Benzene in infant carrot juice: further insight into formation mechanism and risk assessment including consumption data from the DONALD study.
Benzene was previously detected as a heat-induced contaminant in infant carrot juices. This study shows that carrot juice contains substances such as beta-carotene, phenylalanine or terpenes that may act as precursors for benzene formation during food processing. As benzene exposure has been associated with childhood leukaemia and other cancers, this study aimed to provide a quantitative risk assessment. To accomplish this, we used measured food consumption data from the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) study, along with survey data on benzene in different juice categories. The calculated exposures for infants between 3 and 12 months were low, with averages between 1 and 10 ng/kg bw/day, resulting in a margin of exposure above 100,000. The exposures were judged as unlikely to pose a health risk for infants. Nevertheless, carcinogenic contaminants should be reduced to levels as low as reasonably achievable. The focus should be set on improving the sterilization conditions.
Lachenmeier
Dirk W
DW
Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Str 3, D-76187 Karlsruhe, Germany.
Kuballa
Thomas
T
Reusch
Helmut
H
Sproll
Constanze
C
Kersting
Mathilde
M
Alexy
Ute
U
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000886:Anthropometry; D001554:Benzene / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D001628:Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D001835:Body Weight; D018552:Daucus carota / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005511:Food Handling; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment
D000596:Amino Acids; D001554:Benzene