Tetracyclines in pasteurized milk commercialized in São Paulo, Brazil: occurrence and dietary risk assessment based on single and combined exposure with polyether ionophores

ABSTRACT

Tetracyclines and polyether ionophores are veterinary drugs frequently used in animals reared for food production. Despite the benefits, residues can be harmful for human health if levels are higher than those considered safe. The aim of this study was to evaluate, by LC-MS/MS, tetracyclines residues in pasteurised milk samples marketed in São Paulo state, Brazil and estimate the exposure of the adult/adolescent/children population. Within the eight antibiotics monitored two were detected, tetracycline and 4-epitetracycline, found in 22.5% and 12.5% of the samples, respectively. Since the same samples had been previously tested for polyether ionophore residues, risk assessment based on dietary exposure to tetracyclines when considered individually and in combination with the ionophores was performed. The daily intakes were below the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for tetracycline. Considering the levels of monensin reported in a previous study, the combined exposure with tetracycline and 4-epi-tetracycline also indicated low potential health concerns.

KEYWORDS:

• Chemical residues
• chemical contaminants
• exposure assessment
• combined exposure to multiple chemicals
• food safety
• LC-MS/MS
• veterinary drug residues
• hazard quotient
• hazard index

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) for sharing consumption data from Estudo de Riscos Cardiovasculares em Adolescentes (ERICA), 2013-2014 – IESC-UFRJ. We especially thank Thaiza Gomes de Carvalho for kindly helping us with the provided ERICA database files. The authors are also thankful to Ligia Lindner Schreiner from the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) for relevant discussions about dietary risk assessment.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001.