Assessment of carcinogenic risk associated with chemical exposure from food products

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A substantial amount of data has been accumulated on the risks of developing toxic effects caused by exposure to chemicals that enter the human body with contaminated food items. AIM: To assess the carcinogenic risk posed to the population's health in the Republic of Tatarstan due to chemical contamination in food products, considering regional exposure factors METHODS: Data were obtained from the studies of food raw materials and food products performed by the testing laboratory center of the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Republic of Tatarstan (Tatarstan) in 20062019. Calculations of the carcinogenic risks were performed for the following food categories: meat and meat products, fish and fish products, milk and dairy products, bread and bakery products, sugar and confectionery, vegetables and melons (excluding potatoes), potatoes, fruits and berries, vegetable oils, and eggs. RESULTS: Based on the hazard identification, it has been determined that the following substances present in food require immediate attention for the assessment of their potential carcinogenic risk: hexachlorane, -lindane, -lindane, lindane, heptachlor, cypermethrin, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites, benzo(a)pyrene, derivatives of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), arsenic, cadmium, and lead. The total carcinogenic risk from exposure to the studied chemicals that contaminate food products ranges from worrying (7.9104) to high (from 2.2103 to 1.9102) for various exposure schemes. CONCLUSION: The overall carcinogenic risk primarily arises from contamination with pesticides: heptachlor, -lindane, -lindane, lindane and arsenic originating mainly from vegetables, bread and bakery products, milk and dairy products.