Dietary intake and risk assessment of elements for 1- and 2-year-old children in the Netherlands.

In 2017, a total diet study (TDS) was conducted in the Netherlands to determine the intake of elements by 1- and 2-year-old children. Concentrations of 47 elements were analysed and long-term dietary intake was calculated for 24 elements. The 95th percentile (P95) intake estimates were compared with a tolerable daily or weekly intake (TDI or TWI) or tolerable upper intake level (UL), or a margin of exposure (MOE) was calculated. The P95 intake of cadmium and zinc exceeded the TWI or UL, respectively, and the P95 intake of inorganic arsenic and lead resulted in low MOEs. Food subgroups contributing most to the intake were "potatoes" for cadmium, "milk and milk-based beverages" for zinc, "concentrated fruit juices" and "rice" for inorganic arsenic, and "candies" for lead. For inorganic mercury, it could not be established if the intake was (too) high. P95 intake estimates of the other elements for which a risk characterisation could be performed were below the health-based guidance values. It was noted that the P50 intake estimate of manganese was a factor of 3 higher than the adequate intake level. Due to the absence of a UL, it is not clear if this intake is of concern.

Assessment of occupational and dietary exposure to pesticide residues.

Plant protection products (PPPs) are pesticides containing at least one active substance that drives specific actions against pests (diseases). PPPs are regulated in the EU and cannot be placed on the market or used without prior authorisation. EFSA assesses the possible risks of the use of active substances to humans and environment. Member States decide whether or not to approve their use at EU level. Furthermore, Member States decide at national level on the authorisation of PPPs containing approved substances. In agriculture, exposure to PPPs and their residues during occupational tasks is estimated prior to product authorisation, using models fed with study-specific (e.g. absorption, dissipation) and default values. Exposure of workers to pesticide residues reduces with the pesticide's dissipation time during crop-related tasks. However, the current risk assessment gap is that no methodology is available to calculate the re-entry interval (REI) for workers, which specifies how long they should wear personal protective clothing during their first entry into pesticide-sprayed crops. Protective clothing (such as gloves) can reduce pesticide residue exposure to an acceptable level of worker safety. Within the European Food Risk Assessment Fellowship Programme (EU-FORA) assignment, a methodology was developed to calculate agricultural-use-specific and pesticide-specific REIs for which period workers should wear gloves. This was an assignment of the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. Another important aspect of risk assessment to ensure consumer safety is dietary risk assessment. A critical evaluation of residue studies and metabolism of the pesticide in question in crops results in a residue definition for dietary risk assessment and for enforcement and monitoring to define maximum residue limits allowed legally on or in raw agricultural commodities when applying pesticides according to good agricultural practices. This work was assigned by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and contributes to the work of the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues.

Long-term dietary exposure to lead in young European children: comparing a pan-European approach with a national exposure assessment.

Long-term dietary exposures to lead in young children were calculated by combining food consumption data of 11 European countries categorised using harmonised broad food categories with occurrence data on lead from different Member States (pan-European approach). The results of the assessment in children living in the Netherlands were compared with a long-term lead intake assessment in the same group using Dutch lead concentration data and linking the consumption and concentration data at the highest possible level of detail. Exposures obtained with the pan-European approach were higher than the national exposure calculations. For both assessments cereals contributed most to the exposure. The lower dietary exposure in the national study was due to the use of lower lead concentrations and a more optimal linkage of food consumption and concentration data. When a pan-European approach, using a harmonised food categorisation system and "European" concentration data, results in a possible health risk related to the intake of an environmental chemical for a certain country, it is advisable to refine this assessment, as part of a tiered approach, using national occurrence data, including an optimised linkage between foods analysed and consumed for that country. In the case of lack of occurrence data, these data can be supplemented with data from the "European" concentration database or by generating additional concentration data at country level.