Arsenic contamination in processed chicken and turkey products, available in Trinidad and Tobago supermarkets and the associated health risks to childrena

Abstract

Arsenic is an established human carcinogen but can also lead to non-carcinogenic health effects such as diabetes and hypertension. This study analysed processed chicken and turkey products, both locally produced and imported, for total arsenic (tAs) and inorganic arsenic (iAs) concentrations using a combination of Soxhlet Extraction and Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (HG-AAS). Samples were purchased from supermarkets throughout the country and represented all the brands commercially available to the population at the time. The results revealed that four out of six locally produced samples (A, B, C, and E) exceeded the US FDA maximum limit of 500 μg/kg for tAs, with concentrations ranging from 269 to 1475 μg/kg. Additionally, for all six local products the estimated daily intake (EDI) for iAs exceeded the USEPA limit of 0.3 μg/kg BW/day across all three child age groups i.e. toddlers 1 - 3 years, pre-teens < 13 years, and teens 13 - 17 years, with values ranging from 0.60 to 10.30 μg/kg BW/day. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) for the six locally processed products was greater than 1, indicating potential health risks with HQ values ranging from 2.1 to 31.8. The Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) assessment suggested low increased cancer risk, across all three age groups in Trinidad and Tobago based on consumption patterns and average body weight. Among imported samples, only one out of 11 products studied exceeded the US FDA regulatory limit for tAs, with a concentration of 534 μg/kg, and an estimated daily intake (EDI) for iAs of 1.3 to 6.2 μg/kg BW/day across all three age groups.