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Acrylamide (AA) has been identified as probably carcinogenic to humans and thus represents a potential public health threat. This study aimed to determine the urinary concentrations of AA and N-acetyl-S-(2-carbamoylethyl)-l-cysteine (AAMA) in a nationally representative sample (n = 1025) of children and adolescents (age range 3–18 years) in South Korea. The AA and AAMA detection rates and geometric mean concentrations were 97%, 19.1 ng/mL, and 98.7%, 26.4 ng/mL, respectively. Although urinary AA levels did not vary widely by age (17.2 ng/mL at 3–6 years, 19.9 ng/mL at 7–18 years), the urinary concentration of AAMA increased with age (18.3 ng/mL at 3–6 years, 30.4 ng/mL at 7–18 years). A multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the urinary levels of AA and AAMA varied significantly by sex, with the adjusted proportional changes indicating rates of 1.47- to 1.48-fold higher at 3–6 years and 1.36- to 1.68-fold higher at 7–18 years among males relative to females. Furthermore, the urinary levels of AA and AAMA correlated with the consumption of certain foods (doughnuts, hotdogs, popcorn, and nachos) among male subjects aged 7–18 years. The urinary concentrations of AA and AAMA increased significantly with the smoking status and passive smoking exposure, with adjusted proportional changes of 1.51 to 1.71-fold higher among smokers relative to non-smokers in the age range of 7–18 years. Exposure to smoking for > 30 min led to adjusted proportional increases in AA and AAMA of 1.51 and 1.77 times in the non-smoking group aged 3–6 years and a 1.52-fold increase in AAMA in the non-smoking group aged 7–18 years. In conclusion, the urinary levels of AA and AAMA were found to associate with age, sex, smoking, and food consumption in a population of Korean children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residues of veterinary drugs were investigated in fish samples from domestic farms in South Korea to highlight the changing trends in drug usage during aquatic food production. Samples (n = 958) were collected from 32 cities and 11 provinces. In total, 41 veterinary drugs were analyzed using an LC-MS/MS. The total detection rate of veterinary drugs in fish samples was 22.7% (n = 217). Enrofloxacin and oxytetracycline were mostly detected in fishery products. Moreover, 12 samples (1.3%) exceeded the maximum residue limit set by Korea. The detection rate for veterinary drug residues varied with fish species and water type. Additionally, our findings show that of the two or more residues in 87 samples, enrofloxacin was often detected in combination with ciprofloxacin, and other compound. Our results of this study suggested the need for an appropriate withdrawal period of fishery products are required to guarantee safe residue levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was to develop a multi-residue quantification method for determination of 96 veterinary drugs in livestock products (beef, pork, chicken, milk, egg) and fishery products (flatfish, eel, and shrimp) using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In addition, the purpose of this study was to verify the identification of veterinary drug residues by applying this analytical method to livestock and aquaculture animals. The coefficient of determination (r 2) was more than 0.98 at the matrix-matched calibration curve. The proposed method was validated according to the CODEX guidelines (CAC/GL-71-2009), and most target compounds were found to be in acceptable quantities under the requirements of the validation guidelines. The limit of detection and limit of quantification ranged from 0.3 to 19.7 μg kg−1 and 1 to 65 μg kg−1. Samples (n = 581) were collected and analyzed to investigate the residues in target animal derived foods and 131 samples were detected (22.5%). In addition, only one rockfish sample exceeded the Korean MRL for sulfadiazine (523 μg kg−1; MRL: 100 μg kg−1) and trimethoprim (195 μg kg−1; MRL: 50 μg kg−1). The most frequently detected veterinary drugs were flumequine followed by oxytetracycline, enrofloxacin, trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin, and mebendazole. These results showed that we developed an acceptable analytical method of 96 veterinary drugs in animal derived foods and it will be useful for the safety management of veterinary drugs in livestock products, fish, and shrimp. • Many veterinary drugs have been used, suggesting the need to control the residues. • We measured veterinary drug residues in 581 animal samples from Korea. • It is the first study to investigate the residues of 86 veterinary drugs in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Presence of unapproved ingredients in dietary supplements in Korea summarized. • Common compounds were icariin, sildenafil, tadalafil, yohimbine, sibutramine, and sennoside. • Adulterated dietary supplements could cause adverse health effects. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has identified that numerous dietary supplements contain unapproved (hidden, undeclared, and unauthorized) ingredients that could be unsafe. The aim of this study is to summarize the presence of unapproved ingredients in dietary supplements based on the warning dataset released by the MFDS from 2010 to 2019. The warning data were extracted from the alert system on the MFDS's website. The highest number (ratio) of products found in the dataset were marketed for sexual enhancement [770 (43.3 %)], weight-loss [690 (38.8 %)], muscular strengthening [243 (13.7 %)], or relaxing [76 (4.3 %)]. A total of 1779 products contained one or more unapproved ingredients. The most common unauthorized compounds were icariin, sildenafil, and tadalafil for sexual enhancement, yohimbine, sibutramine, and sennoside for weight loss, and yohimbine and icariin for muscular strengthening, and melatonin and 5-hydroxytryptophan for relaxing products, respectively. Unapproved ingredients continue to be identified in dietary supplements, especially those marketed for sexual enhancement or weight loss, even after warnings by regulatory authorities. The unauthorized compounds in these dietary supplements have potential adverse health effects on consumers owing to accidental misuse, overuse, interaction with other medications, underlying health conditions, or other pharmaceuticals within the supplement. Our study reviewed potential health issues concerning the main unapproved ingredients to contribute to the understanding of adulteration in dietary supplements. The result of this study can be used to elucidate adulteration trends of unapproved ingredients in dietary supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we developed and optimized an analytical method for the simultaneous determination of multi-pesticide residues in fishery products using dispersive-solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). We selected 66 pesticides (insecticide, fungicides, and herbicides) and determined their residue concentrations in fish and shrimp. The samples were prepared according to the modified QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) procedure. Matrix-matched calibrations were carried out at three different spiking levels in flatfish, eel, and shrimp. The validation procedure was performed to determine the accuracy, precision, limits of detection, and limit of quantification (LOQ) according to the Codex guidelines (CAC/GL-71). Consequently, the proposed method is satisfactory in terms of accuracy (recoveries between 70 and 125%), precision (relative standard deviation below 20%). The matrix effects were between −98.1 and 48.6% in flatfish, eel, and shrimp. LOQs of this method was below 10 μg kg−1. The proposed method was applied to investigate the pesticide residue levels of fresh fish and shrimp samples (n = 78) obtained from domestic markets in Korea. As a result, 10 samples was positive (12.8%) for the 66 targeted pesticides. Based on our results, the developed method was successfully applied for the detection and quantification of pesticide residues in fish and shrimp. • We proposed multi-residue analytical method for determination of pesticide residues. • The method showed satisfactory validation performance according to CODEX guideline. • The simplicity, high throughput, reliability of results were the advantage of method. • The evaluated matrix effects (−98.1 and 48.6%) varied with species (flatfish, eel, and shrimp). • Among 78 analyzed samples, 12.8% (n = 10) was detected in fish and shrimp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to estimate the dietary exposure level of ethoxyquin (EQ) and its main metabolite ethoxyquin dimer (EQDM) in 6 kinds of farmed aquatic animals based on the residues and aquatic animal consumption data from Korea. The residues were measured in 143 aquatic animal samples by LC-MS/MS. The dietary exposure level was estimated under four scenarios based on the WHO guidelines. The residue concentrations of EQ and EQDM were in the ranges of 0.14–24.2 and 0.1–315 μg/kg, respectively. The sum of aquatic animal consumption for six aquatic animals was 6.38 g/day (whole group) and 372 g/day (consumer only) in the national food consumption survey. Based on our results, there is no significant risk resulting from EQ and EQDM exposure of humans under all scenarios. This is the first study to present the residue concentrations and exposure levels of EQ and EQDM in farmed aquatic animals in Korea. • We measured EQ and EQDM in 143 aquatic animal samples from Korea. • The association between the EQ and EQDM residues in farmed aquatic animals. • The residue concentrations of EQ and EQDM varied with fish species. • Aquatic animals are highly exposed to EQ via fish meal. • The current exposure level of EQ and EQDM did not pose a significant risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of veterinary drug residues in foods and the environment could potentially cause adverse effects on humans and wildlife. Several veterinary drugs were reported to exhibit endocrine disrupting effects via binding affinities to sexual hormone receptors such as estrogen and androgen receptors. Therefore, we confirmed the human estrogen receptor (ER) agonistic/antagonistic effects of 135 chemicals that were used as veterinary drugs in Korea by the official Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in vitro ER transcriptional activation (TA) assay using the VM7Luc4E2 cell line. In the case of ER agonist screening, 7 veterinary drugs (cefuroxime, cymiazole, trenbolone, zeranol, phoxim, altrenogest and nandrolone) were determined to be ER agonists. In addition, only zeranol was found to exhibit weak ER antagonistic activity. These 7 veterinary drugs, which were determined as ER agonists and/or antagonists by an OECD in vitro assay, were also found to have binding affinity to ERs. These results indicate that various veterinary drugs possess potential (anti-)estrogenic effects. However, further study is needed to determine the precise endocrine-disrupting effects of these compounds. • ER agonistic/antagonistic effects of 135 veterinary drugs, used in Korea, are assessed. • OECD in vitro stably transfected transcriptional activation assays using the VM7Luc4E2 cell line are applied. • Cefuroxime, cymiazole, trenbolone, zeranol, phoxim, altrenogest and nandrolone) are determined to be ER agonists. • Zenarol also exhibited a weak ER antagonistic effect. • This report provides valuable evidences about potential endocrine disrupting effects of various veterinary drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]