Mercury contents and potential exposure risk of rice-containing food products.

Mercury (Hg), especially methylmercury (MeHg), accumulation in rice grain due to rice paddy possessing conditions conducive to Hg methylation has led to human Hg exposure through consumption of rice-based daily meals. In addition to being a food staple, rice is widely used as a raw material to produce a vast variety of processed food products. Little is known about Hg levels in snacking rice-food products and potential Hg exposure from consumption of them, besides previous studies on infant rice cereals. Aiming to provide complementary information for a more complete assessment on Hg exposure risk originated from Hg-containing rice, this study determined total Hg (THg) and MeHg levels in 195 rice-containing and rice-free processed food products covering all major types of snack foods marketed in China and the estimated daily intake (EDI) of dietary Hg from the consumption of these foods. The results clearly showed THg and MeHg contents in rice-containing foods were significantly higher than rice-free products, suggesting the transfer of Hg and MeHg from the rice to the end products, even after manufacturing processes. Moreover, significant positive correlations were observed between THg, MeHg, or MeHg/THg ratio and rice content for samples containing multiple grains as ingredients, further indicating the deciding role of rice for Hg levels in the end food products. Although the EDI of THg and MeHg via rice-based food products were relatively low compared to the reference dose, it should be considered these snacking food products would contribute additive Hg intake outside of the daily regular meals.

Dissipation behaviour and dietary risk evaluation of pesticides on cucumber.

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is the world's most widely consumed salad vegetable, and it is frequently treated with pesticides to prevent pest and disease outbreaks. Pesticide residues in food commodities impede trade and pose a major health risk. Prior to residue estimation, the QuEChERS approach was validated utilising criteria such as limit of detection, limit of quantitation, linearity, accuracy, and precision. The residues of carbendazim, cypermethrin, ethion, profenofos, quinalphos, and triazophos were examined using a Gas Chromatograph equipped with an Electron Capture Detector or a Flame Photometric Detector and a high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a photo diode array. The initial deposits of carbendazim, cypermethrin, ethion, profenofos, quinalphos, and triazophos at the prescribed dose were 1.235, 0.407, 0.817, 0.960, 0.628, and 0.985 mg/kg, respectively, with a pre-harvest interval of 5.58-11.30 days. According to the consumer risk evaluation data, the Hazard Quotient is less than one, and the Theoretical Maximum Dietary Intake is less than the Maximum Permissible Intake and Maximum Residue Limit, both of which are considered safe for human consumption at the authorised dose.

Perfluoroalkyl substances in the meat of Polish farm animals and game - Occurrence, profiles and dietary intake.

Meat from farm animals (pigs, cattle and poultry) and game (wild boar and deer) was analysed in terms of thirteen perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Wild boar muscle tissue was statistically significantly more contaminated than muscle tissue from other animals, and the species order of the lower-bound (LB) sum of four (∑4) PFAS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorononanoic acid and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid) concentrations was wild boar > cattle > deer > pigs > poultry. None of the samples exceeded the maximum levels set by Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915. Linear PFOS was the most frequently detected compound (in 21 % of all samples analysed and 100 % of wild boar samples), reaching its highest concentration of 1.87 µg/kg wet weight in wild boar. Dietary intake was estimated on the basis of the average per-serving consumption of pork, beef and poultry, and in the absence of such data for game, a 100 g portion was used for the calculation. Mean LB∑4 PFAS concentrations led to intakes between 0.000 and 1.75 ng/kg body weight (BW) for children and 0.000 and 0.91 ng/kg BW for adults. The potential risk to consumers was assessed in relation to the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 4.4 ng/kg BW established by the European Food Safety Authority in 2020. Exposure associated with the consumption of poultry, pork, beef and venison was negligible, being only <1 % of the TWI for children and adults; higher exposure was found to associate with the consumption of wild boar, being 63 % and 21 % of the TWI for children and adults, respectively. The findings of this research suggest that the intake of PFASs through the consumption of meat from Polish livestock and deer is unlikely to be a health concern. However, frequent consumption of wild boar meat could be a significant source of PFASs.

Contamination characteristics and dietary intake risk of brominated flame retardants in fishes around a typical e-waste dismantling site in Southern China.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and their substitutes, novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs), are ubiquitously present in the aquatic environment of electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling region, leading to their inevitable absorption and accumulation by aquatic organisms, which can be transferred to human via directly aquatic product consumption or through food chain, thereby posing potential health risks. This study focused on fish samples from Guiyu and its surrounding areas, and found the total PBDEs concentrations were 24-7400 ng/g lw (mean: 1800 ng/g lw) and the total NBFRs concentrations were 14 to 2300 ng/g lw (mean: 310 ng/g lw). Significant positive correlations were found among PBDE congeners, among different NBFRs, and between NBFRs and commercial PBDEs that they replace. ΣPBDEs and ΣNBFRs in the intestine were 620-350,000 and 91-81,000 ng/g lw (mean: 83000 and 12,000 ng/g lw, respectively), significantly exceeding those in the gills, where ΣPBDEs and ΣNBFRs were 14-37,000 and 39-45,000 ng/g lw (mean: 9200 and 2400 ng/g lw, respectively). The ΣPBDEs and ΣNBFRs showed no non-carcinogenic risks to the target population through dietary intake. Despite the significantly higher daily intake of decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) compared to decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE209), the non-carcinogenic risk associated with BDE209 remained higher than that of DBDPE. Our findings can assist researchers in understanding the presence of BFRs in aquatic organisms, inhabiting e-waste dismantling areas, and in evaluating the associated health risks posed to humans through dietary exposure.

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.

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.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Chinese commercially available red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii): Implications for human exposure and health risk assessment.

The extensive utilization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has led to their pervasive presence in the environment, resulting in contamination of aquatic products. Prolonged exposure to PFASs has been linked to direct hepatic and renal damage, along with the induction of oxidative stress, contributing to a spectrum of chronic ailments. Despite the recent surge in popularity of red swamp crayfish as a culinary delicacy in China, studies addressing PFASs' exposure and associated health risks from their consumption remain scarce. To address this gap, our study investigated the PFASs' content in 85 paired edible tissue samples sourced from the five primary red swamp crayfish breeding provinces in China. The health risks associated with dietary exposure were also assessed. Our findings revealed widespread detection of PFASs in crayfish samples, with short-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) exhibiting the highest concentrations. Notably, the total PFAS concentration in the hepatopancreas (median: 160 ng/g) significantly exceeded that in muscle tissue (5.95 ng/g), as did the concentration of every single substance. The hazard quotient of perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) via consuming crayfish during peak season exceeded 1. In this case, a potential total non-cancer health risk of PFASs, which is mainly from the hepatopancreas and associated with PFHxS, is also observed (hazard index>1). Thus, it is recommended to avoid consuming the hepatopancreas of red swamp crayfish. Greater attention should be paid to governance technology innovation and regulatory measure strengthening for short-chain PFASs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.