Toxic Elements Availability and Dietary Exposure Assessment in Milk and Dairy Products from Henan, China

ABSTRACT The concentrations of chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in 150 milk and dairy products collected from 17 prefecture-level cities of Henan Province, a core region for dairy breeding and consumption in central China, were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The mean concentrations of Cr, As, Cd and Pb were 1.48, 0.25, 0.124 and 0.81 μg/kg, respectively, all of which were below the maximum permissible limits stipulated by China, CAC and the EU. The estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI) and margin of exposure (MOE) were calculated for different age groups. The HI values across all age groups were far lower than 1, indicating low non-carcinogenic health risks. Consistent rankings of THQ (As > Cr > Cd) and MOE (Pb > Cd > As > Cr) were observed without age-specific differences. Overall, exposure to these toxic elements via dairy products in Henan presents no obvious health hazards; nevertheless, continuous monitoring of lead exposure among children and adolescents is recommended to guarantee long-term dietary safety.