Evaluation of exposure to cyanogenic glycosides and potential hydrogen cyanide release in commercially available foods among the Korean population.

The release of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) after food ingestion can pose a serious health risk to consumers. This study aimed to simultaneously quantify four cyanogenic glycosides (lotaustralin, prunasin, taxiphyllin, and dhurrin) using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The analysis scope extended beyond agricultural products to various consumer foods to estimate dietary exposure to cyanogenic glycosides and assess its risk levels. The major exposure sources are cassava chips (lotaustralin), apples (seeds) (prunasin and dhurrin), and Prunus mume axis (taxiphyllin). In addition to quantifying specific cyanogenic glycosides, this study proposed the development of a preliminary risk assessment framework based on the dietary exposure assessment and the calculation of theoretical levels of HCN derived from cyanogenic glycoside concentrations. In the absence of established guidelines for the permissible intake of foods containing cyanogenic glycosides, this study provides initial guidance for assessing the risks associated with a range of commonly consumed foods.

Risk assessment of cyclohexasiloxane D6 in cosmetic products.

Dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6) is a siloxane substance mainly used in cosmetics and personal care products. While octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) were once commonly used in personal care products, their usage has been restricted due to the classification as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT)/very persistent and very bio-accumulative (vPvB) substances. While D6 has emerged as a substitute for D4 and D5, the risk assessment for D6 remains limited compared to the evaluations for D4 and D5. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive risk assessment of D6. In this study, we reviewed the toxicity information on D6 and calculated the exposure level to D6, considering the content of D6 in cosmetic products. No observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 1500 mg/kg bw/day was established in a repeated dose toxicity study after oral administration to rats. Negative results were found in tests on the ocular and skin irritation, skin sensitization, and genotoxicity of D6. According to the product content of up to 48% of D6 reported in 2012, the Systemic Exposure Dose (SED) was 5.4E-06 to 7.04 mg/kg bw/day for a 60 kg adult using the exposure factors from Korean cosmetic usage. The Margin of Safety was estimated to be between 35.5 and 4.63E+07, posing a potential health risk of D6 according to the maximum concentration and the product type. Further consideration of the potential of D6 as PBT or vPvB is also required.

Safety assessment of cocamidopropyl betaine, a cosmetic ingredient.

Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) is a surfactant derived from coconut oil that is widely used in cosmetics and personal products for several purposes, such as a surfactant, foam booster, mildness, and viscosity control. Cocamidopropyl betaine is used at concentrations up to 30% in cosmetics. The acute toxicity, skin irritation, eye irritation, skin sensitization, repeated dose toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, and phototoxicity of cocamidopropyl betaine were evaluated. Cocamidopropyl betaine was observed to induce mild skin irritation, eye irritation and skin sensitization. The NOAEL of cocamidopropyl betaine was determined to be 250 mg/kg/day based on the results of a 92-day repeated-dose oral toxicity study in rats. The systemic exposure dose of cocamidopropyl betaine was estimated to range from 0.00120 to 0.93195 mg/kg/day when used in cosmetic products. The margin of safety of cocamidopropyl betaine was calculated to be greater than 100 when used at a maximum concentration of 6% in leave-on products and 30% in rinse-off products, suggesting that its use in cosmetic products is safe under current usage conditions.

Occurrence and risk characterization of non-nutritive sweeteners in selected food products from Korea.

Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) are food additives that impart a sweet taste to food product with lower calories. Acesulfame potassium, aspartame, sodium saccharin, sucralose, steviol glycosides and enzymatically modified stevia are permitted in Korea. The study established the method of each NNS and applied it to each food items consumed in Korea. For risk assessments, the estimated daily intake (EDI) value for each NNS was calculated. EDI values of NNS were compared directly with each ADI (acceptable daily intake). The total estimated daily intake ranges by age compared with the % ADI were 0.12-0.53, 0.93-1.68, 0.05-0.20, 0.06-0.42 and 0.17-0.98% for acesulfame potassium, sodium saccharin, aspartame, sucralose and sum of stevioside and rebaudioside A, which were based on the overall averages. It can be concluded that the daily dietary intake of each of the five NNS is at a safe level when considered as a proportion of the ADI. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-021-01012-9.

Exposure assessment of benzoic acid from processed foods in South Korea.

To evaluate the dietary exposure to benzoic acid of Korean consumers, the daily intake of benzoic acid was estimated using benzoic acid concentrations from processed food survey data in South Korea and food consumption data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2018. The results were compared with the acceptable daily intake (ADI) stipulated by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. In addition, we estimated the effects and risk of benzoic acid intake, which may be increased by including amounts of naturally occurring benzoic acid recently established by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Benzoic acid analyses were conducted in South Korea in 2020 for a total of 127,628 samples; it was detected in 1,803 samples, a detection rate of 1.4%. The mean contents of total samples and detected samples were 1.3 mg/kg and 89.4 mg/kg, respectively. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of benzoic acid for average consumers using a mean value of detected samples was 207.3 µg/kg.bw/day, which is 4.1% of ADI. The EDI of benzoic acid for high consumers (95th percentile) of processed foods among the consumers was 1,406.7 µg/kg.bw/day, which is 28.1% of the ADI. As a result of estimating the intake of benzoic acid, which may be increased by a newly established standard on natural occurrence in South Korea, the theoretical maximum EDI of benzoic acid was 109.9 µg/kg.bw/day, which is 2.2% of the ADI.

Method Validation for Determination of Thallium by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and Monitoring of Various Foods in South Korea.

Thallium (Tl) is a rare element and one of the most harmful metals. This study validated an analytical method for determining Tl in foods by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) based on food matrices and calories. For six representative foods, the method's correlation coefficient (R2) was above 0.999, and the method limit of detection (MLOD) was 0.0070-0.0498 µg kg-1, with accuracy ranging from 82.06% to 119.81% and precision within 10%. We investigated 304 various foods in the South Korean market, including agricultural, fishery, livestock, and processed foods. Tl above the MLOD level was detected in 148 samples and was less than 10 µg kg-1 in 98% of the samples. Comparing the Tl concentrations among food groups revealed that fisheries and animal products had higher Tl contents than cereals and vegetables. Tl exposure via food intake did not exceed the health guidance level.

Construction of a risk assessment system for chemical residues in agricultural products.

OBJECTIVES: Continuous monitoring of chemical residues in agricultural and food products has been performed by various government bodies in South Korea. These bodies have made attempts to systematically manage this information by creating a monitoring database system as well as a system based on these data with which to assess the health risk of chemical residues in agricultural products. METHODS: Meanwhile, a database system is being constructed consisting of information about monitoring and, following this, a demand for convenience has led to the need for an evaluation tool to be constructed with the data processing system. RESULTS: Also, in order to create a systematic and effective tool for the risk assessment of chemical residues in foods and agricultural products, various evaluation models are being developed, both domestically and abroad. Overseas, systems such as Dietary Exposure Evaluation Model: Food Commodity Intake Database and Cumulative and Aggregate Risk Evaluation System are being used; these use the US Environmental Protection Agency as a focus, while the EU has developed Pesticide Residue Intake Model for assessments of pesticide exposure through food intake. Following this, the National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS) created the Agricultural Products Risk Assessment System (APRAS) which supports the use and storage of monitoring information and risk assessments. APRAS efficiently manages the monitoring data produced by NAAS and creates an extraction feature included in the database system. Also, the database system in APRAS consists of a monitoring database system held by the NAAS and food consumption database system. Food consumption data is based on Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. CONCLUSIONS: This system is aimed at exposure and risk assessments for chemical residues in agricultural products with regards to different exposure scenarios.