Risk assessment of combined exposure to alkenylbenzenes through consumption of plant food supplements containing parsley and dill

ABSTRACT

A risk assessment was performed of parsley- and dill-based plant food supplements (PFS) containing apiol and related alkenylbenzenes. First, the levels of the alkenylbenzenes in the PFS and the resulting estimated daily intake (EDI) resulting from use of the PFS were quantified. Since most PFS appeared to contain more than one alkenylbenzene, a combined risk assessment was performed based on equal potency or using a so-called toxic equivalency (TEQ) approach based on toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) for the different alkenylbenzenes. The EDIs resulting from daily PFS consumption amount to 0.74–125 µg kg^–1 bw for the individual alkenylbenzenes, 0.74–160 µg kg^–1 bw for the sum of the alkenylbenzenes, and 0.47–64 µg kg^–1 bw for the sum of alkenylbenzenes when expressed in safrole equivalents. The margins of exposure (MOEs) obtained were generally below 10,000, indicating a priority for risk management if the PFS were to be consumed on a daily basis. Considering short-term use of the PFS, MOEs would increase above 10,000, indicating low priority for risk management. It is concluded that alkenylbenzene intake through consumption of parsley- and dill-based PFS is only of concern when these PFS are used for long periods of time.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Parsley- and dill-based plant food supplements (PFS)
• alkenylbenzenes
• estimated daily intake
• toxic equivalency approach
• margin of exposure
• risk assessment

Disclosure statement

Prof. IMCM Rietjens declares she is a member of the Expert Panel of the Flavour and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA). Other authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

A. M. A. and A. J. A. M. acknowledge the financial support obtained from the Foundation for Stimulation of Innovation in Toxicology (SOIT).