Dietary exposure and risk assessment of European Union priority (EU 15+1) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from milks and milk powders in China

Abstract

Dairy products, characterized by rich nutrition and unique flavor, occupy an increasing share of the human diet with the development of higher living standards. However, trace hazardous contaminants in dairy products, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), are arousing public concern. In this study, we investigated 82 milks and milk powders from Shanghai markets for the occurrence of 20 PAH, including 16 European Union priority (EU 15+1) PAH and 4 derivatives. Furthermore, we carried out a risk assessment of dietary exposure of PAHs from dairy products based on detection results and data on body weight and dietary intake obtained from questionnaires. Two assessment methods were used in this study: the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) and margin of exposure (MOE) methods. The ILCR of all age groups was 10 −6 to 10 −4 , indicating a potential but acceptable carcinogenic risk. The MOE of the 4 groups (divided by age and sex) was >10 4 , indicating no significant carcinogenic risk of PAH exposure from dairy products. In both methods, children had the highest risk because of their greater consumption of dairy products, followed by seniors, young adults, and middle-aged adults. Results of this study provide reference data on the exposure level and health risk of PAHs from dairy product intake.

Influence of Exposure Pathways on Tissue Distribution and Health Impact of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Derivatives

“…An important aspect of human exposure to PAHs and their derivatives is food intake. PAHs and the derivatives were detected in vegetables, 79 seafood, 80 barbecued food, 81 smoked products, 82 fried food, 83 dairy, 84 and coffee and tea, 85 and the content of OPAHs in some foods is even higher than PAHs.…”

“…An important aspect of human exposure to PAHs and their derivatives is food intake. PAHs and the derivatives were detected in vegetables, seafood, barbecued food, smoked products, fried food, dairy, and coffee and tea, and the content of OPAHs in some foods is even higher than PAHs. The way of PAH derivative pollution in different foods is diverse; for example, plant-based foods such as vegetables and fruits can be polluted by PAH derivatives through air exposure, soil absorption, and autogenous biosynthesis, meat food is mainly due to high temperature conditions and organic burning pollution in the production process, seafood products are mainly due to the pollution of seawater (such as oil spill), and drinks are made of contaminated raw materials.…”

Mutagenic and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in food – occurrence, human health effects, and assessment methods of exposure

“…There was no discernible cancer risk in people, according to studies on the risk assessment of PAHs exposure from dairy products based on laboratory findings and dietary evaluations collected from questionnaires [40]. Children were at the highest risk because they consumed more dairy products than adults [41].…”

“…Biological monitoring is widely used to assess the possible health risk by the measurement of the individual internal dose to observe the hazard the specific substance may induce. Biological monitoring is the determination of a parent chemical or its metabolites in human biological material: urine, hair, nails, blood, body fluids and/or expired air [40]. The biomarkers used in this method are any molecular, cellular or physiological indicators, objectively measured, assessed and analyzed, which are used to assess exposure to xenobiotics and their potential impact on the population.…”