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The potential for fetal lead exposure in utero due to contamination of cow's milk or soy-based beverages sold on the Portuguese market
* 1, 2, 3, 4 , 1 , 5 , 1
1  Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
2  School of Agriculture, Santarem Polytechnic University, Quinta do Galinheiro-S. Pedro, 2001-904 Santarém, Portugal
3  Life Quality Research Centre (CIEQV), Santarem Polytechnic University, Complexo Andaluz, Apartado 279, 2001-904 Santarém, Portugal
4  Research Centre for Natural Resources, Environment and Society (CERNAS), Santarem Polytechnic University, Quinta do Galinheiro-S. Pedro, 2001-904 Santarém, Portugal
5  Faculty of Sciences, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
Academic Editor: Carlos Barata

Abstract:

Pollution with lead (Pb) constitutes a primary route for the contamination of foods like cow's milk (CM) or soya beverages (SBs), which are frequently consumed on a daily basis [1]. Even at low exposure levels, Pb is toxic; no level is safe, with effects seen at blood Pb concentrations of just 3.5 µg/dL [2], which is the current Blood Lead Reference Value of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In alignment with this value, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) establishes an Interim Reference Level (IRL) for dietary Pb of 8.8 μg/day for females of childbearing age (FCBAs), considering the potential for fetal Pb exposure [3]. The objective of this work was to assess whether the exposure to Pb of FCBAs through the consumption of CM or SB brands available on the Portuguese market was higher than the FDA’s IRL. The lead levels of 14 CM and 14 SB brands were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Three CM or SB consumption scenarios were considered: the estimated adult CM consumption in Portugal [4], and the minimum and maximum recommended CM consumption (MinC and MaxC) [5]. For the estimated CM intake, totalling 0.1 L/day, all the analysed samples exceeded the FDA’s IRL. However, for MinC (0.5 L/day), 42 and 21% of the CM and SB brands, respectively, surpassed the IRL; in this scenario, the mean Pb exposure from the 14 analysed CM brands was 9.66 µg/day, and the mean Pb exposure from the 14 SB brands was 6.72 µg/day. Regarding MaxC (0.75 L/day), 64 and 42% of the analysed CM and SB brands, respectively, surpassed the FDA’s IRL; the mean Pb exposure from the CM brands was 14.49 µg/day, and from the SB brands, it was 10.08 µg/day. Although CM constitutes a higher contributor to dietary Pb exposure than SBs, greater efforts must be made to control the exposure of FCBAs to Pb through the consumption of both food products.

Keywords: lead; cow milk; soya beberage; fetal exposurure
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