Dose-response evaluation of urinary cadmium and kidney injury biomarkers in Chinese residents and dietary limit standards.

BACKGROUND: Cadmium (Cd) is a common heavy metal that mainly causes renal damage. There is a lack of research on the large-scale and systematic evaluation of the association between urinary Cd (U-Cd) and various effect biomarkers among Chinese residents. METHODS: Based on the establishment process of dietary Cd limit standards by European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the dose-response relationships between U-Cd and four biomarkers, ß2-microglobulin (ß2-MG), N-acetyl-ß-glucosidase (NAG), microalbumin (mALB), and retinol binding Protein (RBP) were explored, respectively. Toxicokinetic model was used to derive the dietary Cd exposure limit for Chinese residents after critical U-Cd concentration was calculated. RESULTS: As the sensitive biomarkers of renal injury, ß2-MG and NAG were selected to estimate the 95% confidence interval lower limit of the U-Cd benchmark dose (BMDL5) to be 3.07 and 2.98 µg/g Cr, respectively. Dietary Cd exposure limit was calculated to be 0.28 µg/kg bw/day (16.8 µg/day, based on the body weight of 60 kg), which was lower than the average Chinese Cd exposure (30.6 µg/day) by the China National Nutrient and Health Survey. CONCLUSION: This study established an overall association between U-Cd and renal injury biomarkers, and explored the Chinese dietary Cd exposure limits, which helps improve Chinese Cd exposure risk assessment and provides a reference basis for formulating reasonable exposure standards.

Revealing drinking water quality issues and possible health risks based on water quality index (WQI) method in the Shanmuganadhi River basin of South India.

The aim of the study is to address the issues and associated health risks due to consumption of high-fluoride water supplied for drinking in a rural part of Shanmuganadhi River basin, Tamil Nadu, India. In this study, 61 groundwater samples were gathered from various tube and open wells and analysed for fluoride and other physicochemical parameters. The abundance of cations is Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+, and that of anions is HCO3- > SO42- > Cl- > F-. The fluoride concentration in drinking groundwater varied from 0.10 to 3.3 mg/l. According to the WHO standards, about 26% of the samples were unfit for drinking requirements (16 out of 61 samples) Water quality index (WQI) method was adopted to categorize the water into different classes to understand its suitability for drinking requirements. WQI signified that nearly 52% of the samples denoted poor, very poor and not suitable categories, whereas 48% of samples denoted good and excellent categories for consumption. Health risks associated with high-fluoride drinking water were assessed for various age groups of inhabitants such as children, teens and adults. The hazard quotient estimated based on the oral intake ranged from 0.00E+00 to 5.50E+00, from 0.00E+00 to 4.22E+00 and from 0.00E+00 to 3.45E+00 for children, teens and adults, respectively. It suggested that the health risks are associated with 75%, 59% and 43% of samples, respectively, among children, teens and adults. Therefore, children are more inclined towards risk than teens and adults in this region based on the intake of fluoride-rich drinking water. To improve the present scenario, groundwater should be either treated before drinking water supply or must be artificially recharged to lower the concentration of ions.

Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk of arsenic ingestion via drinking water in Langat River Basin, Malaysia.

The prolonged persistence of toxic arsenic (As) in environment is due to its non-biodegradable characteristic. Meanwhile, several studies have reported higher concentrations of As in Langat River. However, it is the first study in Langat River Basin, Malaysia, that As concentrations in drinking water supply chain were determined simultaneously to predict the health risks of As ingestion. Water samples collected in 2015 from the four stages of drinking water supply chain were analysed for As concentration by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Determined As concentrations along with the time series data (2004-2015) were significantly within the maximum limit 0.01 mg/L of drinking water quality standard set by World Health Organization. The predicted As concentration by auto-regression moving average was 3.45E-03 mg/L in 2020 at 95% level based on time series data including climatic control variables. Long-term As ingestion via household filtration water at Langat Basin showed no potential lifetime cancer risk (LCR) 9.7E-06 (t = 6.68; p = 3.37E-08) as well as non-carcinogenic hazard quotient (HQ) 4.8E-02 (t = 6.68; p = 3.37E-08) risk at 95% level. However, the changing landscape, ex-mining ponds and extensive use of pesticides for palm oil plantation at Langat Basin are considered as the major sources of increased As concentration in Langat River. Therefore, a two-layer water filtration system at Langat Basin should be introduced to accelerate the achievement of sustainable development goal of getting safe drinking water supply.

Environmental and dietary exposure of perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid in the Nakdong River, Korea.

This study performed the first environmental and dietary exposure assessment to explore plant uptake of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) from agricultural soil and irrigation water in the Nakdong River delta, South Korea. Annual average concentrations of total PFOA and PFOS ranged from 0.026 to 0.112 µg L-1 (irrigation water), and from 0.818 to 1.364 µg kg-1 (soil), respectively. PFOA and PFOS hotspots were identified downstream of the Nakdong River and were influenced by seasonal climatic variations. The observed average biennial concentration of the sum of PFOA and PFOS decreased in irrigation water, from 0.112 µg L-1 in 2013 to 0.026 µg L-1 in 2015, suggests that the 2013 Persistent Organic Pollutants Control Act may have helped to reduce levels of PFAS at this location. This study calculated some of the highest plant uptake factors reported to date, with values ranging from 0.962 in green onions to < 0.004 in plums. Leafy vegetables and rice are important components of the Korean diet; these groups had the largest contribution to the estimated dietary intake of PFOA and PFOS, which was calculated at 0.449 and 0.140 ng kg bw -1 day-1, respectively. This corresponded to 66.4% for PFOA and 7.9% for PFOS of the EFSA reference dose (RfD). The dietary intake of PFOA and PFOS from crops alone did not exceed the RfD. However, when the estimated daily intake (EDI) from other sources such as tap water, meat, fish, dairy, and beverages was included in the exposure risk assessment, both of the EDIs to PFOA and PFOS exceeded the RfDs, indicating that there may be a risk to human health. This study concludes that consumption of crops might, therefore, be a significant and underappreciated pathway for human exposure to PFAS.

Differences in absorption of cadmium and lead among fourteen sweet potato cultivars and health risk assessment.

Planting sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) instead of rice in the area contaminated with heavy metals is one of the measures to ensure people's health and agricultural economy. Therefore, it is important to screen the low accumulation cultivars of sweet potato and to find out the concentration rule of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in edible parts along with the associated health risks to humans. A field experiment was performed with fourteen of three main types (starch, purple, and edible-type) of sweet potato cultivars grown on farmland polluted with Cd and Pb in eastern Hunan Province, China. The Cd and Pb concentrations in the sweet potato tissues as well as the yield were measured. The yield of the shoot and tuberous root of the fourteen sweet potato cultivars ranged from 14.59 to 68.57 and 26.35-50.76 t ha-1 with mean values of 33.09 and 33.46 t ha-1, respectively. Compared with purple and edible-type cultivars, the starch-type cultivar had lower Cd and Pb concentrations in the flesh, but higher in the shoot. The Cd and Pb concentrations in the flesh of cultivars Shangshu 19, Sushu 24, Yushu 98, and Xiangshu 98 were lower than MCL provided in Chinese National Food Safety Standards GB2762-2017. Based on the hazard index (HI), the consumption of sweet potato flesh is lower health risk, while shoots pose a greater health risk to local people and Cd is the main cause of the risk. As a result, sweet potato cultivars Shangshu 19, Sushu 24, Yushu 98 and Xiangshu 98 can be plant in serve Cd and Pb contaminated soils with the advantages of easy cultivation, high yield and economic benefits without stopping agricultural production.

Consumption of Raw Herbal Medicines Is Associated with Major Public Health Risks amongst Ugandans.

Background: Community consumption of herbal plants in developing countries is a common practice, however, scarcity of information on their physiochemical composition is a major public health concern. In Uganda, Vernonia amygdalina is of interest in rural communities due to its therapeutical action on both bacterial and protozoal parasites, however no studies have been conducted to assess the heavy metal concentrations in traditional plants used in alternative medicine. The aim of the study was to establish concentrations of heavy metals in Vernonia amygdalina, model the estimated daily intake (EDI), and assess both the non-cancer-related health risk using the target hazard quotient (THQ), and the risk related to cancer through the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for the Ugandan population. Methods: Leaves of Vernonia amygdalina were collected from 20 georeferenced villages and processed into powder in the laboratory using standard methods. These were then analyzed in the laboratory using an atomic absorption spectrometer for lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni). Concentrations were compared against the World Health Organization (WHO) limits. The EDI, THQ, and ILCR were modelled and significance was measured at 95% confidence. Results: The study showed that mean ± SEM concentrations of heavy metals were highest in the order of Cr, 121.8 ± 4.291 ppm > Ni, 84.09 ± 2.725 ppm > Zn, 53.87 ± 2.277 ppm > Pb, 40.61 ± 3.891 ppm > Cu, 28.75 ± 2.202 ppm > Fe, 14.15 ± 0.7271 ppm > Co, 7.923 ± 0.7674 ppm > Cd, 0.1163 ± 0.005714 ppm. Concentrations of Pb, Cr, Zn, Co, and Ni were significantly higher than the WHO limits. The EDI was significantly higher in children than in adults, demonstrating an increased risk of toxicity in children. The THQ and ILCR were over 1000 times higher in all Ugandans, demonstrating the undesirable health risks following oral consumption of Vernonia amygdalina due to very high Cr and Ni toxicities, respectively. Conclusion: Consumption of raw Vernonia amygdalina was associated with a high carcinogenic risk, demonstrating a need to enact policies to promote physiochemical screening of herbal medicines used in developing countries against toxic compounds.

Dissipation behavior, residues distribution and dietary risk assessment of tembotrione and its metabolite in maize via QuEChERS using HPLC-MS/MS technique.

The dissipation and residues of tembotrione in corn field application were investigated using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. The average recoveries of tembotrione in maize, corncob, and straw were in the ranges of 98-107% with relative standard deviations (RSDs ≤9.3%), respectively. The recoveries of M5 was in the ranges of 90-108% in all three matrices of maize, with RSDs were 3.3-12.8%. The LODs for tembotrione and M5 in maize were 0.85 µg/L and 1.0 µg/L, 0.84 µg/L and 0.43 µg/L in corncob, 0.94 µg/L and 1.5 µg/L in straw, respectively. The LOQs of the method in maize grain, corncob and straw were 0.01, 0.01 and 0.05 mg/kg for both analytes, respectively. The dissipation of tembotrione in straw was in compliance with the first-order dynamic equation, with half-lives of 1.18-1.23 days at Beijing and Heilongjiang. Total residue of tembotrione in maize grain and corncob matrix were both below 0.02 mg/kg, lower than the max residue limit (MRL) recommended by european food safety authority (EFSA). Risk quotients (RQs) of this pesticide was assessed via comparing national estimated daily intake with acceptable daily intake. The dietary intake risk of tembotrione residue in maize was very low for all groups of Chinese residents. These data could provide scientific data and strategies and facilitate Chinese government to establish the MRLs of tembotrione.

A review of the evidence to support interim reference level for dietary lead exposure in adults.

FDA developed the interim reference level (IRL) for lead of 3 µg/day in children and 12.5 µg/day in women of childbearing age (WOCBA) to better protect the fetus from lead toxicity. These IRLs correspond to a blood lead level (BLL) of 0.5 µg/dL in both populations. The current investigation was performed to determine if the IRL for WOCBA should apply to the general population of adults. A literature review of epidemiological studies was conducted to determine whether a BLL of 0.5 µg/dL is associated with adverse effects in adults. Some studies reported adverse effects over a wide range of BLLs that included 0.5 µg/dL adding uncertainty to conclusions about effects at 0.5 µg/dL; however, no studies clearly identified this BLL as an adverse effect level. Results also showed that the previously developed PTTDI for adults of 75 µg/day lead may not be health protective, supporting use of a lower reference value for lead toxicity in this population group. Use of the 12.5 µg/day IRL as a benchmark for dietary lead intake is one way FDA will ensure that dietary lead intake in adults is reduced.

Annual committed effective dosage from natural radionuclides by ingestion of local food growing in mineral mining area, Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's largest mineral sand deposit occurs in Pulmoddai, and the surrounding area of the mineral sand deposit has been identified as a high natural background radiation area. The food crops grown in the area are used for human consumption. However, the long-term consumption of high radioactive foodstuff may cause health defects. The objective of the present study was to assess the radiological impact on individuals due to ingestion of foodstuffs grown in Pulmoddai area. Seasonal food crops growing in the area, including cereals, vegetables, nuts, fruits and yams were collected and used to prepare common meal plans consumed by the residents. Samples were analyzed with high-purity germanium gamma spectrometer for activity concentrations. Activity concentration of 40K was observed in higher amounts in every food sample. Trace amounts of 137Cs 232Th and 7Be were also identified. The total committed effective dosage to an adult from gamma-emitting radionuclides from cooked meals was 0.1482 mSv year-1, and raw foodstuff was 0.0667 mSv year-1, which are far below than the harmful levels declared by International Atomic Energy Agency. Results concluded that foodstuff and cooked meals consumed by the people who live in Pulmoddai, Sri Lanka, are radiologically safe.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration's interim reference levels for dietary lead exposure in children and women of childbearing age.

Reducing lead exposure is a public health priority for the US Food and Drug Administration as well as other federal agencies. The goals of this research were to 1) update the maximum daily dietary intake of lead from food, termed an interim reference level (IRL), for children and for women of childbearing age (WOCBA) and 2) to confirm through a literature review that with the exception of neurodevelopment, which was not evaluated here, no adverse effects of lead consistently occur at the blood lead level (BLL) associated with the IRL. Because no safe level of lead exposure has yet been identified for children's health, the IRLs of 3 µg/day for children and 12.5 µg/day for WOCBA were derived from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reference value of 5 µg/dL BLL, the level at which public health actions should be initiated. The literature review showed that no adverse effects of lead consistently occurred at the BLL associated with the IRLs (0.5 µg/dL). The IRLs of 3 µg/day for children and 12.5 µg/day for WOCBA should serve as useful benchmarks in evaluating the potential for adverse effects of dietary lead.

Deriving safe short-term chemical exposure values (STEV) for drinking water.

Small and brief exceedances of chemicals above their guideline values in drinking water are unlikely to cause an appreciable increased risk to human health. As a result, short-term exposure values (STEV) can be derived to help decide whether drinking water can still be supplied to consumers without adverse health risks. In this study, three approaches were applied to calculate and compare STEV for pesticides. The three approaches included basing a STEV on the acute reference dose (ARfD) (Approach 1), removing conventional attribution rates and uncertainty factors from current guideline values (Approach 2) and extrapolating 1 d and 7 d no observed adverse effect levels (NOAEL) from existing toxicity data using a log-linear regression (Approach 3). Despite being very different methods, the three approaches produced comparable STEV generally within an order of magnitude, which often overlapped with other existing short-term exposure values such as short-term no adverse response levels (SNARL) and health advisories (HA). The results show that adjusting the current guideline value using standard extrapolation factors (Approach 2) often produced the most conservative values. Approach 2 was then applied to two other chemical classes, disinfection by-products (DBPs) and cyanotoxins, demonstrating the wider applicability of the approach.

Derivation of safe exposure levels for potential migration of formaldehyde into food.

Polyoxymethylene (POM) is a polymer of formaldehyde used inter alia for kitchenware and food processing machines. By migration into food, consumers may be exposed to small additional amounts of formaldehyde in food. In order to address such potential exposures, Specific Migration Limits are derived using all studies with oral exposure in mammals and birds. The assessment is not only based on local irritation observed in a 2-year rat study that has previously served to calculate acceptable exposure levels, but also on systemic effects, namely on effects on the kidney in adult rats and testes in birds before sexual maturity. At the relatively high oral exposure levels (up to 2000 ppm in drinking water) long-term effects caused by formic acid, the first step metabolite of formaldehyde, such as acidosis, cannot be excluded. The lowest Specific Migration Limit of 2.74 mg/dm2, corresponding to 16.5 mg formaldehyde/kg food, is based upon kidney effects in rats, leading to potential exposures that range between 2900 and 4400 times below the endogenous turnover of formaldehyde. Lastly, a recent migration study with POM showed that migration of formaldehyde into food simulants is over an order of magnitude below the lowest Specific Migration Limit derived herein.

Safety of Drinking Water from Primary Water Sources and Implications for the General Public in Uganda.

Background: There is scarcity of information about the quality and safety of drinking water in Africa. Without such vital information, sustainable development goal number 6 which promotes availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation remains elusive especially in developing countries. The study aimed at determining concentrations of inorganic compounds, estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI), incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR), and identify safe drinking water source sources in Southwestern Uganda. Methods: This was an observational study in which 40 drinking water samples were collected from georeferenced boreholes, springs, open wells, bottled, and taps within Bushenyi district of Southwestern Uganda. Water samples were analyzed for copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) levels using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Water safety measures (EDI, HI, and ILCR) were established for each water source and compared with local and international water permissible standards for each analyte. A spatial map was drawn using qGIS®, and analysis of quantitative data was done using MS Excel 2013 at 95% significance. Results: Heavy metals were present in the following order: 11.276 ppm > 4.4623 ppm > 0.81 ppm > 0.612 ppm > 0.161 ppm for Fe, Zn, Pb, Cu, and Cd, respectively, while Cr was not detected. Fe was the primary water heavy metal in the order of open well > borehole > tap > spring > bottled water. This was followed by Zn levels in the order of tap > bottled > spring > borehole > open well. All compounds were within international water safety standards except Pb. Hence, there is need for the government of Uganda to establish water filtration systems, particularly for Pb to improve the quality of water for the general public. The EDI was similar (P > 0.05) for water consumed from spring, bottled, and tap sources for Fe and Zn levels. Similarly, no differences were found in the EDI for children and adults (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the HI showed an absence of noncarcinogenic risk associated (HI < 1), although the ILCR was higher in adults than children (P < 0.05) due to high Cd concentrations. Conclusion: The current identified Fe is a major heavy metal in drinking water of Uganda, and boreholes were the major safest sources of drinking water identified in this study.

Traditional Diet and Environmental Contaminants in Coastal Chukotka II: Legacy POPs.

The article is the second in the series of four that present the results of a study on environmental contaminants in coastal Chukotka, conducted in the context of a multi-disciplinary investigation of indigenous foodways in the region. The article presents the results of the analysis of legacy Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) found in the samples of locally harvested food and indoor matters, collected in 2016 in coastal Chukotka. Temporal trends and circumpolar comparisons of POPs in food have been carried out. Estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of POPs by local food consumption were calculated based on the food intake frequencies (questionnaire data). Concentrations of the studied legacy POPs in marine mammal blubber were relatively high (up to 100⁻200 µg/kg ww) but not exceeding the allowable limits. Gray whale blubber and whale mantak were the most contaminated foods, followed by the ringed, spotted and bearded seal blubber, then by walrus blubber and fermented walrus (deboned walrus parts aged in subterranean pits, typically over a period of 6 months). At the backdrop of general decrease or invariability (compared to the previous coastal Chukotka study 15 years ago) of the majority of POPs, an increasing tendency of HCB, mainly in marine mammals, were noted. Legacy POPs in marine mammals sampled in Chukotka were generally much lower than in those sampled in Alaska and northern Canada. We suggest that the Alaska Coastal Current from the Bering Sea plays a major role in this phenomenon. Analyses of the additional sources of in-home food contamination (home-brewed alcohol, domestic insecticides) have revealed relatively high levels of HCHs, DDTs and PCBs, which still represent a share of dietary exposure of local people to POPs.

Traditional Diet and Environmental Contaminants in Coastal Chukotka III: Metals.

The article is the third in the series of four that present the results of a study on environmental contaminants in coastal Chukotka, which was conducted in the context of a multi-disciplinary investigation of indigenous foodways in the region. The article presents the results of the analysis of metals found in the samples of locally harvested terrestrial, freshwater, and marine biota collected in 2016 in coastal Chukotka. For some species of local fauna and flora, the metals content was demonstrated for the first time. Lead and Hg were low in all foods, while As concentrations were up to four mg/kg ww in fish and marine mammals blubber. Wild plants showed accumulations of Mn (up to 190 mg/kg ww), Al (up to 75 mg/kg ww), Ni, Ba, and Sr. Seaweed contained high levels of As (14 mg/kg) and Sr (310 mg/kg); ascidians (sea squirts) contained Al (up to 560 mg/kg), Cr, and Sr; and blue mussels contained Cd (2.9 mg/kg) and Al (140 mg/kg). Exceedances over the Russian allowable levels were revealed for As, Cd, and Al in different food items. Absence of the established limits for Al and Sr in seafood, and Mn in wild plants and berries, impedes the determination of excess levels. Temporal trends and geographic comparisons of metals in foods have been carried out. The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of metals by local food consumption were calculated based on the food intake frequencies. Follow-up (15 years after the first study) analyses of Hg, Pb, and Cd concentrations in local foods has not revealed any increase, while a slight decrease tendency was noted for some of the metals in several foods.

Traditional Diet and Environmental Contaminants in Coastal Chukotka IV: Recommended Intake Criteria.

The article is the last in the series of four that present the results of a study on environmental contaminants in coastal Chukotka, conducted in the context of a multi-disciplinary investigation of Indigenous foodways in the region. The article presents the Recommended Food Daily Intake Limit (RFDIL) guidelines of the locally harvested foods in coastal Chukotka. The guidelines were developed based on the results of the analysis of the legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and metals found in the samples of locally harvested food, which was collected in 2016 in the villages of Enmelen, Nunligran, and Sireniki on the south coast of the Chukchi Peninsula, Russian Arctic. The overall aim of the article is to expand the toolset for dealing with the challenges of: (1) setting the dietary recommendations when we assess multiple contaminants in a variety of foods (and our method of RFDILs calculation is an example of a possible approach), and (2) managing the real-life circumstances when many types of foods are mixed in many dishes regularly and the concentrations of contaminants in these mixed dishes become uncertain. Drawing on perspectives from the fields of environmental health sciences, humanities, social sciences, and visual art, the authors consider the RFDILs of the examined foods in the context of the culinary practices and aesthetics values (those that relate to the culturally held ideas of beauty ascribed to a dish or the processes of its preparation and consumption) of the Indigenous Arctic cuisine in the region of the Bering Strait, and in the broader dynamics of food and culture.

Risk assessment of bioaccessible arsenic and cadmium exposure through rice consumption in local residents of the Mae Tao Sub-district, Northwestern Thailand.

Consumption of contaminated rice is a toxin exposure route in Asian populations. Since total concentrations generally overestimate health risks, the objectives of this study were to determine the levels of bioaccessible As and Cd in rice cultivated in the Mae Tao, Tak Province and evaluate their potential health impacts in local adults. In total, 59 locally grown rice samples were analyzed for their total and bioaccessible concentrations. Bioaccessible concentrations were obtained from an in vitro digestion process. Inorganic As concentrations were estimated assuming that 63.2-63.5% of the total As is inorganic As. Rice contained inorganic As (45.2% of white rice and 57.1% of sticky rice) and Cd (51.6% of white rice and 32.1% of sticky rice) levels exceeding the Codex standards. The bioaccessibilities of As (16.3-70.0%) and Cd (Null to 83.7%) in rice varied widely. The concentrations of bioaccessible As, which were 1-1.2 times greater than those of bioaccessible Cd, indicate a higher possibility of As absorption into the human body. Positive significant relationships were found between total and bioaccessible As (R2 = 0.568 for white rice and R2 = 0.704 for sticky rice) and Cd (R2 = 0.874 for white rice and R2 = 0.862 for sticky rice). The hazard quotient (HQ) of inorganic As exposure accounted for approximately 93.4% of hazard index (HI). Approximately 2-6 in 10,000 residents over a lifetime of 75 years could suffer from cancer as a result of daily rice consumption. Therefore, the consumption of the home-grown rice in this study should be limited.

An updated weight of evidence approach for deriving a health-based guidance value for 4-nonylphenol.

4-Nonylphenol (NP) is a persistent estrogen-active compound. Human exposure to NP is primarily through water and food. Although risk assessments of NP have been conducted by the European Union and a few other countries, only the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, in 2000, proposed a tolerable daily intake of 0.005 mg kg-1 body weight (bw) day-1 . New data have been accumulated since then, prompting an update on the risk assessment of NP. A weight of evidence approach is recommended for use in scientific assessments by several agencies, e.g., European Food Safety Authority, etc. Based on the results of a weight of evidence approach, two methods were used to derive the health-based guidance value (HBGV) for NP in this study, namely a no observed adverse effects level/lowest observable adverse effect level method, and a benchmark dose method. Considering the considerable uncertainty of benchmark dose model fitting of the available data, a tolerable daily intake value of 0.025 mg kg-1 bw day-1 was derived as a provisional HBGV for NP based on the lowest observable adverse effect level value of 15 mg kg-1 bw day-1 of the renal toxicity in rats, together with the uncertainty factor of 600. However, the HBGV of NP still needs further investigation.

Occurrence and exposure assessment of bisphenol analogues in source water and drinking water in China.

Bisphenol analogues (BPs) are widely used in the production of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics. In recent years, the demand and production capacity of BPs are growing rapidly in China. However, knowledge on the occurrence of BPs other than bisphenol A (BPA) in the aquatic environment, especially in source and drinking water, is still limited. In this study, occurrence of 16 BPs, which have been used in various industrial applications, was investigated in source and drinking water from twenty drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) across China. In source water, BPA, bisphenol AF (BPAF), bisphenol B (BPB), bisphenol E (BPE), bisphenol F (BPF), and bisphenol S (BPS) were detected at the following concentration ranges: BPA (n.d.-34.9 ng/L), BPAF (n.d.-10.8 ng/L), BPB (n.d.-14.3 ng/L), BPE (n.d.-6.2 ng/L), BPF (n.d.-12.6 ng/L), and BPS (n.d.-5.2 ng/L). In drinking water BPA, BPAF, BPB, BPE, BPF, and BPS were detected as follows: BPA (n.d. - 6.5 ng/L), BPAF (n.d.-4.7 ng/L), BPB (n.d.-3.2 ng/L), BPE (n.d.-0.6 ng/L), BPF (n.d.-0.9 ng/L), and BPS (n.d.-1.6 ng/L). In addition, to assess the exposure of BPs through drinking water consumption, the estimated daily intake of each detected BPs was calculated. The estimated daily intake (EDIs) was below 0.25 ng/kg bw/day for each detected BPs, much lower than the tentative oral reference dose (RfD) values for BPA (4 µg/kg bw/day) recommended by the European Food Safety Authority.

Customers' Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices towards Food Hygiene and Safety Standards of Handlers in Food Facilities in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Efforts to prevent foodborne illnesses in food facilities require sufficient knowledge on hygiene and safety standards from both food processors and customers. However, studies about knowledge, attitude, and practices of customers towards these issues are constrained. This study explored the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of customers regarding the practices of food facilities as well as potential associated factors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Hanoi from September to October 2015. Questions about knowledge, attitude, and practice towards food hygiene and safety were asked, alongside sociodemographic characteristics. Multivariate Tobit regression was used to identify the associated factors with the KAP. Among 1740 customers, the highest mean score of 98.4 (SD = 10.1) was found in knowledge about practices with raw and cooked food, following by knowledge about environmental practices when processing food (mean = 93.1, SD = 17.3), and knowledge about environmental requirements when processing food (mean = 33.3, SD = 33.3). Most of customers considered the processing and selling of hygienic meals without leaving any food overnight as the most important feature for food facilities (73.8%). About 63.2% of participants chose not to report food safety violation by facilities to authorities. The higher score of knowledge was found in groups of people who were not single, had college/university or higher education, and had specific criteria when choosing their places to eat. These findings imply the need for enhancing customers' protection systems, the capability of inspecting and supervising the food processing progress by local authorities, and the awareness of customers about the environmental requirements of food facilities.