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Peer-reviewedCC BYFoods (Basel, Switzerland)

Occurrence of and Dietary Exposure to Toxic Element Impurities in Food Additives: A Probabilistic Exposure Assessment for the Belgian Population.

  • Céleste Vansnick1,2
  • Karlien Cheyns2,3
  • Daniela Montalvo2
  • Nadia Waegeneers1
  1. 1Risk and Health Impact Assessment, Sciensano, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
  2. 2Trace Elements and Nanomaterials, Sciensano, 3080 Tervuren, Belgium.
  3. 3Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400 Mol, Belgium.
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Abstract

Toxic element impurities in food additives may contribute to the dietary exposure to arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg). This study aimed to quantify these toxic elements in selected food additives available on the Belgian market and to assess their contribution to dietary exposure and associated health risks. Seventeen food additives were analyzed using ICP-MS/MS, direct mercury analysis, and LC-ICP-MS. Dietary exposure to toxic elements originating from food additives was estimated for different age groups using probabilistic modeling based on occurrence data and EFSA intake estimates for the food additives. The highest element concentrations were measured in algae-based additives, notably sodium alginate and carrageenan. Arsenic speciation showed predominantly organic forms in sodium alginate, while carrageenan contained up to 32% inorganic arsenic. Mineral additives and pectin also contributed to toxic element occurrence, whereas additives produced via a purification process showed negligible levels. The exposure to Pb through the combined intake of multiple food additives may reach up to ~18% of total dietary Pb exposure in adults. For children, margins of exposure for Pb and inorganic As were low (≈2-6), indicating that a health concern cannot be excluded. Exposure to Cd and Hg remained well below health-based guidance values.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{vansnick2026occurrence,
  title = {{Occurrence of and Dietary Exposure to Toxic Element Impurities in Food Additives: A Probabilistic Exposure Assessment for the Belgian Population.}},
  author = {Céleste Vansnick and Karlien Cheyns and Daniela Montalvo and Nadia Waegeneers},
  journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/foods15203734},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42940371},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Occurrence of and Dietary Exposure to Toxic Element Impurities in Food Additives: A Probabilistic Exposure Assessment for the Belgian Population.
AU  - Céleste Vansnick
AU  - Karlien Cheyns
AU  - Daniela Montalvo
AU  - Nadia Waegeneers
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/20
JO  - Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
DO  - 10.3390/foods15203734
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42940371
AB  - Toxic element impurities in food additives may contribute to the dietary exposure to arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg). This study aimed to quantify these toxic elements in selected food additives available on the Belgian market and to assess their contribution to dietary exposure and associated health risks. Seventeen food additives were analyzed using ICP-MS/MS, direct mercury analysis, and LC-ICP-MS. Dietary exposure to toxic elements originating from food additives was estimated for different age groups using probabilistic modeling based on occurrence data and EFSA intake estimates for the food additives. The highest element concentrations were measured in algae-based additives, notably sodium alginate and carrageenan. Arsenic speciation showed predominantly organic forms in sodium alginate, while carrageenan contained up to 32% inorganic arsenic. Mineral additives and pectin also contributed to toxic element occurrence, whereas additives produced via a purification process showed negligible levels. The exposure to Pb through the combined intake of multiple food additives may reach up to ~18% of total dietary Pb exposure in adults. For children, margins of exposure for Pb and inorganic As were low (≈2-6), indicating that a health concern cannot be excluded. Exposure to Cd and Hg remained well below health-based guidance values.
SN  - 2304-8158
ER  -