the land) as the primary exposure source of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) in Arctic communities. However, identifying the specific foods associated with PFAA exposures is complicated due to correlation between country foods that are commonly consumed together. METHODS: We used venous blood sample data and food frequency questionnaire data from the Qanuilirpitaa? ("How are we now?") 2017 (Q2017) survey of Inuit individuals ≥16 y of age residing in Nunavik (n=1,193). Adaptive elastic net, a machine learning technique, identified the most important food items for predicting PFAA biomarker levels while accounting for the correlation among the food items. We used generalized linear regression models to quantify the association between the most predictive food items and six plasma PFAA biomarker levels. The estimates were converted to percent changes in a specific PFAA biomarker level per standard deviation increase in the consumption of a food item. Models were also stratified by food type (market or country foods). RESULTS: Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) were associated with frequent consumption of beluga misirak (rendered fat) [14.6%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 10.3%, 18.9%; 14.6% (95% CI: 10.1%, 19.0%)], seal liver [9.3% (95% CI: 5.0%, 13.7%); 8.1% (95% CI: 3.5%, 12.6%)], and suuvalik (fish roe mixed with berries and fat) [6.0% (95% CI: 1.3%, 10.7%); 7.5% (95% CI: 2.7%, 12.3%)]. Beluga misirak was also associated with higher concentrations of perfluorohexanesulphonic acid (PFHxS) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), albeit with lower percentage changes. PFHxS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and PFNA followed some similar patterns, with higher levels associated with frequent consumption of ptarmigan [6.1% (95% CI: 3.2%, 9.0%); 5.1% (95% CI: 1.1%, 9.1%); 5.4% (95% CI: 1.8%, 9.0%)]. Among market foods, frequent consumption of processed meat and popcorn was consistently associated with lower PFAA exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identifies specific food items contributing to environmental contaminant exposure in Indigenous or small communities relying on local subsistence foods using adaptive elastic net to prioritize responses from a complex food frequency questionnaire. In Nunavik, higher PFAA biomarker levels were primarily related to increased consumption of country foods, particularly beluga misirak, seal liver, suuvalik, and ptarmigan. Our results support policies regulating PFAA production and use to limit the contamination of Arctic species through long-range transport. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13556.

Halogenated aromatic pollutants in routine animal-derived food of south China: Occurrence, sources, and dietary intake risks.

Halogenated aromatic pollutants (HAPs) including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PBDD/Fs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) exhibit diverse toxicities and bio-accumulation in animals, thereby imposing risks on human via animal-derived food (ADF) consumption. Here we examined these HAPs in routine ADFs from South China and observed that PBDEs and PCBs showed statistically higher concentrations than PCDD/Fs and PBDD/Fs. PCDD/Fs and PCBs in these ADFs were mainly from the polluted feed and habitat of animals, except PCDD/Fs in egg, which additionally underwent selective biotransformation/progeny transfer after the maternal intake of PCDD/F-polluted stuff. PBDEs and PBDD/Fs were mostly derived from the extensive use of deca-BDE and their polluted environments. Significant interspecific differences were mainly observed for DL-PCBs and partly for PBDD/Fs and PBDEs, which might be caused by their distinct transferability/biodegradability in animals and the different living habit and habitat of animals. The dietary intake doses (DIDs) of these HAPs via ADF consumption were all highest for toddlers, then teenagers and adults. Milk, egg, and fish contributed most to the DIDs and risks for toddlers and teenagers, which results of several cities exceeded the recommended thresholds and illustrated noteworthy risks. Pork, fish, and egg were the top three risk contributors for adults, which carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were both acceptable. Notably, PBDD/Fs showed the lowest concentrations but highest contributions to the total risks of these HAPs, thereby meriting continuous attention.

Nationwide distribution of perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids in Chinese diets: An emerging concern.

With the phase-out of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its replacement by perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids (PFECAs), there is a potential for increased exposure to various new PFECAs among the general population in China. While there are existing studies on dietary exposure to legacy perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), research on dietary exposure to PFECAs, especially among the general Chinese populace, remains scarce. In the present study, we investigated the distribution of PFECAs in dietary sources from 33 cities across five major regions in China, along with the associated dietary intake. Analysis indicated that aquatic animal samples contained higher concentrations of legacy PFASs compared to those from terrestrial animals and plants. In contrast, PFECAs were found in higher concentrations in plant and terrestrial animal samples. Notably, hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer (HFPO-DA) was identified as the dominant compound in vegetables, cereals, pork, and mutton across the five regions, suggesting widespread dietary exposure. PFECAs constituted the majority of PFAS intake (57 %), with the estimated daily intake (EDI) of HFPO-DA ranging from 2.33 to 3.96 ng/kg bw/day, which corresponds to 0.78-1.32 times the reference dose (RfD) (3.0 ng/kg bw/day) set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Given the ubiquity of HFPO-DA and many other PFECAs in the nationwide diet of China, there is an urgent need for further research into these chemicals to establish relevant safety benchmarks or consumption advisory values for the diet.

Dietary exposure of potentially toxic elements to freshwater mammals in the Ganga river basin, India.

The threatened Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica) and smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) occuring in the Ganga River Basin (GRB), are experiencing a decline in their population and distribution range owing to multiple anthropogenic pressures, including pollution by Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs). Apex predators primarily encounter contaminants through dietary exposure. Yet, notable gaps persist in our understanding of the risks associated with the ingestion of PTE-contaminated prey for Gangetic dolphins and smooth-coated otters. In this study, we examined the occurrence and spatial variation of PTEs in the prey (fish) of both these riverine mammals across three major rivers of the Basin, while also evaluating the associated risk of ingesting contaminated prey. Our assessment revealed no statistical variation in bioaccumulation profiles of PTEs across the three rivers, attributable to comparable land use patterns and PTE consumption within the catchment. Zn and Cu were the most dominant PTEs in the prey species. The major potential sources of pollution identified in the catchment include agricultural settlements, vehicular emissions, and the presence of metal-based additives in plastics. Zn, As and Hg accumulation vary with the trophic level whereas some PTEs show concentration (Hg) and dilution (As, Cr, Pb and Zn) with fish growth. The Risk Quotient (RQ), based on the dietary intake of contaminated prey calculated using Toxicity Reference Value was consistently below 1 indicating no significant risk to these riverine mammals. Conversely, with the exception of Co and Ni, the Reference Dose-based RQs for all other PTEs indicated a substantial risk for Gangetic dolphins and smooth-coated otters through dietary exposure. This study serves as a pivotal first step in assessing the risk of PTEs for two threatened riverine mammals in a densely populated river basin, highlighting the importance of their prioritization in regular monitoring to reinforce the ongoing conservation efforts.

First comprehensive assessment of dietary chlorinated paraffins intake and exposure risk for the rural population of the Tibetan Plateau, China.

Knowledge regarding the occurrence of short-chain and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs and MCCPs) in foodstuffs and their dietary exposure risks for rural Tibetan residents remains largely unknown. Herein, we collected main foodstuffs (including highland barley, vegetables, Tibetan butter, mutton, and yak beef) across the rural Tibetan Plateau and characterized the CP profiles and concentrations. The highest SCCPs concentrations were detected in Tibetan butter (geometric mean (GM): 240.6 ng/g wet weight (ww)), followed by vegetables (59.4 ng/g ww), mutton (51.4 ng/g ww), highland barley (46.3 ng/g ww), and yak beef (31.7 ng/g ww). For MCCPs, the highest concentrations were also detected in Tibetan butter (319.5 ng/g ww), followed by mutton (181.9 ng/g ww), vegetables (127.0 ng/g ww), yak beef (71.2 ng/g ww), and highland barley (30.3 ng/g ww). The predominant congener profiles of SCCPs were C13Cl7-8 in mutton and yak beef, C10Cl7-8 in Tibetan butter, and C10-11Cl6-7 in highland barley and vegetables. The predominant congener profiles of MCCPs were C14Cl7-9 in all sample types. Combined with our previous results of free-range chicken eggs, the median estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of SCCPs and MCCPs via diet for Tibetan rural adults and children was estimated to be 728.8 and 1853.9 ng/kg bw/day and 2565.6 and 5952.8 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. In the worst scenario, MCCPs might induce potential health risks for rural Tibetan population. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic dietary exposure research of SCCPs and MCCPs in the remote rural areas.

Implementing the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability: The case of food contact chemicals of concern.

The EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) aims at removing the most harmful chemicals from consumer products, including from food contact materials (FCMs). If implemented as intended, the CSS has the potential to significantly improve the protection of public health by banning the use of chemicals of concern that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction (CMRs), or persistent and bioaccumulative, or endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in FCMs. However, until now an overview of such food contact chemicals of concern (FCCoCs) has not been available, because the CSS is fairly recent. Therefore, we here systematically analyze the food contact chemicals listed for intentional use in FCMs and identify known FCCoCs. We present a list of 388 FCCoCs that should be phased-out from use. Of these, 352 are CMRs, four are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and 127 have empirical evidence for presence in FCMs. Importantly, 30 FCCoCs with evidence for presence are monomers of which 22 have evidence for migration into foodstuff showing that monomers in FCMs indeed become relevant for human exposure. Our findings justify moving away from a risk- towards a hazard-based approach to regulation of chemicals in FCMs.

Dietary exposure to fumonisins and ochratoxins in the Chinese general population during 2007-2020: Results from three consecutive total diet studies.

As widespread contaminants, fumonisins (FBs) and ochratoxins (OTs) in food may cause public health threat. In this study, the dietary exposures to FBs and OTs in the Chinese general population were investigated by means of a total diet study (TDS) approach. A total of 672 composite dietary samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in three consecutive China total diet studies from 2007 to 2020. Combining with the national consumption data, estimated dietary exposure to FBs and OTs were assessed and compared with health-based guidance values (HBGVs). The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of FBs were 55-237 ng/kg bw/day at the upper bound accounting 2.77%-17.4% of provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI). Cereals were the greatest contributor to fumonisin exposure. For ochratoxin A (OTA), the EDIs were 0.65-5.72 ng/kg bw/day at the upper bound accounting 4.67%-40.8% of provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI). Although the estimated exposures were well below their respective HBGVs in general, they were found to exceed HBGVs in sporadic regions. Moreover, there was a remarkable increase in the dietary exposure to fumonisin B3 (FB3) and ochratoxin B (OTB) over the last decade that is worth further attention.

Arsenic and toxic metals in meat and fish consumed in Niger delta, Nigeria: Employing the margin of exposure approach in human health risk assessment.

This study provides information on the health risk of As, Cd, Hg, Pb and V exposure from Nigerian foods consumption (fish, cow, goat and chicken meat) in different age-groups (children, adolescent, adult, senior) and six areas of Niger Delta, Nigeria (Choba, Khana, Eleme, TransAmadi, Uyo, and Yenogoa). The health risk assessment was performed by estimating the weekly or monthly intake of metals from foods and Margin of Exposure (MOE) approach by using established benchmark dose levels (BMDLs). Regarding As, cow and chicken meat products contributed to As exposure intake especially in children resulting in values higher than BMDL0.1 for cancer risk in TransAmadi and Uyo areas. Cadmium exposure was due to cow, chicken and goat meat ingestion mostly in adolescent above the tolerable monthly intake limit in TransAmadi and Uyo areas. Concerning Hg and V, the exposure from Nigerian food did not constitute a potential health hazard. Lead exposure in children were above or close to BMDL0.1 for developmental neurotoxicity by ingestion of cow and goat meat in all the Nigerian areas. In adult and senior the Pb dietary exposure were above the BMDL10 providing a low to negligible risk for kidney effects. The potential concern for health effects in Niger Delta population needs further efforts to decrease As, Cd and Pb dietary exposure especially for children and adolescent, who are more vulnerable to adverse life events.

A comparative evaluation of dietary exposure to glyphosate resulting from recommended U.S. diets.

Since its commercial introduction in 1974, national and international regulatory agencies have consistently reported no human health concerns associated with the herbicide glyphosate when used according to label directions. However, in 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen. Despite IARC being the sole outlier in its conclusion, dietary exposure to glyphosate remains a health concern to some members of the public. While glyphosate residues have been detected in foods, it is unclear whether a specific eating pattern substantially contributes to glyphosate exposure. Therefore, dietary glyphosate intake was determined for three eating patterns recommended in the U.S. The 95th percentile of glyphosate ingestion at 2,000 calories/day for adults for the U.S.-Style, Mediterranean-Style, and Vegetarian eating patterns ranged from 38 to 960, 39 to 1100, and 39 to 880 µg/day, respectively. No significant differences were observed in glyphosate intake between the dietary styles, and the 95th percentile glyphosate intakes were well below the current U.S. EPA chronic oral reference dose (RfD) of 0.1 mg/kg/day. Our data demonstrate that ingestion of certain high residue foods, particularly grains and legumes, is a driver of total dietary glyphosate body burden regardless of dietary style.

Shellfish contamination with lipophilic toxins and dietary exposure assessments from consumption of shellfish products in Shenzhen, China.

Lipophilic shellfish toxins (LSTs) can cause human illness and therefore represent a serious threat to public health. Shellfish are the main dietary source of LSTs, but very few studies have appraised dietary exposure to LSTs through shellfish consumption in China. We measured levels of multiple LSTs in shellfish samples sold in the principal wholesale seafood market in the southern coastal city of Shenzhen, and we estimated the potential for acute and chronic LST exposure of the Shenzhen population via ingestion of shellfish. LST contamination data were obtained from a total of 14 species of 188 commercial samples. Eleven individual LSTs, namely okadaic acid (OA), dinophysis toxin-1 and -2 (DTX1 and DTX2), pectenotoxin-2 (PTX2), yessotoxin and homo yessotoxin (YTX and hYTX), azaspiracid-1, -2 and -3 (AZA1, AZA2, AZA3), spirolides (SPXs), and gymnodimine (GYM), were determined using liquid chromatography electrospray-ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). More than two thirds of samples showed undetectable LSTs, while the detection rates (the proportion of samples with detectable LSTs) of individual LSTs ranged from 0% to 45.7%. Most shellfish samples had lower levels of LST contamination than the corresponding limits of detection (LODs), while some samples had levels of hYTX and GYM that exceeded the limits of quantification (LOQs). Overall, levels of LSTs in the 188 samples were below the regulatory limits set by most countries. Acute and chronic exposures of LST were estimated by a point-estimate modeling method that combined sample contamination data with consumption data from dietary survey of Shenzhen residents and consumption figures proposed by EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority. Seasonal variations in LST concentrations were noted in some instances. Overall, the estimated acute exposure to LSTs based on consumption of large-size shellfish portions and the maximum LSTs contamination level were below the provisional acute reference doses (ARfDs) proposed by the EFSA. Chronic exposure estimates based on mean and 99th percentile consumption of shellfish by Shenzhen residents and mean LSTs contamination levels in the collected samples were from 2452 to 74 times lower than those associated with estimated acute exposure levels.

The relationship between dietary exposure to persistent organic pollutants from fish consumption and type 2 diabetes among First Nations in Canada.

OBJECTIVE: We previously examined the associations between dietary dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) intake from fish consumption and type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevalence in Ontario and Manitoba. This study aims to further explore the relationship in a regionally representative sample of First Nations adults living on-reserve across Canada. METHODS: Dietary, health and lifestyle data collected by the cross-sectional First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study (2008-2018) were analyzed. This participatory study included 6091 First Nations adult participants who answered questions on T2D. The consumption of locally caught fish was estimated with a food frequency questionnaire. A total of 551 samples from 96 fish species were collected and analyzed for the presence of DDE and PCBs. The associations between fish and dietary DDE/PCBs intake with self-reported T2D were investigated using multiple logistic regression models adjusted for confounders. RESULTS: Dietary exposure to DDE (>2.11 ng/kg/bw) and PCBs (>1.47 ng/kg/bw) vs no exposure was positively associated with T2D with ORs of 2.33 (95% CI: 1.24-4.35) for DDE and 1.43 (95% CI: 1.01-3.59) for PCBs. The associations were stronger among females (DDE OR = 3.11 (1.41-6.88); PCBs OR = 1.76 (1.10-3.65)) and older individuals (DDE OR = 2.64 (1.12-6.20); PCBs OR = 1.44 (1.01-3.91)) as compared with males and younger participants. Also, significant dose-response relationships were found for fish consumption in females only. CONCLUSION: This study confirms our previous findings that dietary DDE/PCBs exposure may increase the risk of T2D. The effect of DDE/PCBs from fish consumption is driven by geographical differences in DDE/PCBs concentrations in fish and by the amount of fish consumed, and is more prominent in females than in males.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Nous avons précédemment examiné les associations entre l'apport alimentaire de dichlorodiphényldichloroéthylène (DDE) et de polychlorobiphényles (PCB) provenant de la consommation de poisson et la prévalence du diabète de type 2 (DT2) en Ontario et au Manitoba. Cette étude vise à explorer davantage la relation dans un échantillon régionalement représentatif d'adultes des Premières Nations vivant dans des réserves partout au Canada. MéTHODE: Les données sur l'alimentation, la santé et le mode de vie recueillies par l'Étude transversale sur l'alimentation, la nutrition et l'environnement chez les Premières Nations (2008­2018) ont été analysées. Cette étude participative comprenait 6 091 participants adultes des Premières Nations qui ont répondu à des questions sur le DT2. La consommation de poisson pêché localement a été estimée à l'aide d'un questionnaire de fréquence alimentaire. Au total, 551 échantillons de 96 espèces de poissons ont été prélevés et analysés pour la présence de DDE et de PCB. Les associations entre la consommation de poisson et l'exposition aux DDE/PCB avec le DT2 auto-déclaré ont été étudiées à l'aide de modèles de régression logistique multiples ajustés pour les facteurs de confusion. RéSULTATS: L'exposition alimentaire au DDE (>2,11 ng/kg/pc) et aux PCB (>1,47 ng/kg/pc) par rapport à l'absence d'exposition était positivement associée au DT2 avec des OR de 2,33 (IC à 95% : 1,24­4,35) pour le DDE et 1,43 (IC à 95% : 1,01­3,59) pour les PCB. Les associations étaient plus fortes chez les femmes (DDE OR = 3,11 (1,41­6,88); PCB OR = 1,76 (1,10­3,65)) et les individus plus âgés (DDE OR = 2,64 (1,12­6,20); PCB OR = 1,44 (1,01­3,91)) par rapport aux hommes et aux participants plus jeunes. De plus, des relations dose-réponse significatives ont été trouvées pour la consommation de poisson chez les femmes seulement. CONCLUSION: Cette étude confirme nos conclusions précédentes selon lesquelles l'exposition à travers l'alimentation aux DDE/PCB peut augmenter le risque de DT2. L'effet du DDE/PCB sur la consommation de poisson est lié aux différences géographiques dans les concentrations de DDE/PCB dans le poisson et à la quantité de poisson consommée, et est plus important chez les femmes que chez les hommes.

Simultaneous determination and risk assessment of highly toxic pesticides in the market-sold vegetables and fruits in China: A 4-year investigational study.

This study investigated the levels of highly toxic pesticides (HTPs) in 6554 vegetable and fruit samples from 31 regions of China, along with the associated risk of dietary exposure for the population between 2014 and 2017. 18 HTPs were detected in 325 (4.96%) samples, and the levels of HTPs in 103 (1.57%) samples were found to be higher than the maximum residue limits (MRLs) of China. The rate of detection of HTPs in six types of vegetables and fruits, in a decreasing order, was found to be as follows: eggplant (8.84%) >grape (5.58%) >tomato (5.43%) >cucumber (5.43%) >pear (3.12%) >apple (2.30%). The level of contamination of HTPs was found to be higher in vegetables compared with fruits. The vegetable and fruit samples with the highest percentages of HTPs exceeding MRLs were found in eggplants from Guangxi (20%) and grapes from Inner Mongolia (12.5%), respectively. Both, the average target hazard quotient (THQ) of a single highly toxic pesticide (HTP) and the average hazard index (HI) of the mixture of HTPs for adults and children from vegetables and fruits from the 31 regions were found to be less than one. Omethoate, carbofuran, ethoprophos, triazophos, and phorate were identified as the major contributors to the average HI for vegetables, and carbofuran, ethoprophos, omethoate, phorate, and phosphamidon were identified as the primary contributors to the average HI for fruits. The results of this study revealed that HTPs in vegetables and fruits did not cause any significant chronic risk of dietary exposure. The detection of HTPs exceeding MRLs in some of the samples implied that appropriate management guidelines for HTPs should be implemented to protect the health of the consumers.

Probabilistic modelling techniques in dietary exposure assessment: application on the risk assessment of cadmium for Austrian adults.

Probabilistic exposure and risk assessment of chemical hazards in the diet have increasingly gained ground in recent years as a pragmatic approach for the approximation of reality. This work presents the outcomes of a project which aimed at applying probabilistic techniques for basic modelling of chronic dietary exposure to food contaminants following EFSA guidance. These techniques, based on Monte Carlo Risk Assessment (MCRA) software and on the programming language R, were employed for the risk assessment of cadmium for Austrian adults, enabling the validation and the critical comparison of the two approaches. Harmonisation and optimisation of procedures, refinement of exposure assessment skills and confidence in the results were the main benefits. Data amount and validity were identified as critical parameters, influencing the precision of the results. Cadmium was selected as a case study due to its toxicological properties, its ubiquitous presence in food and the availability of Austrian occurrence data. Similar exposure and risk estimates were generated through MCRA and R in alternative optimistic and pessimistic exposure scenarios, suggesting low levels of concern, except for vegetarians, whose upper tail exposures are close to the established Tolerable Weekly Intake. However, as occurrence data gaps have been identified as the major element of uncertainty, the estimated exposure and risk levels are characterised as underestimated. Grains and grain-based products, potatoes and leafy vegetables are the main contributors to the intake. The results will contribute to risk management and to a future refinement of the assessment.

The Structure of Relationships between the Human Exposome and Cardiometabolic Health: The Million Veteran Program.

The exposome represents the array of dietary, lifestyle, and demographic factors to which an individual is exposed. Individual components of the exposome, or groups of components, are recognized as influencing many aspects of human physiology, including cardiometabolic health. However, the influence of the whole exposome on health outcomes is poorly understood and may differ substantially from the sum of its individual components. As such, studies of the complete exposome are more biologically representative than fragmented models based on subsets of factors. This study aimed to model the system of relationships underlying the way in which the diet, lifestyle, and demographic components of the overall exposome shapes the cardiometabolic risk profile. The current study included 36,496 US Veterans enrolled in the VA Million Veteran Program (MVP) who had complete assessments of their diet, lifestyle, demography, and markers of cardiometabolic health, including serum lipids, blood pressure, and glycemic control. The cohort was randomly divided into training and validation datasets. In the training dataset, we conducted two separate exploratory factor analyses (EFA) to identify common factors among exposures (diet, demographics, and physical activity) and laboratory measures (lipids, blood pressure, and glycemic control), respectively. In the validation dataset, we used multiple normal regression to examine the combined effects of exposure factors on the clinical factors representing cardiometabolic health. The mean ± SD age of participants was 62.4 ± 13.4 years for both the training and validation datasets. The EFA revealed 19 Exposure Common Factors and 5 Physiology Common Factors that explained the observed (measured) data. Multivariate regression in the validation dataset revealed the structure of associations between the Exposure Common Factors and the Physiology Common Factors. For example, we found that the factor for fruit consumption was inversely associated with the factor summarizing total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC, p = 0.008), and the latent construct describing light levels of physical activity was inversely associated with the blood pressure latent construct (p < 0.0001). We also found that a factor summarizing that participants who frequently consume whole milk are less likely to frequently consume skim milk, was positively associated with the latent constructs representing total cholesterol and LDLC as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.0006 and <0.0001, respectively). Multiple multivariable-adjusted regression analyses of exposome factors allowed us to model the influence of the exposome as a whole. In this metadata-rich, prospective cohort of US Veterans, there was evidence of structural relationships between diet, lifestyle, and demographic exposures and subsequent markers of cardiometabolic health. This methodology could be applied to answer a variety of research questions about human health exposures that utilize electronic health record data and can accommodate continuous, ordinal, and binary data derived from questionnaires. Further work to explore the potential utility of including genetic risk scores and time-varying covariates is warranted.