Spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water and sediment in the Ganga River: source diagnostics and health risk assessment on dietary exposure through a common carp fish Labeo rohita.

We evaluated spatial distribution and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and sediments at four selected sites of the Ganga River. Also, we measured PAHs in muscle tissues of Rohu (Labeo rohita), the most common edible carp fish of the Ganga River and potential human health risk was addressed. Total concentration of PAHs (∑PAHs) in water was highest at Manika Site (1470.5 ng/L) followed by Knuj (630.0 ng/L) and lowest at Adpr (219.0 ng/L). A similar trend was observed for sediments with highest concentration of ∑PAHs at Manika (461.8 ng/g) and lowest at Adpr Site (94.59 ng/g). Among PAHs, phenanthrene (Phe) showed highest concentration in both water and sediment. Of the eight major carcinogenic contributors (∑PAH8C), Indeno (1,2,3-C,D) pyrene (InP) did appear the most dominant component accounting for 42% to this group at Manika Site. Isomer ratios indicated vehicular emission and biomass combustion as major sources of PAHs. The ∑PAHs concentrations in fish tissue ranged from 117.8 to 758.0 ng/g (fresh weight basis) where low molecular weight PAHs assumed predominance (above 80%). The risk level in fish tissues appeared highest at Manika Site and site-wise differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The ILCR (> 10-4) indicated carcinogenic risk in adults and children associated with BaP and DBahA at Manika Site and with BaP at Knuj Site. Overall, the concentrations exceeding permissible limit, carcinogenic potential and BaP equivalent all indicated carcinogenic risks associated with some individual PAHs. This merits attention because the Ganga River is a reservoir of fisheries.

Dietary intake of methylmercury by 0-5 years children using the duplicate diet method in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The developing brains are sensitive to methylmercury (MeHg). However, the exposure to MeHg in baby foods and toddler meals remains unknown. This study aimed to determine MeHg intake from baby food or toddler meals, and to investigate the relationship with child hair total mercury (THg). METHODS: A total of 3 days of 24-hour dietary diet and hair samples were collected from 260 consenting children aged 0-5 years. We measured the concentrations of THg and MeHg in the diet and THg in the hair. RESULTS: The results of measuring THg were below both the method detection and method quantification limits or either of both in powdered milk (93.8%), 5-6 months (53.3%), and 7-8 months (39.5%). The median daily THg intake was 20.3 (95% confidence interval 0.72-232.5) ng/kgbw. MeHg was not detected in 213 samples with dietary THg concentrations below 1 ng/g. The MeHg concentration with THg concentrations of 1 ng/g or higher was 1.70 (0.87-6.21) ng/g, and MeHg percentage in THg was 90.0%. To estimate MeHg intake, we multiplied the THg concentration by 90.0%, resulting in an estimated MeHg intake of 18.3 (0.65-209.2) ng/kgbw/day. The THg in children's hair was 1.05 (0.31-3.96) ppm, and a weak positive correlation was observed between hair THg and dietary MeHg (r = 0.170). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the accurate estimation of MeHg intake in children using a duplicate method. Japanese children consume fish, the MeHg intakes exceeded the reference dose and/or provisional tolerable weekly intake in several children. Further discussion based on epidemiological data is required.

The burden of disease due to dietary exposure to acrylamide in Italy: A risk assessment-based approach.

The aim of this study was to assess Italian consumers' risk of cancer and burden of disease due to dietary exposure to acrylamide. Our model considered six age groups such as infants, toddlers, other children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly, and the consumption of 31 food items. Using a risk-assessment-based approach, we first characterized the risk of neoplastic effects using the margin of exposure method. Then the risk of kidney, endometrial, breast, ovarian cancer, and total cancer was estimated using adjusted cancer slope factors while the burden of disease was quantified using Disability-adjusted Life Years (DALYs). The highest risk for females was related to breast cancer while the lowest was for kidney cancer. We found a comparable risk of total cancer among Italian males and females, estimated at around 1.59 to 3.57 cases per 100,000 individuals annually with the burden ranging between 12.3 - 25.4 and 11.4 - 24.1 DALYs respectively. Our findings provide insights on the multifaceted impact of acrylamide on public health by offering detailed insights into age-specific exposure levels, diverse cancer risks, and the dietary burden of disease related to acrylamide. Targeted interventions and policies can be developed towards mitigating the health risks associated with acrylamide exposure.

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.

Contamination of dairy products with tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite and implications for human exposure.

Tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite (AO168), an organophosphite antioxidant, can be oxidized to tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate (AO168 = O) during the production, processing, and application of plastics. AO168 = O can be further transformed to bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol. Here, we discovered the contamination of AO168 and its transformation products in dairy products for the first time. More samples contained AO168 (mean concentration: 8.78 ng/g wet weight [ww]), bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate (mean:11.1 ng/g ww) and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (mean: 46.8 ng/g ww) than AO168 = O (mean: 40.2 ng/g ww). The concentrations of AO168 and its transformation products were significantly correlated, and differed with the packaging material and storage conditions of the product. Estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of AO168 and its transformation products were calculated. Although the overall dietary risks were below one, transformation products accounted for 96.7% of the total hazard quotients. The high-exposure EDIs of total AO168 were above the threshold of toxicological concern (300 ng/kg bw/day), and deserve continual monitoring.

Residue levels, processing factors and risk assessment of pesticides in ginger from market to table.

Ginger is consumed as a spice and medicine globally. However, pesticide residues in ginger and their residue changes during processing remain poorly understood. Our results demonstrate that clothianidin, carbendazim and imidacloprid were the top detected pesticides in 152 ginger samples with detection rates of 17.11-27.63%, and these pesticides had higher average residues of 44.07-97.63 µg/kg. Although most samples contained low levels of pesticides, 66.45% of the samples were detected with pesticides, and 38.82% were contaminated with 2-5 pesticides. Peeling, washing, boiling and pickling removed different amounts of pesticides from ginger (processing factor range: 0.06-1.56, most <1). By contrast, pesticide residues were concentrated by stir-frying and drying (0.50-6.45, most >1). Pesticide residues were influenced by pesticide physico-chemical parameters involving molecular weight, melting point, degradation point and octanol-water partition coefficient by different ginger processing methods. Chronic and acute dietary risk assessments suggest that dietary exposure to pesticides from ginger consumption was within acceptable levels for the general population. This study sheds light on pesticide residues in ginger from market to processing and is of theoretical and practical value for ensuring ginger quality and safety.

Essential and Toxic Elements in Infant Cereal in Brazil: Exposure Risk Assessment.

Infant cereals, one of the first solid foods introduced to infants, have been reported to pose risks to human health because they contain toxic elements and an excess of essential elements. The objective of this study was to assess the cancer and non-cancer risk of exposure to essential and toxic elements in infant cereal in Brazil. In our analyses, we included data from 18 samples of infant cereals made from different raw materials and estimated the incremental lifetime cancer risks and non-cancer hazard quotients (HQs) for their consumption. Rice cereal is particularly concerning because it is immensely popular and usually contains high levels of inorganic arsenic. In addition to arsenic, we assessed aluminum, boron, barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, manganese, nickel, selenium, silver, strontium, and zinc. The cancer risk was highest for rice cereal, which was also found to have an HQ > 1 for most of the tested elements. Inorganic As was the element associated with the highest cancer risk in infant cereal. All of the infant cereals included in this research contained at least one element with an HQ > 1. The essential and non-essential elements that presented HQ > 1 more frequently were zinc and cadmium, respectively. The cancer and non-cancer risks could potentially be decreased by reducing the amount of toxic and essential elements (when in excess), and public policies could have a positive influence on risk management in this complex scenario.

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.

Determination of vitamin c in raw fruit and vegetable homogenates: dietary exposure and health effects of excess intake in adults and children.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine Vitamin C content in some fruits and vegetables (FAV) including apple, banana, orange, pineapple, watermelon, carrot and cucumber, sold in the local markets in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria as well as Vitamin C content in two-component and three-component homogenates FAV. The work was also designed to investigate the dietary exposure and health effects of excess vitamin C intake in adults and children. Material and methods: Vitamin C as total ascorbic acid (AA) after reduction of dehydroascorbic acid was analyzed using both titrimetric and spectrophotometric methods. The titrimetric method involved iodometric back-titration while the spectrophotometric method was done at an absorbance of 530 nm. The dietary exposure was evaluated as the total FAV intake multiplied by chemical concentration in the FAV whereas the health effect of excess vitamin C intake was conducted using the hazard quotient (HQ). Results: The results revealed that Vitamin C for single fruits ranged from 11.76 - 41.17 mg/L for spectroscopic method and 16.9 - 31.84 mg/L for titrimetric method. Fruit homogenates showed Vitamin C concentrations of 14.70 - 220.58 mg/L and 17.23 - 209.09 mg/L for two-components homogenates: 29.41-132.35 mg/L and 31.05-113.10 mg/L for tri-components homogenates for spectrophotometric and titrimetric methods respectively. The results of dietary exposure and the health effects of excess vitamin C intake showed that children are more susceptible to health issues than adults in illnesses such as nausea, gastrointestinal pains, increased kidney stones and hyperactivity. Conclusion: There is therefore the need for a national recommended dietary allowance for total ascorbic acid (AA) in FAV homogenates from a stakeholder point of view in Nigeria.

Long-term dietary exposure to 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) reduced feeding in common carp (Cyprinus carpio): Via the JAK-STAT signaling pathway.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely present in water ecosystems where they pose a significant threat to aquatic life, but our knowledge about how PBDEs affect feeding is limited. Therefore, this study explored the effects of continuous dietary exposure to 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) (40 and 4000 ng/g) on the feeding in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and the underlying mechanism. BDE-47 significantly decreased the food intake of carp. Transcriptome analysis of brain tissue showed that BDE-47 mainly affected the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems. Further examination of the expression levels of appetite factors in the brain revealed that BDE-47 caused dysregulation of appetite factors expressions such as agrp, pomc, cart, etc. In addition, the JAK-STAT signaling pathway was activated under BDE-47 exposure. It can be concluded from these findings that BDE-47 activated the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, causing imbalanced expression of appetite factors, leading to disordered feeding behavior and decreased food intake in carp. These results provide an important reference for a more comprehensive understanding of the hazards posed by BDE-47 on animal feeding and the associated mechanisms.

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.

Volatile N-nitrosamines in processed meat products: An approach for monitoring dietary exposure, assessing human risk, and evaluating variable correlations by principal component analysis and heat map.

Several epidemiological studies have reported a positive association between the consumption of processed meats containing N-nitrosamines (NAs) and the incidence of hepatocellular and colon cancer. The health risk assessment in this investigation was based on the concentration of six volatile N-nitrosamines (VNAs) (N-nitrosodimethylamine, N-nitrosodiethylamine, N-nitrosomethylethylamine, N-nitrosopiperidine, N-nitrosodibutylamine, and N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine) found in processed meat products (sausage and kielbasa) in the Iranian market. Direct supported liquid membrane two-phase hollow fiber electromembrane extraction coupled to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to analyse six VNAs. The mean concentration of the six VNAs in sausages and kielbasa was 38.677 ± 27.56 and 48.383 ± 35.76 µg/kg, respectively. The 95th percentile for the chronic daily intake of total VNAs for children (3-14 years) and adults (15-70 years) were calculated to be 5.06 × 10-4 and 1.09 × 10-4 mg/kg bw/day, respectively. The cancer risk assessment showed that the risk associated with NDEA was the highest among the other VNAs studied in Iranian processed meat, with a 95th percentile for the child and adult groups. Based on an incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) value of ≤10-4 for the carcinogenic effects of exposure to a total of six VNAs, it indicates low concern for all age groups.

Multi-elemental composition of botanical preparations and probabilistic evaluation of toxic metals and metalloids intake upon dietary exposure.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inorganic elemental composition (49 elements) of 29 botanical preparations obtained from fruits, leaves, peels, seeds, roots, fungi, and spirulina by using inductively coupled-mass spectrometry and a mercury analyzer. Simultaneously, the risk associated with the chronic dietary exposure to 12 toxic metals and metalloids among the European population was evaluated by using a probabilistic approach based on Monte Carlo simulations. The analysis revealed worrying intake levels of Al, As, and Ni, primarily stemming from the consumption of spirulina-, peel-, and leaf-based botanicals by younger age groups. The intake of As from all analyzed botanicals posed a significant risk for infants, yielding margins of exposure (MOEs) below 1, while those deriving from peel-based botanicals raised concerns across all age groups (MOEs = 0.04-2.3). The consumption of peel-based botanicals contributed substantially (13-130%) also to the tolerable daily intake of Ni for infants, toddlers, and children, while that of spirulina-based botanicals raised concerns related to Al intake also among adults, contributing to 11-176% of the tolerable weekly intake of this element. The findings achieved underscore the importance of implementing a monitoring framework to address chemical contamination of botanicals, thus ensuring their safety for regular consumers.

Characterizing the risk related to the exposure to methylmercury over a lifetime: A global approach using population internal exposure.

Seafood products accumulate methylmercury throughout the food chain and are the main source of methylmercury exposure. Methylmercury may trigger a number of adverse health effects, such as neurodevelopmental or nephrotoxic effects, the risk of which cannot be ruled out for the French high consumers of seafood. The characterisation of methylmercury-related risks is generally based on short-term dietary exposure without considering changes in consumption and exposure over the lifetime. Additionally, focusing on short-term dietary exposure, the fate of methylmercury (especially its accumulation) in the organism is not considered. The present study proposes a methodology basing risk characterization on estimates of body burden over a lifetime. First, trajectories of dietary exposures throughout lifetime were constructed based on the actual concentrations of total diet studies for a fictive representative French population, taking into account the social, economic and demographic parameters of individuals. Next, the fate of methylmercury in the body was estimated, based on these trajectories, using a specific physiologically-based kinetic (PBK) model that generated a representative pool of body burden trajectories. Simulated hair mercury concentrations were closed to previously reported French representative human biomonitoring data. Results showed that at certain stages of life, concentrations of methylmercury in hair were higher than the human biomonitoring guidance value set at 2.5 µg/g of hair by JECFA. This study showed the added value, in the case of substances accumulating in the body, of estimating dietary exposure over a lifetime and using exposure biomarkers estimated by a PBK model characterize the risk.

Occurrence of Aflatoxin M1 and Estimate of Dietary Exposure in Cheeses from Organic and Conventional Production Systems.

This study aimed to compare AFM1 occurrence in different cheese types produced by organic and conventional systems; and to evaluate the risk of food exposure to AFM1. A total of 176 commercial cheeses of 17 types were analyzed, 84 of organic and 92 of conventional production. Determination of AFM1 was performed by high- performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), being detected in 30.5% of samples, with 4.8% of organic cheese samples presenting quantifiable AFM1 values between 0.88 and 1.50 µg/kg. On the other hand, 4.3% of conventional cheese samples with values between 0.79 and 6.70 µg/kg. Two conventional cheese samples were above the limit of AFM1 allowed for cheeses by the Brazilian legislation. No statistical difference were found between organic and conventional cheeses regarding the occurrence (p = 0.1780) and concentration of AFM1 (p = 0.1810), according to the Chi-square and the T test, respectively. Estimated daily intake (EDI) and hazard index (HI) of dietary exposure to AFM1 were 0.26 ng/kg/day and 1.28 ng/kg/day, respectively, for conventional cheese samples, and 0.09 ng/kg/day and 0.47 ng/kg/day for organic samples, with no statistical difference for EDI (p = 0.1729) and HI (p = 0.1802) between the two production systems. Comparison between several cheese types from conventional and organic systems indicated that AFM1 is an obstacle to dairy production. Control and prevention of AFM1 contamination, as well as detoxification methods in the final products, are necessary. In the case of organic products, additional research is needed in order to determine which control and detoxification methods should be allowed in this production system.

Dietary Exposure and Risk Assessment of Multi-Mycotoxins (AFB1, AFM1, OTA, OTB, DON, T-2 and HT-2) in the Lebanese Food Basket Consumed by Adults: Findings from the Updated Lebanese National Consumption Survey through a Total Diet Study Approach.

Mycotoxins have been linked to adverse health impacts, including liver cancer and kidney diseases. The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the dietary exposure of Lebanese adults to multi-mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), ochratoxin A (OTA), ochratoxin B (OTB), deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 and HT-2) and to assess their associated health risks. Hence, a nationally representative sample of 449 participants aged 18-64 years old were interviewed to obtain their socio-demographic characteristics, food consumption data and exposure estimates. A food frequency questionnaire and 24 h-recall were used to collect data. The concentration of mycotoxins in all foods consumed by the participants was collected from previous national published studies. The estimated daily intake (EDI), the hazard quotient (HQ) and the margin of exposure (MOE) were calculated. The total exposure to AFB1, AFM1, OTA and DON was 1.26, 0.39, 4.10 and 411.18 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. The MOE to AFB1, AFM1, OTA and DON in the Lebanese food basket was 316, 1454, 3539 and 510, respectively, indicating high health-related risks. Per food items, the MOE to AFB1 was below 10,000 in cereals (466.5), mainly in rice (827.9) and Burgul (4868.5). Similarly, the MOE to OTA in cereals was 1439, in which bread (4022), rice (7589) and bulgur (7628) were considered unsafe. Moreover, the MOE to DON in cereals (605) is alarming, especially in bread (632) and manakesh (6879). The MOE to AFM1 in dairy products was 1454, indicating health-related risks with a focus on yogurt (9788) and labneh (8153). As for the herbs/spices group and traditional dishes, the MOE to AFB1 was relatively lower than 10,000 (3690 and 1625, respectively), with a focus on thyme (2624) and kishik (3297), respectively. It is noteworthy that the MOE to DON and the MOE to OTA in traditional foods and coffee were lower than 10,000 (8047 and 8867, respectively). All hazard quotient (HQ) values were below 1, except the HQ value of milk and dairy products (1.96). The intake of some food groups varied between age categories, corresponding to differences in EDI between them. Thus, it is essential to put control measures in place to decrease the contamination and exposure to mycotoxins by Lebanese consumers.

The hidden diet: Synthetic antioxidants in packaged food and their impact on human exposure and health.

Synthetic antioxidants (AOs) are commonly used in everyday items and industrial products to inhibit oxidative deterioration. However, the presence of AOs in food packaging and packaged foods has not been thoroughly documented. Moreover, studies on human exposure to AOs through skin contact with packaging or ingesting packaged foods are limited. In this study, we analyzed twenty-three AOs-including synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs) and organophosphite antioxidants (OPAs)-along with six transformation products in various food samples and their packaging materials. We found AOs in food products at concentrations ranging from 1.30 × 103 to 1.77 × 105 ng/g, which exceeded the levels in both outer packaging (6.05 × 102-3.07 × 104 ng/g) and inner packaging (2.27 × 102-1.09 × 105 ng/g). The most common AOs detected in foodstuffs were tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate (AO168O), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and octadecyl-3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate (AO1076), together constituting 95.7 % of the total AOs found. Our preliminary exposure assessment revealed that dietary exposure-estimated at a median of 2.55 × 104 ng/kg body weight/day for children and 1.24 × 104 ng/kg body weight/day for adults-is a more significant exposure route than dermal contact with packaging. Notably, four AOs were identified in food for the first time, with BHT making up 76.8 % and 67.6 % of the total BHT intake for children and adults, respectively. These findings suggest that food consumption is a significant source of BHT exposure. The estimated daily intakes of AOs via consumption of foodstuffs were compared with the recommended acceptable daily intake to assess the risks. This systematic investigation into AOs contributes to understanding potential exposure and health risks associated with AOs in packaged foods. It emphasizes the need for further evaluation of human exposure to these substances.

Environmental and dietary exposure to 24 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a typical Chinese coking plant.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), known for their health risks, are prevalent in the environment, with the coking industry being a major source of their emissions. To bridge the knowledge gap concerning the relationship between environmental and dietary PAH exposure, we explore this complex interplay by investigating the dietary exposure characteristics of 24 PAHs within a typical Chinese coking plant and their association with environmental pollution. Our research revealed Nap and Fle as primary dietary contaminants, emphasizing the significant influence of soil and atmospheric pollution on PAH exposure. We subjected our data to non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), Spearman correlation analysis, Lasso regression, and Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression to delve into this multifaceted phenomenon. NMDS reveals that dietary PAH exposure, especially within the high molecular weight (HMW) group, is common both within and around the coking plant. This suggests that meals prepared within the plant may be contaminated, posing health risks to coking plant workers. Furthermore, our assessment of dietary exposure risk highlights Nap and Fle as the primary dietary contaminants, with BaP and DahA raising concerns due to their higher carcinogenic potential. Our findings indicate that dietary exposure often exceeds acceptable limits, particularly for coking plant workers. Correlation analyses uncover the dominant roles of soil and atmospheric pollution in shaping dietary PAH exposure. Soil contamination significantly impacts specific PAHs, while atmospheric pollution contributes to others. Additionally, WQS regression emphasizes the substantial influence of soil and drinking water on dietary PAHs. In summary, our study sheds light on the dietary exposure characteristics of PAHs in a typical Chinese coking plant and their intricate interplay with environmental factors. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate PAH exposure so as to safeguard both human health and the environment in affected regions.

Toxicological assessment of dietary exposure of polyethylene microplastics on growth, nutrient digestibility, carcass and gut histology of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings.

This study was conducted to ascertain the negative effects of dietary low-density polyethylene microplastics (LDPE-MPs) exposure on growth, nutrient digestibility, body composition and gut histology of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Six sunflower meal-based diets (protein 30.95%; fat 8.04%) were prepared; one was the control (0%) and five were incorporated with LDPE-MPs at levels of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% in sunflower meal-based diets. A total of eighteen experimental tanks, each with 15 fingerlings, were used in triplicates. Fish were fed at the rate of 5% biomass twice a day for 60 days. Results revealed that best values of growth, nutrient digestibility, body composition and gut histology were observed by control diet, while 10% exposure to LDPE-MPs significantly (P < 0.05) reduced weight gain (WG%, 85.04%), specific growth rate (SGR%, 0.68%), and increased FCR (3.92%). The findings showed that higher level of LDPE-MPs (10%) exposure in the diet of O. niloticus negatively affects nutrient digestibility. Furthermore, the results revealed that the higher concentration of LDPE-MPs (10%) had a detrimental impact on crude protein (11.92%) and crude fat (8.04%). A high number of histological lesions were seen in gut of fingerlings exposed to LDPE-MPs. Hence, LDPE-MPs potentially harm the aquatic health.

Dietary exposure to 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) induces oxidative damage promoting cell apoptosis primarily via mitochondrial pathway in the hepatopancreas of carp, Cyprinus carpio.

To investigate the mechanisms of BDE-47 on hepatotoxicity in fish, this study examined the effects of dietary exposure to BDE-47 (40 and 4000 ng/g) on carp for 42 days. The results showed that BDE-47 significantly increased carp's condition factor and hepatosomatic index. Pathological results revealed unclear hepatic cord structure, hepatocytes swelling, cellular vacuolization, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the hepatopancreas of carp. Further investigation showed that ROS levels significantly increased on days 7, 14, and 42. Moreover, the activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD, GSH, CAT, and GST increased significantly from 1 to 7 days, and the transcription levels of antioxidant enzymes CAT, Cu-Zn SOD, Mn-SOD, GST, and GPX, and antioxidant pathway genes Keap1, Nrf2, and HO-1 changed significantly at multiple time-points during the 42 days. The results of apoptosis pathway genes showed that the mitochondrial pathway genes Bax, Casp3, and Casp9 were significantly upregulated and Bcl2 was significantly downregulated, while the transcription levels of FADD and PERK were significantly enhanced. These results indicate that BDE-47 induced oxidative damage in hepatopancreas, then it promoted cell apoptosis mainly through the mitochondrial pathway. This study provides a foundation for analyzing the mechanism of hepatotoxicity induced by BDE-47 on fish.