Work

Health risk assessment for dietary exposure to 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol, 2-monochloropropane-1,2-diol, and glycidol for Italian consumers

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: 3-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD), 2-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (2-MCPD) and 2,3-epoxy-1-propanol (glycidol), in their free form or esterified to fatty acids, are food contaminants formed during the refinement of oils and fats. We conducted a survey to quantify the levels of these compounds in 130 food items, in order to assess the exposure to them in food and the consequent health risk for consumers. Food samples, including infant formula, were analysed by gas-chromatography mass spectrometry with the indirect method, and we used the latest open access food consumption database for the Italian population for a probabilistic assessment of exposure. We adopted an in silico approach to fill the gap for the toxicity of 2-MCPD. The occurrence values for the three contaminants in food were in most cases lower than or comparable to those reported in previous surveys. Exposure assessment for the most exposed individuals (95 th percentiles of consumers only) of different age groups, gave values below the tolerable daily intake recommended by the European Food Safety Authority for 3-MCPD and below the simulated or predicted toxicity thresholds for 2-MCPD , indicating a negligible risk due to dietary exposure to these contaminants . For glycidol, however, estimated exposure indicated a non-negligible increase in cancer risk, and a margin of exposure <25,000 for younger population groups, indicating a potential health concern. • Indirect determination of total 3-MCPD, 2-MCPD and glycidol in various food samples . • Occurrence in foodstuff lower or comparable to previous surveys . • Bootstrap-based probabilistic method to assess consumers' exposure . • Negligible health risk for exposure to 3- and 2-MCPD in all age groups . • Exposure to glycidol increased the cancer risk in the youngest groups .

Source: Chemosphere

DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143339