Aluminum and tin: Food contamination and dietary intake in an Italian population

Filippini, Tommaso; Tancredi, Stefano; Malagoli, Carlotta; Cilloni, Silvia; Malavolti, Marcella; Violi, Federica; Vescovi, Luciano; Bargellini, Annalisa; Vinceti, Marco

doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2019.01.012

Cited by 55 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…Therefore, comparative study might have several limitations. Nevertheless, the detection of Al in the selected food groups have shown almost similar levels to other studies [ 40 , 41 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Aluminum exposure from food in the population of Lebanon

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“…Therefore, comparative study might have several limitations. Nevertheless, the detection of Al in the selected food groups have shown almost similar levels to other studies [ 40 , 41 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Aluminum exposure from food in the population of Lebanon

et al. 2020

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“…Furthermore, we consistently identified particle deposits of Al, Si, Fe, Sn and Zn in the term placentae. These accumulated particles may originate from dietary intake [ 45 ] and pharmaceutical products [ 5 ] along with other sources such as air pollution in an urban environment [ 46 – 48 ]. With the example of tin, our data showing deposition as particles in the human placenta are consistent with the exposure profiles to Sn measured in the maternal blood and the tin accumulation in the placenta as reported by ICP-MS measurements [ 49 ], which requires further research regarding placental transfer.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Notably, materno-foetal translocation of Si-NPs has been demonstrated in vitro in the placental BeWo cell line [ 33 ], which represents the rate-limiting barrier for maternal-foetal exchange, as well as ex vivo in perfused human placenta [ 33 ] and in vivo in mice [ 52 ]. For Al and Si particle deposits, as noted above, both elements are ubiquitous in the environment and diet [ 45 , 53 , 54 ]. Finally, for TiO 2 , because the present study was not conducted on mother-child pairs, it is not possible to relate the Ti levels measured in the meconium to the amount found in the placenta.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Basal Ti level in the human placenta and meconium and evidence of a materno-foetal transfer of food-grade TiO2 nanoparticles in an ex vivo placental perfusion model

et al. 2020

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Background Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is broadly used in common consumer goods, including as a food additive (E171 in Europe) for colouring and opacifying properties. The E171 additive contains TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs), part of them being absorbed in the intestine and accumulated in several systemic organs. Exposure to TiO2-NPs in rodents during pregnancy resulted in alteration of placental functions and a materno-foetal transfer of NPs, both with toxic effects on the foetus. However, no human data are available for pregnant women exposed to food-grade TiO2-NPs and their potential transfer to the foetus. In this study, human placentae collected at term from normal pregnancies and meconium (the first stool of newborns) from unpaired mothers/children were analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) coupled to energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy for their titanium (Ti) contents and for analysis of TiO2 particle deposition, respectively. Using an ex vivo placenta perfusion model, we also assessed the transplacental passage of food-grade TiO2 particles. Results By ICP-MS analysis, we evidenced the presence of Ti in all placentae (basal level ranging from 0.01 to 0.48 mg/kg of tissue) and in 50% of the meconium samples (0.02–1.50 mg/kg), suggesting a materno-foetal passage of Ti. STEM-EDX observation of the placental tissues confirmed the presence of TiO2-NPs in addition to iron (Fe), tin (Sn), aluminium (Al) and silicon (Si) as mixed or isolated particle deposits. TiO2 particles, as well as Si, Al, Fe and zinc (Zn) particles were also recovered in the meconium. In placenta perfusion experiments, confocal imaging and SEM-EDX analysis of foetal exudate confirmed a low transfer of food-grade TiO2 particles to the foetal side, which was barely quantifiable by ICP-MS. Diameter measurements showed that 70 to 100% of the TiO2 particles recovered in the foetal exudate were nanosized. Conclusions Altogether, these results show a materno-foetal transfer of TiO2 particles during pregnancy, with food-grade TiO2 as a potential source for foetal exposure to NPs. These data emphasize the need for risk assessment of chronic exposure to TiO2-NPs during pregnancy.

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“…The slightly higher values result from the applied middle bound approach in combination with significantly higher LOQ. In a recent study for the Italian adult population, a mean intake of 4.1 mg/day (corresponding to 0.48 mg/kg bw/week; bw = 60 kg) was estimated (Filippini et al 2019). Data from EFSA (2008) as well as studies from non-European countries such as Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ 2011, 2014; MPI 2016), Hong Kong (CFS 2013) or China (Liang et al 2019) show slightly or significantly higher aluminium intakes.…”

Section: Dietary Aluminium Intake For the German Adult Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aggregated aluminium exposure: risk assessment for the general population

et al. 2019

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Aluminium is one of the most abundant elements in earth's crust and its manifold uses result in an exposure of the population from many sources. Developmental toxicity, effects on the urinary tract and neurotoxicity are known effects of aluminium and its compounds. Here, we assessed the health risks resulting from total consumer exposure towards aluminium and various aluminium compounds, including contributions from foodstuffs, food additives, food contact materials (FCM), and cosmetic products. For the estimation of aluminium contents in foodstuff, data from the German "Pilot-Total-Diet-Study" were used, which was conducted as part of the European TDS-Exposure project. These were combined with consumption data from the German National Consumption Survey II to yield aluminium exposure via food for adults. It was found that the average weekly aluminium exposure resulting from food intake amounts to approx. 50% of the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 1 mg/kg body weight (bw)/week, derived by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). For children, data from the French "Infant Total Diet Study" and the "Second French Total Diet Study" were used to estimate aluminium exposure via food. As a result, the TWI can be exhausted or slightly exceeded-particularly for infants who are not exclusively breastfed and young children relying on specially adapted diets (e.g. soy-based, lactose free, hypoallergenic). When taking into account the overall aluminium exposure from foods, cosmetic products (cosmetics), pharmaceuticals and FCM from uncoated aluminium, a significant exceedance of the EFSA-derived TWI and even the PTWI of 2 mg/kg bw/week, derived by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, may occur. Specifically, high exposure levels were found for adolescents aged 11-14 years. Although exposure data were collected with special regard to the German population, it is also representative for European and comparable to international consumers. From a toxicological point of view, regular exceedance of the lifetime tolerable aluminium intake (TWI/PTWI) is undesirable, since this results in an increased risk for health impairments. Consequently, recommendations on how to reduce overall aluminium exposure are given. Article Highlights • Risk assessment of total aluminium exposure from different sources for different age groups. • Use of data from the European TDS-Exposure project for the estimation of aluminium exposure from foodstuff. • Comprehensive overview of the toxicological properties of aluminium.

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Aluminum and tin: Food contamination and dietary intake in an Italian population

Cited by 55 publications

References 79 publications

Aluminum exposure from food in the population of Lebanon

Aluminum exposure from food in the population of Lebanon

Basal Ti level in the human placenta and meconium and evidence of a materno-foetal transfer of food-grade TiO2 nanoparticles in an ex vivo placental perfusion model

Aggregated aluminium exposure: risk assessment for the general population

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