Update of the risk assessment of inorganic arsenic in food

Abstract

The European Commission asked EFSA to update its 2009 risk assessment on arsenic in food carrying out a hazard assessment of inorganic arsenic (iAs) and using the revised exposure assessment issued by EFSA in 2021. Epidemiological studies show that the chronic intake of iAs via diet and/or drinking water is associated with increased risk of several adverse outcomes including cancers of the skin, bladder and lung. The CONTAM Panel used the benchmark dose lower confidence limit based on a benchmark response (BMR) of 5% (relative increase of the background incidence after adjustment for confounders, BMDL05) of 0.06 μg iAs/kg bw per day obtained from a study on skin cancer as a Reference Point (RP). Inorganic As is a genotoxic carcinogen with additional epigenetic effects and the CONTAM Panel applied a margin of exposure (MOE) approach for the risk characterisation. In adults, the MOEs are low (range between 2 and 0.4 for mean consumers and between 0.9 and 0.2 at the 95th percentile exposure, respectively) and as such raise a health concern despite the uncertainties.

Assessment of Heavy Metals and Trace Elements in the Human Milk of Women Living in Latvia and an Evaluation of Influencing Factors

“…Although food frequency intake data was collected during the study, as the majority of values for heavy metals and trace elements in human milk were below the detection limit, we could not further evaluate if the consumption of specific food products and drinks impacts the heavy metal and trace element content in human milk among breastfeeding women in Latvia. Data from other studies indicate that more frequent fish consumption is associated with a higher arsenic concentration in human milk [ 3 , 12 ]. Nevertheless, fish consumption among the participants of this study was low—on average, only once a week, which is lower than recommended for women during the lactation period [ 32 ].…”

“…Heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, and lead) and trace elements (tin, aluminium, and nickel) are dispelled all over the environment and can be ingested via food and water [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

“…Food and drinking water are the primary sources of exposure to arsenic, which is classified as carcinogenic to humans [ 3 ]. Fortunately, only small amounts of arsenic pass through mammary glands to human milk.…”

“…Fortunately, only small amounts of arsenic pass through mammary glands to human milk. The median arsenic concentration in human milk is reported to be around 0.31 μg L −1 , but the maximum is around 0.62 μg L −1 [ 3 , 9 ].…”

Copper, Iron, Cadmium, and Arsenic, All Generated in the Universe: Elucidating Their Environmental Impact Risk on Human Health Including Clinical Liver Injury

“…Potential health risks have been reported in various publications, a selection of these are listed ( Table 6 ) [ 310 , 333 , 334 , 335 , 336 , 337 , 338 , 339 , 340 , 341 , 342 , 343 , 344 , 345 , 346 , 347 , 348 , 349 , 350 , 351 , 352 , 353 , 354 , 355 , 356 ].…”