Total arsenic in complementary food and its exposure assessment for children aged 6-24 months

We report arsenic in complementary food (CF) and its exposure in children aged 6-24 months in Indonesia. The food consumption survey used the 24-h food recall method towards 385 respondents aged 6-24 months in Jakarta followed by food analysis using AAS with hydride vapor generator to determine the exposure and risk of total arsenic (t-As) in CF. The determination method of t-As in CF was verified for validity. Cereals and cereal products were the dominant CF food group consumed by children aged 6-24 months. The mean and 95th percentile (P95) of CF consumption from the food group were at 23.69 and 58.73 g/kgBW/day. All samples had a positive of t-As ranging from 0.32 +/- 0.09 ng/g to 452.51 +/- 200.41 ng/g. CF from fish and fish products had the highest t-As level. The mean and P95 of total exposure to t-As in CF from all food groups were 2.99 and 10.74 mu g/kgBW/day for children aged 6-24 months. The risk oft-As reached 140% (mean) and 502% (P95) of TDI (derived from PTWI), which is a significant risk to health. CF from cereals and cereal products had the highest contribution to the risk.

Automated summary

This study investigated the levels of arsenic in complementary foods consumed by children aged 6-24 months in Indonesia, with the highest levels found in fish and fish products. The risk of arsenic exposure exceeded recommended levels, with cereals and cereal products being the major contributors to this health risk.