Health risk assessment of groundwater arsenic pollution in southern Taiwan

Residents of the Pingtung Plain, Taiwan, use groundwater for drinking. However, monitoring results showed that a considerable portion of groundwater has an As concentration higher than the safe drinking water regulation of 10 μg/L. Considering residents of the Pingtung Plain continue to use groundwater for drinking, this study attempted to evaluate the exposure and health risk from drinking groundwater. The health risk from drinking groundwater was evaluated based on the hazard quotient (HQ) and target risk (TR) established by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The results showed that the 95th percentile of HQ exceeded 1 and TR was above the safe value of threshold value of 10^?6. To illustrate significant variability of the drinking water consumption rate and body weight of each individual, health risk assessments were also performed using a spectrum of daily water intake rate and body weight to reasonably and conservatively assess the exposure and health risk for the specific subgroups of population of the Pingtung Plain. The assessment results showed that 0.01–7.50 % of the population’s HQ levels are higher than 1 and as much as 77.7–93.3 % of the population being in high cancer risk category and having a TR value >10^?6. The TR estimation results implied that groundwater use for drinking purpose places people at risk of As exposure. The government must make great efforts to provide safe drinking water for residents of the Pingtung Plain.     

Toxic metal health risk by mussel consumption

Seafood is a major dietary food worldwide. However, seafood consumption by humans can induce health risk because seafood may be contaminated by various pollutants. The mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis is widely distributed in the coastal waters of Montenegro, SouthEast Adriatic Sea. Here, Zn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Cd, Pb, As, and Hg contents in M. galloprovincialis from ten sites were analyzed to investigate health risks associated with the consumption of wild and cultivated mussels. Since there is a lack of data on the mussel consumption rate in Montenegro, the amount of mussels that can be ingested weekly over a lifetime with no risk of negative health effects was calculated using provisional tolerable weekly intakes (PTWI). We found that Cd concentrations were the limiting factor for mussels as a food. The weekly consumptions of 0.64–1.2 kg of fresh wild and 0.84–1.2 kg of fresh cultivated mussel would be sufficient to reach the PTWI_Cd, which may result in a risky weekly intake of Cd for long-term exposure. Moreover, weekly intake of 125 g mussels was used to calculate the dietary intake of trace elements by mussel consumption and compared with the prescribed PTWIs. Here, we found that there is no risk for human health for all investigated elements. In this case, the highest Cd level obtained in wild and in cultivated mussels represents 19.8 and 14.9% of the PTWI_Cd, respectively. This is the first study in Montenegro giving an assessment of the health risk from trace elements via the consumption of wild and cultivated M. galloprovincialis.     

Implementation of food frequency questionnaire for the assessment of total dietary arsenic intake in Bangladesh: Part B, preliminary findings

Dietary intake of water and food has been identified as one of the major pathways for arsenic (As) exposure in the rural population of Bangladesh. Therefore, realistic assessment and measurement of dietary intake patterns are important for the development of an accurate estimate of As exposure and human health risk assessment. One important consideration is to identify an appropriate tool for measuring dietary intake. In this study an interviewer-administered Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was implemented to determine age and gender specific dietary intake. The developed FFQ was unique because it developed a synergy between field dietary assessment and As concentration measurements in various environmental media. The resulting integrated database provided an accurate framework for the process of As exposure and human health risk assessment. The preliminary results reported here from the FFQ demonstrated that this technique could be used in rural areas as a tool to assess As exposure and the associated human health risk.     

Human health impacts of exposure to metals through extreme consumption of fish from the Colombian Caribbean Sea

The health risks of metal exposure due to the high consumption of fish were assessed for a riverine population living on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. The concentrations of metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the edible tissues of fish were determined and used for risk assessment. The daily fish consumption of residents (n = 95) was as high as 283, 366 and 469 g/day in children (CH), women of childbearing age (WCHA) and the remaining population groups (RP), respectively. The estimation of the potential risk (HQ) indicated that there was no health risk from most of the metals, because they did not exceed their related reference doses, with values of HQ < 1. Although the concentrations of Pb and Hg were not particularly high in fish (<0.2 µg/g), their possible health effects for vulnerable groups are of great concern due to the extremely high fish intake. The Pb intake for all groups was higher than the lower confidence limit of the benchmark dose for nephrotoxicity and neurodevelopmental effects in children. The weekly intake of methylmercury was also elevated, with values approximately 3, 2 and 1.5 times the provisional tolerable weekly intake for CH, WCHA and RP, respectively. Moreover, higher Hg levels were found in top predators, whereas maximum levels for other metals were found in bottom-feeding fish. This study highlights that an accurate data of daily intake, a continuous monitoring of metals in fish and their related fish consumption advisories to protect subsistence fishing communities are recommended in a local and worldwide context.     

粤北星子河水生生物体内重金属污染特征及健康风险

本文分析了粤北星子河12种水生生物样品中Cd、Cr、Cu、Pb、Ni和Zn等6种金属元素的含量水平。利用综合污染指数法和目标危害系数法对水生生物中重金属的污染特征及其健康风险进行评价。结果表明:不同水生生物对重金属的富集程度存在明显差异,重金属的含量水平从低到高顺序依次为:CdNiPbCrCuZn;鱼类富集重金属明显低于贝类。在贝类样品中,Cr、Pb和Zn的含量均出现超标现象。鱼类重金属综合污染指数低于1,属于微污染;而田螺重金属综合污染指数大于1,属于轻度污染水平。不同鱼类中重金属的复合健康危害系数(TTHQ)均小于1,且每周评估摄入量(EDI)均远低于暂定每周允许摄入量(PTWI),居民通过鱼类摄入重金属的健康风险较低;田螺中重金属对人的复合健康危害系数大于1,长期食用田螺存在较高的健康风险,风险较高的重金属元素为Cr、Pb和Zn。     

华东地区鳜肌肉重金属含量现状与风险分析

为了解我国华东地区鳜肌肉重金属含量现状,采集华东地区(江西南昌,安徽池州、滁州,江苏南京、扬州,浙江建德等)10个采样点野生鳜和池塘主养、池塘套养鳜样本共60份,采用原子荧光光谱分析法(AFS)、石墨炉原子吸收法(GFAAS)测定鳜背部肌肉中铬(Cr)、镉(Cd)、无机砷(As)、汞(Hg)和铅(Pb)等5种重金属的含量,评估其食用安全性与健康风险。结果表明,肌肉中Cd、Cr、Pb、As和Hg的总检出率为98.67%,总超标率为11.67%;其中,Pb、Cd和As超标样,分别占总样本量的28.33%、15%和15%,超标浓度为(0.612±0.111)、(0.181±0.031)和(0.474±0.035) mg·kg~(-1),71.43%的超标样分布于野生鳜群体;Cr、Hg的检出含量均低于我国鱼类水产品重金属的最高限量标准(GB 2762—2017)。3种养殖方式的鳜肌肉中重金属含量分布具有相似的规律(Pb>As>Cr=Cd>Hg),野生鳜肌肉中重金属含量高于人工养殖鳜,池塘主养鳜与池塘套养鳜之间无明显差异。食用安全性评价结果显示,目前,华东地区鳜达到国家标准的限量要求,仅Pb、As含量稍高,分别占周可耐受摄入量(PTWI)的14.42%和21.54%。健康风险评价结果显示,所有鳜样均未超过国际辐射防护委员会(ICRP)推荐的最大可接受水平(5×10~(-5)a~(-1))。野生鳜食用安全性低于人工养殖鳜,健康风险高于人工养殖鳜。上述研究结果为鳜水产品安全性评价与健康养殖提供了基础数据。     

采用联用技术测定中国海产品中砷的形态

1　IntroductionAtthebeginningof2 0 thcentury ,highlevelsofarsenic～mg·kg-1 werefoundinmarineorga nisms,whichattractedalotofattention ,becausearsenicisoneofthemostnotoriouselementsonaccountofitshumantoxicity.Forthisreason ,thedeterminationofthetotalamount…     

福建省稻米中的砷水平及其健康风险研究

为更好了解区域水平上水稻(OryzasativaL.)砷所引起的健康风险,在福建省9个地区采集了206份水稻样品并对其总砷和无机砷含量进行了分析,然后在此基础上建立风险评价模型并对其健康风险进行了评价。结果表明,福建省水稻精米中总砷平均含量为(0.105±0.091)mg·kg-1,无机砷平均含量为(0.045±0.019)mg·kg-1。全省所有样品中无机砷含量符合中国国家标准规定的限量标准(MCL)0.15mg·kg-1。通过膳食调查的数据和水稻无机砷含量对每天通过稻米消费无机砷摄入量进行了计算,全省平均每天无机砷摄入量为13.50μg,并且9个地区每天无机砷摄入量均超过了美国国家研究委员会所规定的最大限量标准10μg·d-1。根据无机砷摄入量和癌症斜率因子所构建的癌症风险模型结果表明,福建省稻米无机砷所引起的癌症风险为每100000有37.5人,虽然低于中国的平均水平(每100000有61人),但是超过了美国国家环境保护局所规定的可以接受的癌症风险的上限(每100000人有10人)。因此,需要进一步通过流行病学方面的调查来确定福建省稻米无机砷摄入和健康风险之间的关系。     

Probabilistic framework for assessing the arsenic exposure risk from cooked fish consumption

Geogenic arsenic (As) contamination of groundwater is a major ecological and human health problem in southwestern and northeastern coastal areas of Taiwan. Here, we present a probabilistic framework for assessing the human health risks from consuming raw and cooked fish that were cultured in groundwater As-contaminated ponds in Taiwan by linking a physiologically based pharmacokinetics model and a Weibull dose–response model. Results indicate that As levels in baked, fried, and grilled fish were higher than those of raw fish. Frying resulted in the greatest increase in As concentration, followed by grilling, with baking affecting the As concentration the least. Simulation results show that, following consumption of baked As-contaminated fish, the health risk to humans is <10^?6 excess bladder cancer risk level for lifetime exposure; as the incidence ratios of liver and lung cancers are generally acceptable at risk ranging from 10^?6 to 10^?4, the consumption of baked As-contaminated fish is unlikely to pose a significant risk to human health. However, contaminated fish cooked by frying resulted in significant health risks, showing the highest cumulative incidence ratios of liver cancer. We also show that males have higher cumulative incidence ratio of liver cancer than females. We found that although cooking resulted in an increase for As levels in As-contaminated fish, the risk to human health of consuming baked fish is nevertheless acceptable. We suggest the adoption of baking as a cooking method and warn against frying As-contaminated fish. We conclude that the concentration of contaminants after cooking should be taken into consideration when assessing the risk to human health.     

滴滴涕类农药在广东省沿海地区水产品中的残留及人体暴露水平

水产品的摄入是人体暴露于有机氯农药的主要途径之一.实验检测了采自广东省11个沿海城市水产市场的海鲜类水产品(包括6种虾类、2种蟹类和13种贝类共228个样品)中滴滴涕类农药(包括o,p’-DDT、p,p’-DDT、o,p’-DDD、p,p’-DDD、o,p’-DDE和p,p’-DDE)的残留.结果显示,DDTs在虾类、蟹类和贝类体内的平均湿重含量范围分别为0.8￣17.6ng·g-1、5.1￣16.0ng·g-1和0.6￣209.4ng·g-1.不同水产品之间因生活环境和生活习性的不同,导致其DDTs含量存在较大差别.与我国最新的食品残留标准(GB2763-2005)相比,所检测样品DDTs的含量均未超标.但若以美国环境保护局(USEPA)的标准来衡量,则DDTs含量超标的百分率达27.6%.据最近的膳食结构调查显示,广东省沿海地区的居民每天虾、蟹、贝类水产品的平均消费量为26.0g,因而通过海鲜类水产品每天摄入DDTs的量为2.4ng·kgbodyweight-1·day-1,这一结果远远低于我国设定的每日耐受摄入量(PTDI)和联合国粮农组织及世界卫生组织(FAO/WHO)的相关标准.     

Chronic renal failure among farm families in cascade irrigation systems in Sri Lanka associated with elevated dietary cadmium levels in rice and freshwater fish (Tilapia)

Chronic renal failure (CRF), in the main agricultural region under reservoir based cascade irrigation in Sri Lanka has reached crisis proportion. Over 5,000 patients in the region are under treatment for CRF. The objective of this study is to establish the etiology of the CRF. Concentrations of nine heavy metals were determined in sediments, soils of reservoir peripheries, water and Nelumbo nucifera (lotus) grown in five major reservoirs that supply irrigation water. All five reservoirs carried higher levels of dissolved cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe) and lead (Pb). Dissolved Cd in reservoir water ranged from 0.03 to 0.06 mg/l. Sediment Cd concentration was 1.78-2.45 mg/kg. No arsenic (As) was detected. Cd content in lotus rhizomes was 253.82 mg/kg. The Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) of Cd based on extreme exposure of rice is 8.702-15.927 mug/kg body weight (BW) for different age groups, 5-50 years. The PTWI of Cd due to extreme exposure of fish is 6.773-12.469 mug/kg BW. The PTWI on a rice staple with fish is 15.475-28.396 mug/kg BW. The mean urinary cadmium (UCd) concentration in CRF patients of age group 40-60 years was 7.58 mug Cd/g creatinine and in asymptomatic persons UCd was 11.62 mug Cd/g creatinine, indicating a chronic exposure to Cd. The possible source of Cd in reservoir sediments and water is Cd-contaminated agrochemicals. The CRF prevalent in north central Sri Lanka is a result of chronic dietary intake of Cd, supported by high natural levels of fluoride in drinking water, coupled with neglecting of routine de-silting of reservoirs for the past 20 years.     

Determination and occurrence of endocrine disrupting compounds,pharmaceuticals and personal care products in fish (Morone saxatilis)

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have attracted much attention due to widespread contamination in aquatic environment. In this study, we determined 13 EDCs and PPCPs in fish blood, bile and muscle by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The limits of quantitation (LOQ) were in the ranges of 0.23–2.54, 0.22–2.36 ng·mL⁻¹, and 0.24–2.57 ng·g⁻¹ dry weight (dw) for fish blood, bile and muscle, respectively. Recoveries of target compounds spiked into sample matrices and passed through the entire analytical procedure ranged from 65% to 95%, from 60% to 92% and from 62% to 91% for blood, bile and muscle, respectively. The methods were applied to the analysis of fish from a lake in California. Target compounds were relatively low in bile, and only bisphenol A (BPA) and diclofenac were measurable near the LOQ. Seven of 13 compounds were detected in blood, with total concentrations up to 39 ng·mL⁻¹. Only BPA was frequently found in muscle, with mean concentration of 7.26 ng·g⁻¹ dw. The estimated daily intake of BPA through fish consumption for U.S. resident was significantly lower than the tolerable daily intake recommended by the European Food Safety Authority. This study showed that the exposure to the bisphenol A from fish diet is unlikely to pose a health risk.     

Benefit–risk assessment of commonly consumed fish species from South China Sea based on methyl mercury and DHA

Even though a growing number of reports indicated favorable health effects with fish consumption, kinds of hazardous substances in fish were detected in fish and to be exceeded advisory limitation. Benefit–risk assessment of commonly consumed fish is urgently needed. We conducted fish consumption survey and fish sampling in the coast of South China Sea to assess benefit–risk effect of commonly consumed fish species. For local residents, weekly methyl mercury (MeHg) exposures from commonly consumed fish species ranged from 0.12 to 2.11 μg/kg bw. Apart from Muraenesox cinereus and Acanthopagrus latus, the rest of 92% (23/25) fish species were at low risk of MeHg exposure. Daily docosahexaenoic acid intakes via consuming specific fish were between 42.18 and 1687.04 mg/day. A total of 72% (18/25) fish species could provide 200 mg/day of DNA for local residents. Benefit–risk assessment assuming intelligence quotient (IQ) score model showed net IQ point gains between 1.53 and 5.65 points with consuming various fish species, indicative of large distinction of health benefit from various fish species. This study suggests commonly consumed fish species from China South Sea could bring much more positive effect than negative effect. Species-specific fish should be considered when providing recommendations of fish consumption. Muraenesox cinereus and Acanthopagrus latus should be minded with risk of MeHg exposure in taking large amounts.

     

Risk assessment for ingested inorganic arsenic: A review and status report

Arsenic presents several unique problems in risk assessment. First, there is no good animal model for arsenic as a carcinogen, although in humans arsenic exposure through inhalation is judged to cause lung cancer and ingested inorganic arsenic is judged to cause skin cancer. Second, detoxification of arsenic through methylation is believed to be important, but the mechanisms and the quantitative relationships are not yet understood.EPA provided a risk assessment for ingested inorganic arsenic in its 1984 Health Assessment Document and a revised version in 1988. In both cases EPA calculated a cancer potency or slope factor using epidemiological data from Taiwan. EPA's standard or default risk assessment procedure is to use the linear coefficient from the multistage model in order to calculate cancer risk. This procedure was challenged by the EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) in a report to the Administrator in September of 1989. The SAB recommended that EPA (1) develop a revised risk assessment based on estimates of the delivered dose of non-detoxified arsenic to target tissues, and (2) consider the potential reduction in cancer risk due to detoxification in establishing an MCL for arsenic.This paper will draw upon the author's experience with the SAB to summarise major issues in arsenic risk assessment and to examine how these issues might be resolved through further research.     

Human health ambient water quality criteria for 13 heavy metals and health risk assessment in Taihu Lake

• The concentrations of 13 heavy metals in Taihu Lake were analyzed. • Aquatic vegetables intake was first included in deriving human health AWQC. • The human health AWQC for 13 heavy metals in Taihu Lake were derived. • Human health risk assessment for 13 heavy metals were conducted in Taihu Lake. Heavy metals are widely concerning because of their toxicity, persistence, non-degradation and bioaccumulation ability. Human health ambient water quality criteria (AWQC) are specific levels of chemicals that can occur in water without harming human health. At present, most countries do not consider the effects of aquatic vegetables in deriving human health AWQC. Therefore, the intake of aquatic vegetables (Brasenia schreberi) was added to the derivation of human health AWQC and a health risk assessment for 13 heavy metals in Taihu Lake. The human health AWQC (consumption of water, fish and aquatic vegetables) values of 13 heavy metals ranged from 0.04 (Cd) to 710.87 μg/L (Sn), and the intake of B. schreberi had a very significant effect on the human health AWQC for Cu, with a more than 62-fold difference. The hazard quotients of As (2.8), Cd (1.6), Cr (1.4) and Cu (4.86) were higher than the safe level (HQ= 1), indicating that As, Cd, Cr and Cu in Taihu Lake posed a significant health risk. Sensitivity analysis showed that the contribution rate of B. schreberi intake to the human health risk from Cu was 91.6%, and all results indicated that the risk of Cu in B. schreberi to human health should be of particular concern. This study adds the consideration of aquatic vegetable consumption to the traditional method of human health AWQC derivation and risk assessments for the first time, and this approach can promote the development of risk assessments and water quality criteria.     

砷在海洋食物链中的生物放大潜力及发生机制探讨

砷是世界范围内危害最大的环境污染物之一,也是近海区域一种常见污染物。本文综述了近年来砷在海洋生态系统中累积、转化及传递的最新研究进展。海洋生物普遍具有较高含量的砷,这些砷主要为低毒性的有机砷形态。砷在许多海洋食物链/网中被生物放大,造成高营养级生物中的砷富集,可对生物与人类健康产生潜在危害;这与砷在淡水食物链/网中普遍被生物减小的现象形成鲜明对比。海洋鱼类和贝类等生物可将吸收的无机砷通过生物转化合成砷甜菜碱等有机砷形态,而有机砷比无机砷具有更高的食物链传递能力,可导致海洋鱼类富集更高浓度的砷。因此,砷在海洋生物中的有机形态可能有助于砷沿着海洋食物链/网富集,在某些情况下被生物放大。今后应该加强对不同砷形态在海洋食物链/网中传递及相应影响因素的研究,并通过室内模拟实验与野外调查相结合进行验证,从而加深对砷的生态毒理和生物地球化学作用的科学认识,对准确评估预测砷的生态风险和保障海洋生态安全有重要意义。     

Human exposure to methylmercury from crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in China

Methylmercury (MeHg) accumulation in aquatic food raises global concerns about human exposure to MeHg. Crayfish is the world’s third largest farmed crustacean species and a favorite aquatic food in many countries. However, human health hazard due to MeHg exposure via crayfish consumption is unclear, partly because appropriate survey data are lacking. We report on mercury concentrations and speciation in edible tail muscle of crayfish collected from restaurants in 23 Chinese cities. On average, MeHg constituted 99.1 % of mercury in tail muscle, and MeHg concentrations were comparable with those reported for fish in China. Variation in MeHg concentrations was not attributable to broad geographic region (i.e., provinces) or tail length. For different populations, potential health risk (characterized by hazard quotient or HQ) of MeHg exposure through crayfish consumption depended largely on crayfish consumption rates. In particular, a health hazard (HQ > 1) was found for high-rate consumers (i.e., 95 %ile or higher) in some cities in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLYR), during the peak consumption season. Our results suggest that more attention should be paid to dietary MeHg intake via crayfish consumption in China, particularly for communities with high consumption in MLYR.

     

High Cd and Pb in Chinese cabbage: how to safely eat vegetables from metal-contaminated agricultural soil

Trace-element contamination poses a serious threat to China's ecology, environment, food safety, and human health. Human exposure to potentially toxic trace elements is predominantly attributed to the consumption of vegetables, especially leafy vegetables, grown on metal-contaminated soil. In the present study, the concentrations of Cd in Chinese cabbage were found to decrease at an exponential rate from the outermost layer to the inner core, while there was a small change in Pb content from the 1st to the 16th layer of the plant, suddenly decreasing at the 17th layer. Although there was a little difference between the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) and the mean Cd content in the plant, from the 1st layer to the 10th layer in the edible part of Chinese cabbage, Cd concentrations were 1.1–2.5 times higher than the MPC. The Pb concentration in the whole plant was 1.9 times higher than the MPC, while the 17th layer to the 25th layer of Chinese cabbage was safe for consumption. Health risk assessment indicated that the surface layer of Chinese cabbage might cause harm to human health, especially to children, in view of cancer risk and non-cancer risk.     

Arsenic concentration in rice, fish, meat and vegetables in Cambodia: a preliminary risk assessment

To assess arsenic contaminations and its possible adverse health effects, food samples were collected from Kandal, Kratie and Kampong Cham in Cambodia. The highest and the lowest concentrations were observed in fish (mean 2,832 ng g^?1, ww) collected from Kandal province and cattle stomach (1.86 ± 1.10 ng g^?1, ww) collected from Kratie, respectively. The daily intake of arsenic via food consumption was 604, 9.70 and 136 μg day^?1 in Kandal, Kratie and Kampong Cham, respectively. The arsenic dietary intake in Kandal ranked No. 1 among all the 17 compared countries or regions. Fish consumption contributed the greatest proportion of total arsenic daily intake in Kandal (about 63.0 %) and Kampong Cham (about 69.8 %). It is revealed to be a much more important exposure pathway than drinking water for residents in Kampong Cham. The results of risk assessment suggested that the residents in Cambodia, particularly for people in Kandal province, suffer high public health risks due to consuming arsenic-contaminated food.     

重庆市居民重金属膳食摄入水平研究

为了解重庆市居民砷、镉、汞的膳食摄入水平,采用分层多级整群随机抽样方法,经城乡经济排序,并按公共营养学要求,选取重庆市1213户居民为调查对象,应用中国总膳食研究方法,采集了当地12类主要食物样品,采用原子吸收分光光度法(AAS)和冷原子吸收分光光度法(CVAAS)测定了砷、镉、汞的含量,并运用FAO/WHO推荐的ADI值/PTWI值评价了居民膳食摄入的健康风险.结果显示,1)蛋类砷含量为允许限量的3.0倍;水果类镉含量为允许限量的2.4倍,汞含量为允许限量的4.0倍;2)各年龄组对砷、汞的膳食摄入量均低于ADI值,对镉的摄入量则大大超过ADI值.谷类和水果是各年龄组人群摄入砷、镉的主要膳食来源,水果类是汞的主要膳食来源;3)农村居民摄入的3种重金属含量均低于城镇居民,城乡居民对砷、汞的摄入量在允许限量ADI值的范围内,但通过食物摄入的镉含量超过了允许限量ADI值,达到ADI值的121%.