Analysis and Risk Assessment of Benzo[a]pyrene, Dioxin, and Bisphenol A Content in Imported Agricultural Processed Food

Abstract

This study estimated the contents of benzo[a]pyrene (17 samples), dioxin (8 samples), and bisphenol A (13 samples) in imported agricultural processed foods (smoked meat, smoked fish, noodles, fried vegetable, oil, etc.). We further analyzed the estimated lifetime average daily intake of benzo[a]pyrene and dioxin. The benzo[a]pyrene levels in imported agricultural processed foods ranged from 0.03 to 1.71 μg/kg. The highest benzo[a]pyrene content was found in black chili bean sauce produced in China. However, the estimated lifetime average daily intake of benzo[a]pyrene showed high levels in onion flakes produced in Pakistan. The highest dioxin content was obtained in bacon (Switzerland, Denmark, Ireland), at 0.0019 pg WHO-TEQ/g. The exposure assessment of dioxin was 0 pg TEQ/kg b.w./d for all samples. Furthermore, bisphenol A was not detected in any sample. In general, the contents of benzo[a]pyrene, dioxin and bisphenol A in processed foods from imported agricultural products were found to be lower than the standard levels proposed by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. However, there is a possibility that the average intake of benzo[a]pyrene will increase to the high level if the domestic processed foods are replaced with imported agricultural processed foods and continually consumed. Therefore, we propose the necessity of being attentive to the long-term consumption of imported agricultural processed foods.