Occurrence and dietary risk assessment of heavy metals in organic and non-organic cereal-based infant snacks
Betül Oruçoğlu1, Özgün Onbaşı1, Merve İnce-Palamutoğlu1
1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyonkarahisar, 03030, Türkiye.
Abstract:
This study determined arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) levels in cereal-based snacks marketed for infants in Türkiye and evaluated the associated health risks. In total, 37 organic and non-organic products from 11 brands were analyzed by ICP-MS. Pb and Cd were compared with Turkish Food Codex maximum limits, and dietary exposure for 6-month-old infants was estimated using a portion-based model. Risk characterization used Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), Hazard Index (HI), tolerable weekly intake percentage (%TWI), and Margin of Exposure (MOE). Pb exceeded the regulatory limit in 40.5% of samples, more often in organic (52.2%) than non-organic products (21.4%). As and Cd were significantly higher in non-organic products, whereas Pb was higher in organic ones. THQ for As exceeded 1 in 35.7% of non-organic samples, and Pb MOE fell below 1 in two organic products (8.7%), indicating potential neurodevelopmental concern. Under a health-protective Cd reference dose, the cumulative HI exceeded 1 in several samples, revealing a combined risk missed by single-element evaluation. Hg was largely below detection (%TWI below 100%; maximum 55.5%). Overall, these snacks may contribute to Pb and As exposure, and organic labeling does not ensure lower heavy metal contamination.
Related Concept Videos
The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements
Periodic Table Provides Information...
The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements
Types of Toxins
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Sources of Food Contamination
Teratogenicity
Gravimetry: Inorganic And Organic Precipitating Agents


