A Nationwide Survey and Risk Assessment of Ethyl Carbamate Exposure Due to Daily Intake of Alcoholic Beverages in the Chinese General Population.

Ethyl carbamate (EC) is carcinogenic, and, in China, oral intake of EC mainly occurs as a result of the consumption of alcoholic beverages. To obtain the latest EC intake and risk analysis results for the general population in China, the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) conducted the sixth total diet study (TDS) as a platform to analyze EC contents and exposure due to the intake of alcoholic beverages. A total of 100 sites in 24 provinces were involved in the collection and preparation of alcohol mixture samples for the sixth TDS. There were 261 different types of alcohol collected across the country, based on local dietary menus and consumption survey results. Ultimately, each province prepared a mixed sample by mixing their respective samples according to the percentage of local consumption. The EC levels of these twenty-four mixed samples were determined using our well-validated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. The values ranged from 1.0 µg/kg to 33.8 µg/kg, with 10.1 µg/kg being the mean. China's EC daily intake ranged from 0.001 ng/kg bw/d to 24.56 ng/kg bw/d, with a mean of 3.23 ng/kg bw/d. According to the margin of exposure (MOE), virtually safe dose (VSD), and T25 risk assessments of the carcinogenicity of EC, the mean lifetime cancer risk for the Chinese population was 9.8 × 104, 1.5 × 10-7, and 8.6 × 10-8, respectively. These data show that the carcinogenicity of EC in the general Chinese population due to alcoholic intake is essentially minimal.

[Comparative study on the essential composition content of commercial infant formula with the requirements in the new national food safety standard in China from 2017 to 2022].

OBJECTIVE: In order to understand the distribution of the essential nutrients content in commercial infant formula in China, and to compare its conformity with the new national standard(GB 10765-2021). METHODS: A total of 477 infant fomulas with production data from January 2017 to June 2022 were collected in China. Information in the product labels was recorded and the distribution of nutrient contents was analyzed, compare with the national food safety standard. RESULTS: Compared with GB 10765-2010, the new standard had 12 essential nutrients content revised, and 10 of which had lower limit values adjusted and 5 of which had upper limit values adjusted. Both the lower and upper limits were increased for three items, including vitamin D, choline and selenium. Compared with the newly revised 12 essential nutrients in the national food safety standard, the coincidence rate of 3 items was 100%, and the coincidence rate of 3 items was more than 80%. The coincidence rate of the actual content of essential nutrients in some products was low, the reason was that they did not meet the lower limit requirements of the new national standard, for example, the non-coincidence rate of vitamin D was as high as 99.79%. In addition, the national food safety standard adjusts choline from an selectable nutrient to an essential one, and the proportion of choline added to commercial products was 84.7%. CONCLUSION: The change of the content of essential nutrients in the new standard has little influence on the products sold in our country. There are a few essential nutrient in the products on the market that need to be adjusted to raise the nutrient level.

Machine-learning prediction of BMI change among doctors and nurses in North China during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has become a major public health concern over the past 3 years, leading to adverse effects on front-line healthcare workers. This study aimed to develop a Body Mass Index (BMI) change prediction model among doctors and nurses in North China during the COVID-19 pandemic, and further identified the predicting effects of lifestyles, sleep quality, work-related conditions, and personality traits on BMI change. Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study conducted in North China, during May-August 2022. A total of 5,400 doctors and nurses were randomly recruited from 39 COVID-19 designated hospitals and 5,271 participants provided valid responses. Participants' data related to social-demographics, dietary behavior, lifestyle, sleep, personality, and work-related conflicts were collected with questionnaires. Deep Neural Network (DNN) was applied to develop a BMI change prediction model among doctors and nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Of participants, only 2,216 (42.0%) individuals kept a stable BMI. Results showed that personality traits, dietary behaviors, lifestyles, sleep quality, burnout, and work-related conditions had effects on the BMI change among doctors and nurses. The prediction model for BMI change was developed with a 33-26-20-1 network framework. The DNN model achieved high prediction efficacy, and values of R 2, MAE, MSE, and RMSE for the model were 0.940, 0.027, 0.002, and 0.038, respectively. Among doctors and nurses, the top five predictors in the BMI change prediction model were unbalanced nutritional diet, poor sleep quality, work-family conflict, lack of exercise, and soft drinks consumption. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, BMI change was highly prevalent among doctors and nurses in North China. Machine learning models can provide an automated identification mechanism for the prediction of BMI change. Personality traits, dietary behaviors, lifestyles, sleep quality, burnout, and work-related conditions have contributed to the BMI change prediction. Integrated treatment measures should be taken in the management of weight and BMI by policymakers, hospital administrators, and healthcare workers.

Total mercury and methylmercury in Chinese rice and dietary exposure assessment.

Total mercury levels and methylmercury levels were investigated for various grain parts (whole rice, rice husk, brown rice, polished rice, and bran) of 507 rice samples from 15 main rice-producing areas of China. The average total mercury contents in brown rice samples and polished rice samples were 4.2 and 3.3 µg/kg, respectively, the percentages exceeding the national standard limit were 0.59% and 0.39%, respectively. The average methylmercury levels were 2.9 and 2.4 µg/kg in brown rice and polished rice, respectively. The order of total mercury contents in different parts of rice was bran > brown rice > whole rice > rice husk > polished rice, and the order for methylmercury was bran > brown rice > whole rice > polished rice > rice husk. Total mercury intakes and methylmercury intakes were estimated for the Chinese population and the associated health risks were assessed.

[Comparison and anylisis on national quality control examination results of pesticides residues in food in 2009 and 2011].

OBJECTIVE: To find out and compare the professionals proficiency of monitoring and inspection agencies on pesticide residue in food, and identify the main factors affecting the quality of result to provide references for improving the quality of the monitoring and inspection results. METHODS: Compare the national quality control examination results of pesticides residues in food of 2009 with 2011. RESULTS: The submission rates of examination results in 2011 were much higher than in 2009. They were respectively 100% and 83.6%. With the exception of few pesticides, the qualitative qualification rate and quantitative satisfaction rate of other pesticides were also relatively higher, and the qualitative qualification rate and quantitative satisfaction rate in 2011 were all higher than the same examination pesticides in 2009. For instance, the qualitative qualification rate of chlorpyrifos were respectively 99.4% and 96.8% in 2011 and 2009. The qualitative qualification rate of triazophos were respectively 100% and 97.1% in 2011 and 2009. The quantitative satisfaction rate of chlorpyrifos were respectively 93.8% and 90.2% in 2011 and 2009. The quantitative satisfaction rate of triazophos were respectively 91.9% and 87.2% in 2011 and 2009. CONCLUSION: The general testing levels of monitoring and inspection agencies on pesticide residue in food were sufficient, and their testing proficiency increased year by year, but some institutions still need to improve the testing proficiency.

[Quality control examination on testing pesticides residues in food for agencies in charge of food safety risk monitoring and inspection].

OBJECTIVE: To find out the proficiency of professionals in monitoring and inspection agencies on the determination of pesticides residue in food, and to improve the accuracy and comparability of testing results. METHODS: Three sets of quality control samples with the same matrix but different in concentrations of pesticides were prepared; one of blind quality control samples contained chlorpyrifos, methyl parathion, methyl pirimiphos, fenitrothion or triazophos and bifenthrin was dispatched to each inspection agency. Criteria for testing results were evaluated by Z scores: [Z] = < or = 2 for satisfactory; 2 < [Z] < 3 for uncertainty and [Z] > or = 3 for unsatisfactory. RESULTS: The results of all quality control blind samples delivered to 162 agencies were submitted back on time. The qualitative and quantitative qualification rate for chlorpyrifos was 99.4% and 93.8%, for parathion-methyl was 96.3% and 94.9%, for bifenthrin was 95.7% and 89.7%, for fenitrothion was 92.0% and 89.6%, for triazophos was 100% and 91.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The general proficiency on tested pesticide residues in food was relatively good for monitoring and inspection agencies. The agency who got unsatisfied results has recognized the problems in the process of testing; the cause of uncertainty and unsatisfactory results were found; and effective corrections were conducted to ensure the accuracy of data in the future.