Risk assessment of short-term intake of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in food: derivation of an acute reference dose

Eckert E, Lepper H, Hintzsche H (2023)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

Food Additives and Contaminants Part A-Chemistry Analysis Control Exposure & Risk Assessment Taylor & Francis (Routledge) / Taylor & Francis: STM, Behavioural Science and Public Health Titles

DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2023.2178828

Abstract

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) are phytochemicals that are known to act as human hepatotoxins and are also considered to be genotoxic carcinogens. Several plant-derived foods are frequently contaminated with PA, like teas and herbal infusions, spices and herbs or certain food supplements. With respect to the chronic toxicity of PA, the carcinogenic potential of PA is generally regarded as the critical toxicological effect. The risk assessment of the short-term toxicity of PA, however, is internationally less consistent. The characteristic pathological syndrome of acute PA toxicity is hepatic veno-occlusive disease. High PA exposure levels may lead to liver failure and even death as documented by several case reports. In the present report, we suggest a risk assessment approach for the derivation of an acute reference dose (ARfD) for PA of 1 µg/kg body weight per day based on a sub-acute animal toxicity study in rats after oral PA administration. The derived ARfD value is further supported by several case reports describing acute human poisoning following accidental PA intake. The here derived ARfD value may be used for PA risk assessment in cases where the short-term toxicity of PA is of interest in addition to the assessment of the long-term risks.

Involved external institutions

Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit (LGL) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Eckert, E., Lepper, H., & Hintzsche, H. (2023). Risk assessment of short-term intake of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in food: derivation of an acute reference dose. Food Additives and Contaminants Part A-Chemistry Analysis Control Exposure & Risk Assessment. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2023.2178828

MLA:

Eckert, Elisabeth, Hans Lepper, and Henning Hintzsche. "Risk assessment of short-term intake of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in food: derivation of an acute reference dose." Food Additives and Contaminants Part A-Chemistry Analysis Control Exposure & Risk Assessment (2023).

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