National Food Administration

The commercial production of infant food is undergoing rapid development, but control is limited. This study measured several toxic and essential elements in 77 food products intended for infants (<1year). Concentrations of toxic metals in infant formulas were generally low, but cadmium and cobalt were higher than in breast milk, as were iron, manganese and selenium concentrations. Elevated arsenic in a rice-based dairy- and gluten-free porridge (3.2μg/portion) and cadmium in some porridges (∼1μg/portion) raise concern. Further, manganese in gruels and porridges with ∼1mg/portion (not fortified), and even formulas (∼0.1mg/portion; fortified) reached concerning exposure levels, especially if mixed with water containing manganese. Estimated intake of inorganic arsenic (median 1.7μg/day, excluding fish) and cadmium (median 3.4μg/day) from mixed foods at 9months of age exceeded health-based guidance values. Continued control of contaminants and additives in infant food and evaluation of related health risks are warranted.

Matrix effects (ME) during LC-ESI-MS analysis are a commonly acknowledged issue for a variety of matrices and analytes. Although sample preparation techniques are steadily evolving to reduce ME, the complexity and variability of the urine matrix remain a challenge, especially for multi-analyte methods. To investigate the extent of ME implications on method performance and quantification, we used stable isotope-labelled standards (SIL-IS) of 11 mycotoxins to evaluate the magnitude and variability of ME in urine samples from two cohorts: Bangladeshi adult women (n = 50) and Swedish children of both sexes (n = 340). Significant ME differences were observed between the two cohorts for eight of the 11 mycotoxins. Additionally, intra-cohort ME variability turned out to be very high with interquartile ranges (IQR) above 15% for 14 out of 22 analyte-cohort combinations. Maximum IQR values were observed for sterigmatocystin in the Bangladeshi cohort (318%), strongly impacting quantitative results obtained with matrix(-matched) calibration. Further experiments on a small German cohort of four subjects, each providing four to five urine samples, revealed high variability of ME within each individual. Factors influencing ME were investigated, showing little to no impact of sex and a moderate impact of age for some analytes in the Swedish cohort. Nonetheless, especially the more polar analytes, showing stronger signal suppression, demonstrated clear correlation of ME with density and creatinine concentration of the urine samples. As a result, urine samples with very high or low density or creatinine values require careful handling in regard to sensitivity or quantification errors when matrix(-matched) calibration without SIL-IS is applied.

The Republic of Indonesia is relocating its national capital to a new city (NCCI) in East Kalimantan Province (EKP). This future megacity will require a resilient and adequate food supply. This study pro­vides critical evidence base for food supply plan­ning by analyzing the balance of food production and needs, mapping supply chains, and formulating strategies to enhance food supply from buffer zones to the NCCI. Conducted in EKP and its key buffer provinces, the research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative food balance analysis with qualitative insights from stakeholder focus groups. Key findings reveal that in 2023, EKP faced significant deficits in rice and layer eggs, achieved self-sufficiency in broiler meat, and showed a surplus in beef. This dependency on external food supplies necessitates a complex multi-province buffer system, primarily involving South Kalimantan, East Java, South Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara, and West Sulawesi. The study con­cludes that securing NCCI’s food supply requires an integrated strategy: boosting local production through land optimization and technology, strengthening core logistics infrastructure (includ­ing warehousing and maritime transport), and for­malizing intergovernmental and public-private partnerships. These strategies provide a transfera­ble framework for food security in large cities globally.

Alcohol consumption has been inversely associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D), but its influence on autoimmune diabetes is unclear. We investigated the risk of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and T2D in relation to alcohol intake and assessed if potential associations were modified by genetic susceptibility to diabetes. We used data from a case-control study with incident diabetes cases (n = 695 LADA and n = 2679 T2D) and matched controls (n = 2752), and a prospective cohort study with 59,710 participants and incident diabetes cases (n = 221 LADA and n = 3335 T2D). Pooled relative risks (RR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were estimated in relation to self-reported alcohol consumption. Analyses were stratified according to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes and polygenic score (PGS) for T2D (T2D-PGS). Moderate alcohol consumption (10-14.9 g/day) compared to low consumption (0.1-4.9 g/day) was associated with a reduced risk of LADA (RR: 0.74, CI: 0.56, 0.98) and T2D (RR: 0.81, CI: 0.69, 0.94). No further risk reduction was observed for the highest intake category (≥15 g/day). Stratification by T2D-PGS revealed an inverse association with LADA in those with high T2D-PGS (≥10 g/day vs. 0.1-4.9 g/day; RR: 0.38, CI: 0.23, 0.64), but not low/intermediate T2D-PGS (RR: 0.89, CI: 0.54, 1.46). The corresponding RRs for high- and low/intermediate-risk HLA carriers were 0.64 (CI: 0.35, 1.17) and 0.48 (CI: 0.31, 0.74). For T2D, RRs were 0.70 (95 % CI: 0.53, 0.93) in individuals with low/intermediate T2D-PGS and 0.85 (95 % CI: 0.64, 1.14) in those with high T2D-PGS. Moderate alcohol intake was linked to reduced LADA risk, particularly in individuals with high T2D-PGS and low/intermediate-risk HLA genotypes, indicating that the association is primarily present for T2D-like LADA. The extent to which genetic predisposition influences the association between alcohol and T2D remains less clear.

In radiological emergencies, rapid 90Sr quantification is vital. This study developed a method for 90Sr determination in milk and drinking water, using Sr-specific resin separation followed by ICP-MS/MS detection in MS/MS mode to eliminate 90Zr isobaric interference. Validation demonstrated high recoveries (95–97%) and detection limits (18–22 Bq kg−1) compliant with European regulation Euratom 2016/52. Inter-laboratory comparisons confirmed the method reproducibility and robustness across diverse setups. Contamination control was identified as essential for method success. The method enables rapid 90Sr measurement in milk and water, supporting radiological emergency response.

Chlorination is a widespread method for drinking water disinfection that has the drawback of introducing potentially carcinogenic chemical by-products to drinking water. We systematically evaluated the epidemiologic evidence of exposure to trihalomethane (THM) disinfection by-products and risk of cancer. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies that assessed the association of exposure to residential concentrations of THMs with risk of cancer in adults. A protocol was preregistered in PROSPERO (CRD42023435491). PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane were searched for publications up to April 2024. Study selection and risk of bias appraisal using the National Toxicology Program Office of Health Assessment and Translation (NTP OHAT) tool was done in duplicate. Summary risk estimates were assessed using random effects meta-analysis and one-stage dose-response meta-analysis. The literature search resulted in 2,022 records, of which 29 publications assessing 14 different cancers were eligible for inclusion. Summary relative risks (RRs) were estimated for bladder cancer and colorectal cancer based on 5,860 and 9,262 cases and 84,371 and 90,272 participants, respectively. The summary RR of bladder cancer for the highest exposed compared with the lowest was 1.33 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.71), and in the dose-response analysis, RRs were statistically significant above THM concentrations of . For colorectal cancer, the summary RR was 1.15 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.24). According to the World Cancer Research Fund criteria, we found limited-suggestive evidence that THM in drinking water increases the risk of bladder and colorectal cancer at levels below current regulatory limits in the US and EU, indicating that these fail to protect against cancer in the general population. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14505.

ABSTRACT The 2021 Arctic Monitoring Assessment Program (AMAP)’s Human Health Assessment report presents a summary of the presence of contaminants in human populations across the circumpolar Arctic and provides an update to the previous assessment released in 2015. The primary objective of this paper is to summarise some of these findings by describing the current levels of metals across the Arctic, including key regional and temporal trends based on available national data and literature, and highlight knowledge gaps. Many Arctic populations continue to have elevated levels of these contaminants, and the highest levels of mercury (Hg) were observed in populations from Greenland, Faroe Islands, and Nunavik (Canada). Still, concentrations of several metals are declining in Arctic populations in regions where time trends data exist, although the declines are not consistent across all regions. The 2021 AMAP human health assessment report and this paper provide an extensive summary of levels of metals and trace elements in adults, pregnant women, and children across the Arctic.

ABSTRACT It is well known that municipal drinking water may be the cause of gastrointestinal illness (GII) outbreaks, but it is still unclear to what extent drinking water contributes to endemic GII. To explore this, we conducted a prospective cohort study among 6,955 adults in five municipalities in Sweden, collecting monthly GII episodes and mean daily cold drinking water consumption through SMS (Short Message Service). When the association between drinking water consumption and GII (all symptoms) and acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI, vomiting and/or three loose stools during a 24-h period) were assessed, there were indications that the association departed from linearity, following a unimodal shape. Among consumers in surface water areas, the highest risk of GII and AGI was generally seen among the average consumers, while the opposite was seen among groundwater consumers. The association however also seemed to be affected by neighbouring communities. The results of the study indicate that there is indeed an association between drinking water consumption and endemic GII, but the nature of this association is complex and likely affected by multiple factors, for example, water source type in the home and degree of exposure to drinking water from additional sources.

BackgroundThere is inconclusive evidence for an association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and fetal growth. ObjectivesWe conducted a nation-wide register-based cohort study to assess the associations of the estimated maternal exposure to the sum (PFAS4) of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) with birthweight as well as risk of small- (SGA) and large-for-gestational-age (LGA). Materials and methodsWe included all births in Sweden during 2012–2018 of mothers residing ≥ four years prior to partus in localities served by municipal drinking water where PFAS were measured in raw and drinking water. Using a one-compartment toxicokinetic model we estimated cumulative maternal blood levels of PFAS4 during pregnancy by linking residential history, municipal PFAS water concentration and year-specific background serum PFAS concentrations in Sweden. Individual birth outcomes and covariates were obtained via register linkage. Mean values and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) of β coefficients and odds ratios (OR) were estimated by linear and logistic regressions, respectively. Quantile g-computation regression was conducted to assess the impact of PFAS4 mixture. ResultsAmong the 248,804 singleton newborns included, no overall association was observed for PFAS4 and birthweight or SGA. However, an association was seen for LGA, multivariable-adjusted OR 1.08 (95% CI: 1.01–1.16) when comparing the highest PFAS4 quartile to the lowest. These associations remained for mixture effect approach where all PFAS, except for PFOA, contributed with a positive weight. DiscussionsWe observed an association of the sum of PFAS4 – especially PFOS – with increased risk of LGA, but not with SGA or birthweight. The limitations linked to the exposure assessment still require caution in the interpretation.