Assessment of Human Mycotoxin Exposure in Hungary by Urinary Biomarker Determination and the Uncertainties of the Exposure Calculation: A Case Study

Urinary biomarkers of mycotoxin exposure were evaluated in the case of healthy people (n = 41) and coeliac patients (n = 19) by using a multi-biomarker LC-MS/MS immunoaffinity based method capable to analyse biomarkers of nine mycotoxins, i.e., fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2 (FB2), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), ochratoxin A (OTA), Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin and Nivalenol (NIV). Urinary biomarker concentrations were used to calculate the probable daily intake (PDI) of fumonisin B1, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and ochratoxin A and compared with their tolerable daily intake (TDI). The human urinary excretion rate values reported in the literature and the 24 h excretion rate measured in piglets were used to estimate and compare the PDI values of the four mycotoxins. The highest mean biomarker concentrations were found for DON (2.30 ng/mL for healthy people and 2.68 ng/mL for coeliac patients). Mean OTA concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in healthy people compared to coeliac patients. PDI calculated with piglets excretion data exceeded the TDI values by a much smaller percentage than when they were calculated from human data, especially for FB1. The uncertainties arising from the different calculations can be well perceived on the basis of these data.

Italian Children Exposure to Bisphenol A: Biomonitoring Data from the LIFE PERSUADED Project

A human biomonitoring (HBM) study on bisphenol A (BPA) in Italian children and adolescents was performed within the LIFE PERSUADED project, considering the residing areas, sex and age. The median urinary BPA level was 7.02 µg/L, with children living in the South of Italy or in urban areas having higher levels than those residing in the North or in rural areas. Children aged 4–6 years had higher BPA levels than those aged 7–10 and 11–14 years, but no differences were detected between sexes. The exposure in Italian children was higher compared to children from other countries, but lower than the HBM guidance value (135 µg/L). The estimated daily intake was 0.17 μg/kg body weight (bw) per day, about 24-fold below the temporary Tolerable Daily Intake of 4 μg/kg bw per day established by the European Food Safety Authority. However, this threshold was exceeded in 1.44% of the enrolled children, raising concern about the overall exposure of Italian young population.

Evaluation of Element Concentrations in Beef and Pork Meat Cuts Available to the Population in the Croatian Capital

The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of essential, trace, and toxic elements in beef and pork meat cuts available at markets and retail chains in the Croatian capital. Significant differences in the concentrations of Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, Pb, and Zn were found between bovine cuts (p < 0.01, all) and also between pork cuts (p < 0.01, all). A risk assessment using the estimated intakes based on the lowest and highest mean values of Al, Cr, Ni, and Pb in beef and pork showed low contributions to tolerable toxicological limits. However, consumers whose diets consist of large amounts of beef and pork kidneys may be at risk because the estimated intakes for Cd and Se exceeded the toxicological limits. Consumers of large quantities of beef mixed meat may be at risk due to higher values of estimated As intakes compared to health-based guidance values. Estimation based on the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake values for Cu, Fe, and Zn showed that beef and pork cuts can be considered safe for consumption. A comparison with data from other studies shows that the concentrations of the analyzed elements in beef and pork cuts vary considerably.

The content of coumarin in the commercial samples of cinnamon bark and cinnamon-containing dietary supplements available on the Serbian market

Cinnamon bark is used worldwide due to its characteristic flavour and medicinal properties. Ceylon cinnamon or “true” cinnamon bark refers to the dried inner bark of the shoots of Cinnamomum verum J. Presl, originated from Sri Lanka. The bark of some other species of this genus, Cinnamomum cassia Blume (Chinese cinnamon), C. burmanni (Nees & T. Nees) Blume (Indonesian cinnamon), and C. loureiroi Nees (Saigon cinnamon) are also marketed and sold as cinnamon. They are characterised by a significantly higher amount of coumarin compared to Ceylon cinnamon bark. Since coumarin may be potentially hepatotoxic, the aim of this study was to determine coumarin level in commercial samples of cinnamon bark and in cinnamon-containing dietary supplements present on the Serbian market. HPLC analysis showed lowest coumarin content in Ceylon cinnamon bark samples (0.08-0.15 mg g-1), whereas other samples contained a significantly higher amounts of coumarin (1.38-5.80 mg g-1). Cinnamon based dietary supplements contained 0.007-1.19 mg coumarin/tablet. The obtained results indicate that the majority of commercial samples of cinnamon bark on the Serbian market do not originate from the Ceylon cinnamon but from other species of this genus, and that consumed amount of certain products should be taken into account since the tolerable daily intake of coumarin is limited.

Exposure assessment and risk characterization of n-nitrosodimethylamine (ndma) in the diet of children from 6 to 36 months in Hanoi, Vietnam

N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a highly hepatotoxic compound and classified as group 2A according to IARC, which is probably carcinogenic to humans. The habit of consumption of grilled meat-based foods may lead to a health risk, especially in children. In this study, a food consumption survey was conducted in 4 districts (2 in urban and 2 in suburban areas) in Hanoi, Vietnam. Food samples in the diet of children from 6 to 36 months was collected and tested for NDMA by GC-MS/MS method. Total exposure dose was calculated and compared to the proposed tolerable daily intake (TDI) to characterize the risk. Among the food tested, NDMA was detected in canned puree, grilled meat and sausage. The average contents of NDMA were 1.50 μg/kg, 1.18 μg/kg and 0.20 μg/kg in grilled meat, sausage and puree, respectively. The average total daily exposure dose of NDMA was 8.23 ng/kg bw/day in all studied group, which were within the upper recommended TDI (9.3 ng/kg bw/day). With a certain assumption, the cancer risk caused by exposure to NDMA were higher than the recommended value of WHO.

Exposure assessment and risk characterization of n-nitrosodimethylamine (ndma) in the diet of children from 6 to 36 months in Hanoi, Vietnam

N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a highly hepatotoxic compound and classified as group 2A according to IARC, which is probably carcinogenic to humans. The habit of consumption of grilled meat-based foods may lead to a health risk, especially in children. In this study, a food consumption survey was conducted in 4 districts (2 in urban and 2 in suburban areas) in Hanoi, Vietnam. Food samples in the diet of children from 6 to 36 months was collected and tested for NDMA by GC-MS/MS method. Total exposure dose was calculated and compared to the proposed tolerable daily intake (TDI) to characterize the risk. Among the food tested, NDMA was detected in canned puree, grilled meat and sausage. The average contents of NDMA were 1.50 μg/kg, 1.18 μg/kg and 0.20 μg/kg in grilled meat, sausage and puree, respectively. The average total daily exposure dose of NDMA was 8.23 ng/kg bw/day in all studied group, which were within the upper recommended TDI (9.3 ng/kg bw/day). With a certain assumption, the cancer risk caused by exposure to NDMA were higher than the recommended value of WHO.

Estimating daily intakes of manganese due to breast milk, infant formulas, or young child nutritional beverages in the United States and France: Comparison to sufficiency and toxicity thresholds

BackgroundAlthough manganese (Mn) is an essential nutrient, recent research has revealed that excess Mn in early childhood may have adverse effects on neurodevelopment.MethodsWe estimated daily total Mn intake due to breast milk at average body weights by reviewing reported concentrations of breast milk Mn and measurements of body weight and breast milk intake at 3 weeks, 4.25 months, 7 months, and 18 months. We compared these figures to the Mn content measured in 44 infant, follow-up, and toddler formulas purchased in the United States and France. We calculated Mn content of formula products made with ultra-trace elemental analysis grade water (0 µg Mn/L) and with water containing 250 µg Mn/L, a concentration which is relatively high but less than the World Health Organization Health-based value of 400 µg Mn/L or the United States Environmental Protection Agency Health Advisory of 350 µg Mn/L.ResultsEstimated mean daily Mn intake from breast milk ranged from 1.2 µg Mn/kg/day (3 weeks) to 0.16 µg Mn/kg/day (18 months), with the highest intakes at the youngest age stage we considered, 3 weeks. Estimated daily Mn intake from formula products reconstituted with 0 µg Mn/L water ranged from 130 µg Mn/kg/day (3 weeks) to 4.8 µg Mn/kg/day (18 months) with the highest intakes at 3 weeks. Formula products provided 28 to 520 times greater than the mean daily intake of Mn from breast milk for the 4 age stages that we considered. Estimated daily Mn intake from formula products reconstituted with water containing 250 µg Mn/L ranged from 12 µg Mn/kg/day to 170 µg Mn/kg/day, which exceeds the United States Environmental Protection Agency Reference Dose of 140 µg Mn/kg/day for adults.ConclusionsMn deficiency is highly unlikely with exclusive breast milk or infant formula feeding, but established tolerable daily intake levels for Mn may be surpassed by some of these products when following labeled instructions.HighlightsMn deficiency is unlikely with exclusive breast milk or infant formula feeding.Breast milk Mn mean intake is 1.2 µg/kg/day (3 weeks)-0.16 µg/kg/day (18 months).Formula Mn intake range is 130 µg/kg/day (3 weeks)-4.8 µg/kg/day (18 months).Formula products reconstituted with 250 µg Mn/L water may exceed 140 µg Mn/kg/day.Formula products may surpass regulatory tolerable daily intake levels for Mn.

Cassava consumption and the occurrence of cyanide in cassava in Vietnam, Indonesia and Philippines

Objective:To make a tentative assessment of the consumption of cassava in three countries in South-east Asia and the cyanogenic potential (CNp) of the crop as a possible food safety issue.Design:We used data from the Ministry of Health in Vietnam and Statistics Authorities in Indonesia and Philippines (mean household consumption per province) to assess cassava consumption. Conversions of units were needed to facilitate the comparison of cassava consumption between countries. The most up-to-date data available regarding both cassava consumption and the CNp of cassava grown in the respective countries were assessed.Settings:Vietnam, Indonesia and Philippines.Participants:Respondents from provinces in Vietnam (nineteen), Indonesia (thirty-three) and Philippines (eighty-one) were asked to complete a recall questionnaire detailing either the previous 24-h’ or the 7-d’ cassava consumption.Results:Among the three countries, available data indicated that the highest median cassava-consumption figures percapita were from Indonesia and the Philippines (9·01 and 7·28 g/capita per d, respectively), with Vietnam having the least (1·14 g/capita per d). Published information regarding the CNp of cassava in the three countries was limited.Conclusions:While the findings of the present study are somewhat limited by a lack of available information regarding both the extent of cassava consumption and the CNp of cassava consumed in the three countries, it appears likely that cyanogen intake arising from cassava consumption among the three countries exceeds the FAO/WHO Provisional Maximum Tolerable Daily Intake, although any risk to public health appears limited to a minority of provinces in each country.

Public Health and Paediatric Risk Assessment of Aluminium, Arsenic and Mercury in Infant Formulas Marketed in Nigeria

Objectives: Infant formulas are useful alternatives to breast milk in many circumstances but may pose health risks to infants and children due to contamination by potentially toxic metals. This study aimed to determine the aluminium, arsenic and mercury concentrations and carry out an exposure health risk assessment in commonly consumed infant formulas in Nigeria. Methods: Different brands of both locally manufactured and imported infant formulas were purchased in March 2017 from stores in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Analysis of metals in the samples was performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The health risk was assessed by comparing estimated daily intake of aluminium, arsenic and mercury with the provisional tolerable daily intake acceptable by the Joint Food and Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). Results: A total of 26 infant formulas were analysed. The levels of arsenic were higher in cereal-based formulas compared to milkbased formulas, but the difference was not significant (P >0.05). The intake levels of aluminium, arsenic and mercury in infant formulas were found to be 8.02–14.2%, 437.1–771% and 23.7–41.8% of the provisional tolerable daily intake JECFA threshold values, respectively. Conclusion: Commonly consumed infant formulas in Nigeria may add to the body burden of arsenic in children.Keyword: Infant Formulas; Toxicity Test; Aluminum; Arsenic; Mercury; Health Risk Appraisal; Child Health; Nigeria.