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Health risk assessment of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic heavy metal exposure from commercial instant noodles in Bangladesh: a deterministic and probabilistic evaluation for adults and children

Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: The contribution of the instant noodle cake itself to dietary heavy metal exposure in Bangladesh has not been quantified. Nine metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni and Co) were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry in eight leading brands (102 packets) from Dhaka, Rajshahi and Khulna, seasoning sachet excluded. The hazard index (HI) and total cancer risk (TCR) were estimated for adults and children at national-average (0.36 g day -1 ) and high-consumption (25.6 g day -1 ) ingestion rates, with uncertainty propagated by bootstrap Monte Carlo simulation. Mean concentrations ranged from 17.7 mg kg -1 (Fe) to 0.030 mg kg -1 (Cd), and all brands complied with the Codex and Bangladeshi limits for Pb, Cd and Ni. No THQ exceeded 1; HI was 0.003 (adults) and 0.010 (children) at average intake and 0.19 and 0.71 at high intake, with Co contributing half of the HI. TCR was tolerable (10 -6 to 10 -4 ) at average intake but reached 9.8 × 10 -5 for high consuming adults and 3.7 × 10 -4 for high-consuming children, exceeding 10 -4 in 34% and 83% of simulations; Ni and Cr accounted for 95% of the cancer risk. Regulatory compliance therefore does not ensure negligible risk for frequent child consumers, and the risk-driving metals are those without a maximum level. Comparison with studies of noodles analyzed with their sachets indicates that the sachet, not the cake, is the main Pb source. Risk-based surveillance of Cr, Ni and Co, harmonization of the national standard with Codex, and control of sachet ingredients are recommended.
Source: ChemRxiv
DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv.15009618/v1
Language: English
Subfield: Pollution
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7214710798
Cites: 29
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Related to: 10