Risk assessment of trace elements in foodstuffs and drinking water: plastic as a source of inorganic element exposure

Exposure to heavy metals and other trace elements were assessed in 68 food and drinking water samples. Zinc (Zn) was detected in 96% of foodstuffs with total concentrations up to 52.9 μg/g wet weight (ww), predominantly in infant formula (19.9-28.0 μg/g ww) and beef samples (41.2-52.9 μg/g ww). The increasing trend of alternative cooking methods, such as oven steam cooking, made them a suitable object of study to investigate possible contaminant transferences employing plastic packaging materials. Experiments performed demonstrated an important transference of antimony (Sb) to foodstuffs, exceeding the limits recommended by the European Commission and questioning the excessive use of plastic with respect to human health concerns. Finally, an assessment of trace elements exposure through diet was performed with estimated daily intake (EDI) in infants (6–12 months), toddlers (1–3 years), and adults (>18 years), in order to establish possible risks expressed as hazard quotients (HQs). The results revealed that there is an actual health risk in children under 3 years due to dietary ingestion, with inorganic arsenic (iAs), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni) and Zn being the primarily hazardous contributors. • Twenty-one trace elements were detected across 68 foodstuff and water samples. • Zinc was the predominant trace metal in baby foods and meat samples. • The use of cooking bags represents a concerning source of antimony exposure. • Children under 3 years are exposed to a metal intake up to 7.79 mg/kg bw/day. • Risk thresholds were exceeded with respect to baby food consumption.