WHO estimates of the global, regional, and national disease burden of nine foodborne chemicals, 2000–21: an updated data synthesis
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: We updated WHO estimates of the global, regional, and national foodborne disease burden caused by chemical hazards. We estimated incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of aflatoxins B1 and M1, inorganic arsenic, lead, methylmercury, cadmium, dioxin, peanut allergy, and cassava cyanide for 2000-21. METHODS: We used data from systematic reviews, established dose-response relationships, the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, and, where applicable, a structured expert judgment study. We used disease-specific models and a hierarchical meta-regression model with geographical clustering and global linear time trend with uncertainty propagation. FINDINGS: In 2021, the nine foodborne chemicals caused 6·26 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 3·36-10·30) cases, 1·12 million (0·40-2·10) deaths, and 29·8 million (12·9-53·1) DALYs globally. Inorganic arsenic and lead caused the highest burden. Cardiovascular diseases due to inorganic arsenic and lead caused 88·9% of foodborne chemical deaths and 76·5% of foodborne chemical DALYs. The greatest DALY rate was estimated for the South-East Asia region, with 789 DALYs (272-1660) per 100 000 people mostly due to inorganic arsenic and lead (94·2%). The region of the Americas carried the highest foodborne chemical DALY rate in children younger than 5 years, with 749 DALYs (435-1260) per 100 000 children, mainly due to the effect of methylmercury on intellectual disability (91·0%). DALY rates from dioxin showed the steepest decrease from 2000 to 2021. INTERPRETATION: Dietary exposure to chemicals causes a substantial global disease burden. An integrated response with ongoing non-communicable disease prevention efforts is key. Granular assessment including subnational exposure contexts is essential to ensure equity. FUNDING: WHO.
Source: The Lancet Global Health
Authors: Lea S Jakobsen, Antonio Agudo, Louise Vaes, Mohammed Al Huthiel, Fadi Al Natour, Carlotta di Bari, Brecht Devleesschauwer, Gabriela F Nane, Sara M Pires, Sofie Theresa Thomsen, Hernan Gomez Redondo, Herman Gibb, Robin J Lake, Arie H Havelaar, Charlee Roberts, Yuki Minato, Luc Ingenbleek, Li Bai, Beau Bruce, Sithar Dorjee, Teresa Estrada-Garcia, Luria Leslie Founou, Tesfaye Gobena, Sandra Hoffmann, Karen Keddy, Martyn Kirk, Mirjam Kretzschmar, Kunihiro Kubota, Ashok Kumar, Shannon Majowicz, Lapo Mughini-Gras, Tety Rachmawati, Lucy Robertson, Elaine Scallan Walter, Banchob Sripa, Paul Torgerson
Institutions: Technical University of Denmark, Institut d'Investigació Biomédica de Bellvitge, Institut Català d'Oncologia, Sciensano (Belgium), Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, Ghent University, Delft University of Technology, New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science, University of Florida, World Health Organization
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,680
Funder: World Health Organization
OpenAlex ID: W7164951447