Srivastava Richa, Singh Yogita, White Jason C, Dhankher Om Parkash
Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
The Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
Trends Food Sci Technol. 2024 Nov;153. doi: 10.1016/j.tifs.2024.104725. Epub 2024 Sep 21.
Reducing exposure to harmful substances in food is highly desired, especially for infants, young children, and pregnant women. A workshop focused on understanding and reducing toxic metal contamination in food was conducted involving leading scientists, educators, practitioners, and key stakeholders in conjunction with the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
The goal of this review and the workshop was to advance the current knowledge of major toxic metals concerning food safety, . arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and chromium (Cr), preventive measures, identify critical knowledge gaps, and the need for research, extension, and education. Being a part of the "Closer to Zero (C2Z)" initiative of the USDA, FDA, and other federal agencies, the workshop adopted a "One Health" approach to mitigate dietary exposure and environmental pollution of hazardous elements.
The experts discussed the accumulation of toxic metals in food crops and drinking water in relation to soil biogeochemistry, plant uptake, and multidisciplinary factors such as food processing, detection, regulatory standards, etc. To forward food safety, this workshop critically examined toxic metals contamination, exposure and toxicity along the farm-to-fork-to-human continuum, research gaps, prevailing regulations, and sustainable remediation approaches, and offered significant recommendations. This review paper provides perspective on key findings of the workshop relative to addressing this important aspect of food safety, emphasizing interdisciplinary research that can effectively investigate and understand the complex and dynamic relationships between soil biogeochemistry, the microbiome, plant tolerance and accumulation strategies, uniform standards for acceptable and safe toxic element levels in food and water, and raising public awareness. This article also provides a foundation for decision-making regarding toxic metal fate and effects, including risk management strategies, in the face of modern industrialization and a changing climate.
减少食物中有害物质的暴露是人们非常期望的，尤其是对于婴儿、幼儿和孕妇。美国农业部国家粮食与农业研究所联合顶尖科学家、教育工作者、从业者及关键利益相关者举办了一次研讨会，重点是了解和减少食物中的有毒金属污染。
本次综述及研讨会的目标是增进对主要有毒金属（砷（As）、铅（Pb）、镉（Cd）、汞（Hg）和铬（Cr））在食品安全方面的现有知识、预防措施，找出关键知识空白以及研究、推广和教育的需求。作为美国农业部、食品药品监督管理局及其他联邦机构“更接近零（C2Z）”倡议的一部分，该研讨会采用“同一健康”方法来减轻有害元素的膳食暴露和环境污染。
专家们讨论了粮食作物和饮用水中有毒金属的积累与土壤生物地球化学、植物吸收以及食品加工、检测、监管标准等多学科因素的关系。为推进食品安全，本次研讨会严格审查了从农场到餐桌再到人体这一连续过程中的有毒金属污染、暴露和毒性、研究空白、现行法规以及可持续修复方法，并提出了重要建议。本综述文章就研讨会关于解决食品安全这一重要方面的关键发现提供了观点，强调跨学科研究能够有效调查和理解土壤生物地球化学、微生物组、植物耐受性和积累策略、食品和水中可接受及安全有毒元素水平的统一标准之间复杂而动态的关系，并提高公众意识。本文还为面对现代工业化和气候变化时有关有毒金属归宿和影响的决策，包括风险管理策略，提供了基础。
