Dr. Umar Aitsaam

This study systematically assessed heavy metal pollution in agricultural soils near Lanzhou’s industrial zones, revealing severe Hg and Cd risks and highlighting the urgent need for targeted control and risk-based certification standards to protect both ecological and human health.

EFSA’s review on mercury-and-methylmercury-in-food establishes TWIs of 1.3 µg/kg/week for methylmercury and 4 µg/kg/week for inorganic mercury, identifying high-Hg fish species and sensitive populations crucial for HTMC certification and risk management.

The harmonised Portugal Total Diet Study revealed that methylmercury exposure among Portuguese adults nearly reaches the TWI. Dried cod and hake are major contributors, posing significant health risks for frequent seafood consumers, particularly women of childbearing age.

Evidence indicates that cadmium in the maternal diet is usually below EFSA’s TWI, but high consumers and susceptible groups can approach it; renal toxicity drives limits, and placental perturbations remain a concern.

Baseline Portuguese exposures to inorganic arsenic, cadmium, and lead show bread as a common source; cadmium TWI is exceeded in a subset, and MOEs for arsenic and lead indicate potential concern—guiding heavy metal certification in Portugal.

EFSA nickel risk assessment update 2020 raises chronic TDI to 13 µg/kg bw/day and applies MOE ≥30 for acute SCD in sensitized individuals, with UK high-end child exposures exceeding the TDI and acute MOEs far below 30.

This review of the inorganic arsenic risk assessment explains EFSA’s human-based reference point, MOE findings showing concern at typical EU intakes, key sources like rice and water, EU limits, and certification-ready testing and mitigation steps.

Combined dietary exposure to nephrotoxic metals in European adults exceeds tolerable levels, driven mainly by lead and cadmium from grains, vegetables, and water; findings guide HTMC on priority foods, limits, and testing.

EU Regulation 2023/915 heavy metals sets binding food limits, with strict infant thresholds and rice-specific arsenic caps, guiding HTMC compliance.

The FDA’s Closer to Zero initiative aims to reduce toxic heavy metals—lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury—in baby foods to the lowest feasible levels. By setting evidence-based action levels, it bridges toxicology and policy to protect infants’ neurodevelopment while ensuring nutritional adequacy and industry feasibility.