Lead in Brazilian food: Exposure assessment and risk characterization

• Published in: Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment Vol. 38; no. 2; pp. 315 - 325
• Main Authors: Vasconcelos Neto, Milton, Quintal, Amanda Pífano Neto, Pôrto, Larissa Bertollo Gomes, Vitorino Carvalho de Souza, Scheilla
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01-02-2021; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Blood pressure; Brazil; Diet; Dietary intake; Exposure; Food; Food consumption; Food intake; food safety; Health risks; inorganic contaminant; intake; Intelligence; Lead; Meta-analysis; Quotients; Risk assessment; Rural areas; sanitary surveillance; Systolic pressure; Vegetables; food safety; inorganic contaminant; sanitary surveillance; Risk assessment; Brazil; meta-analysis; intake
• ISSN: 1944-0049; 1944-0057
• DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2020.1852321

A risk assessment was performed to estimate the lead (Pb) dietary intake in the Brazilian population. Data on Pb concentration in food were obtained through a systematic review with meta-analyses and from the GEMS/Food database, both involving data through 2018. Food consumption data were obtained from a Brazilian official dietary survey. Pb dietary intakes were estimated by a deterministic approach. Risk characterisation was conducted using the margin of exposure approach (MOE). The total Pb intake in the Brazilian population ranged from 1.53 to 2.01 μg/kg bw/day. Major contributors to Pb dietary exposure were the vegetable and vegetable products and beverage categories. From the results obtained, a risk of increased systolic pressure, nephrotoxicity and decrease of 0.5 point intelligence quotient can be expected, MOE<1, with greater magnitudes of risk observed for men in rural areas and in the Midwest, Southeast and South Brazilian regions. The dietary risk assessment indicates a health concern for the Brazilian population associated with Pb dietary intake.