Cumulative Dietary Risk Assessment of Benzophenone-Type Photoinitiators from Packaged Foodstuffs

Abstract

Photoinitiators used in ultraviolet-cured ink may migrate from food packaging materials into food products. Therefore, we conducted a dietary risk assessment of exposure to benzophenone (BP)-type photoinitiators by quantifying and reducing uncertainties associated with the risk characterization. A total of 362 food packaging samples including 180 cereals, 136 fruit and vegetable juices, and 46 milk samples were subjected to fast pesticides extraction to determine photoinitiator residues. The average daily dose (ADD) of BP was the highest in the age group of zero to three years, with a P97.5 ADD of 2.56 × 10−4 mg/kg bw/day. The ADD of 2-hydroxybenzophenone (2-OHBP) was the highest in the age group of three to six years, with a P97.5 UB ADD of 3.52 × 10−5 mg/kg bw/day. The estimated UB P97.5 ADD for each age group was below the toxicological concern threshold of 0.0015 mg/kg bw/day. The cumulative toxicity of all BPs, evaluated using the MOET value, was at an acceptable level. Although the MOET value of BPs was above the safety limit in the foodstuffs studied herein, this result may be different if Taiwan were to follow regulation guidelines for BP-type photoinitiators based on the specific migration limit for the unmeasured BP residues in other foodstuffs.

Food-Borne Chemical Carcinogens and the Evidence for Human Cancer Risk

“…Human Exposure: Combined dietary exposures to benzophenone range from 8.5 μg/kg bw/day in adults to 22 μg/kg bw/day in children [ 755 ]. Similar findings were made in a study involving Taiwan population, where an average daily doses of benzophenone from dietary exposures were estimated to range from 4.54 to 25.8 μg/kg bw/day [ 774 ]. Daily per capita intakes of benzophenone based on its use as a flavoring ingredient were estimated to be 0.2 μg/kg bw/day in US and 0.4 μg/kg bw/day in Europe [ 365 , 756 ].…”

Integrating density functional theory and chemical ionization mass spectrometry techniques to assess benzophenone derivatives in food packaging: implications for enhancing food quality and safety

“…This can raise concerns about the cumulative exposure to benzophenone compounds and its potential effects on human health. 9 3. Potential health effects: Some studies have suggested that benzophenone-related compounds may have endocrine-disrupting properties, meaning they could interfere with hormone systems in the body.…”

Occurrence, Fate, Human Exposure, and Toxicity of Commercial Photoinitiators

“…For the human exposure to PIs, a recent study has determined PIs residues in a large number of packaged foodstuffs and found average daily doses of PIs all below 5.55 × 10 −4 mg/kg bw/day via food intake, which will not pose adverse health effects. 67 PIs are nonintentionally added chemicals to foodstuffs, and several authorities have set up regulations, such as the European Food Safety Authority, Swiss Confederation, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). migration levels (SMLs), which are the maximum allowed concentrations of chemicals that can be permitted to migrate into food, have been set up for most PIs.…”

“…Available literatures show that detected PIs in foodstuffs include BP, 4-MBP, 2-ITX, DETX, Cl-TX, DMAB, EDAB, EHDAB, MBB, MK, MEK, PBZ, PI-184, PI-651, PI-907, and TPO, in foodstuffs including cereal, tea, milk, and juice. ,,,,− Packaged food samples collected from Belgium, Spain, Italy, the UK, Germany, France, China, and Japan have been reported to have PIs. ,,,,,,, BP was the primary congener detected in foodstuffs, which is not surprising because BP was the dominant PI in food packages. For the human exposure to PIs, a recent study has determined PIs residues in a large number of packaged foodstuffs and found average daily doses of PIs all below 5.55 × 10 –4 mg/kg bw/day via food intake, which will not pose adverse health effects . PIs are nonintentionally added chemicals to foodstuffs, and several authorities have set up regulations, such as the European Food Safety Authority, Swiss Confederation, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). , Specific migration levels (SMLs), which are the maximum allowed concentrations of chemicals that can be permitted to migrate into food, have been set up for most PIs.…”

“…Available literatures show that detected PIs in foodstuffs include BP, 4-MBP, 2-ITX, DETX, Cl-TX, DMAB, EDAB, EHDAB, MBB, MK, MEK, PBZ, PI-184, PI-651, PI-907, and TPO, in foodstuffs including cereal, tea, milk, and juice. ,,,,− Packaged food samples collected from Belgium, Spain, Italy, the UK, Germany, France, China, and Japan have been reported to have PIs. ,,,,,,, BP was the primary congener detected in foodstuffs, which is not surprising because BP was the dominant PI in food packages. For the human exposure to PIs, a recent study has determined PIs residues in a large number of packaged foodstuffs and found average daily doses of PIs all below 5.55 × 10 –4 mg/kg bw/day via food intake, which will not pose adverse health effects .…”