Arsenic can occur in foods as inorganic and organic forms. Inorganic arsenic is more toxic than most water-soluble organic arsenic compounds such as arsenobetaine, which is presumed to be harmless for humans. Within the first German total diet study, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, arsenobetaine, dimethylarsinic acid and monomethylarsonic acid were analyzed in various foods. Highest levels of total arsenic were found in fish, fish products and seafood (mean: 1.43 mg kg-1; n = 39; min-max: 0.01-6.15 mg kg-1), with arsenobetaine confirmed as the predominant arsenic species (1.233 mg kg-1; n = 39; min-max: 0.01-6.23 mg kg-1). In contrast, inorganic arsenic was determined as prevalent arsenic species in terrestrial foods (0.02 mg kg-1; n = 38; min-max: 0-0.11 mg kg-1). However, the toxicity of arsenic species varies and measurements are necessary to gain information about the composition and changes of arsenic species in foods due to household processing of foods.

• Cd, Pb, Hg, and Ni were measured in 356 foods prepared as consumed in Germany. • Cd, Pb, and Ni were found in a broad food spectrum; Hg was found in fewer foods. • Highest Hg levels were found in fish; Boletus contained high levels of Cd, Pb, and Hg. • Cocoa powder and chocolate contained high levels of Cd, Pb, and Ni. • Sampling by region, season, and production type showed minor differences in levels.

Die Exposition der Bevölkerung gegenüber chemischen Stoffen in Lebensmitteln wird anhand von repräsentativen Verzehrdaten auf der einen und Gehaltsdaten von Stoffen in Lebensmitteln auf der anderen Seite geschätzt. Die derzeitige Datengrundlage auf Seiten der Verzehrdaten für verschiedene Altersgruppen wird durch die Nationale Verzehrsstudie ll, VELS, EsKiMo und die zur Zeit durchgeführte KiESEL-Studie abgedeckt. Die Datengrundlage für die Gehaltsdaten, die vor allem durch das Lebensmittel-Monitoring und den Bundeslebensmittelschlüssel bezogen werden, ist jedoch nicht hinreichend für eine vollständige Bewertung der Exposition über Lebensmittel in Deutschland. Um die Unsicherheiten der Schätzungen zu reduzieren und die Anzahl der Stoffe mit belastbaren Daten zu vergrößern, wird die Erhebung weiterer Daten unerlässlich. Eine repräsentative Datengrundlage für die Schätzung der Exposition wird die erste deutsche Total-Diet-Studie, die BfR-MEAL-Studie, liefern. Die BfR-MEAL-Studie wird durch die Einbeziehung verarbeiteter Lebensmittel, durch die Orientierung an möglichst geringen Messgrenzen sowie die Bestimmung von Stoffen, die bislang nicht ausreichend untersucht wurden, die größeren Unsicherheiten der Expositionsschätzung deutlich minimieren. The dietary exposure of a population to chemical substances is estimated based on representative consumption data and data on the occurrence of substances in foods. Consumption data in Germany for different age groups are provided by the National Nutrition Survey ll, VELS, EsKiMo and the ongoing KiESEL study. The data for the levels of substances in foods is currently obtained from the German food monitoring programme (Lebensmittel-Monitoring) and the German Food Composition Table (Bundeslebensmittelschlüssel) and is not sufficient for a comprehensive evaluation of dietary exposure in Germany. More data is needed and, in particular, the range of analysed substances should be broadened to reduce the uncertainties of the exposure assessment. A representative data basis for concentrations of substances in foods will be established with the first German total diet study, called the BfR MEAL study. The study will markedly reduce major uncertainties in the dietary exposure assessment through its wide coverage of substances in food groups, the inclusion of prepared foods, the orientation on low measurement limits as well as the analysis of substances without a reliable data basis.

For risk assessment purposes, the dietary exposure to total arsenic and inorganic arsenic was estimated within the first German total diet study (BfR MEAL Study) for the whole population in Germany. Therefore, occurrence data of 356 different foods from the BfR MEAL Study were combined with consumption data from German nutrition surveys. Due to the different toxicological potentials of other water-soluble organic arsenic species present in rice-based foods, fish and seafood, dietary exposure to dimethylarsinic acid, monomethylarsonic acid and arsenobetaine was assessed in consumers in Germany through such foods for the first time. Related to the bodyweight, dietary exposure to total arsenic and inorganic arsenic in infants and young children (0.5-<5 years) were higher than in adolescents/adults (≥14 years). The highest median exposure estimates to inorganic arsenic resulted for the age group of infants from 0.5 to <1 year under modified lower bound conditions and for young children from 1 to <2 years under upper bound conditions (0.17 μg kg^-1 bodyweight day^-1-0.24 μg kg^-1 bodyweight day^-1 and 0.26 μg kg^-1 bodyweight day^-1-0.34 μg kg^-1 bodyweight day^-1, respectively). 'Grains and grain-based products' (especially rice) were identified as the main contributors for dietary exposure to total arsenic and inorganic arsenic for all age classes. Especially, for infants and young children, high consumption of rice-based foods and fish fingers is driving the dietary exposure to dimethylarsinic acid. The dietary exposure calculations indicate that a further reduction of dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic and further investigations to water-soluble organic arsenic species are necessary.

The German Total Diet Study (BfR MEAL Study) measured copper in 356 foods. In 105 of these foods copper was determined separately for conventionally and organically pooled samples. Mammalian liver, nuts, oilseeds, cocoa powder and chia seeds contained the highest copper levels. Organically produced foods tended to have higher levels compared to conventionally produced foods. Children's copper exposure was between 0.04 mg/kg body weight per day (mg/kg bw/day) and 0.07 mg/kg bw/day (median). High exposure (95th percentile) ranged between 0.07 mg/kg bw/day and 0.11 mg/kg bw/day. Adult's exposure ranged between 0.02 mg/kg bw/day (median) and 0.04 mg/kg bw/day (95th percentile). Grains and grain-based products were main contributors for all age groups. Copper intake was about 10% higher in a scenario where consumers select the organically produced variants. Children's median and high exposure was above the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0.07 mg/kg bw/day set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). However, according to EFSA's evaluation this is not of concern due to higher requirement related to growth. For adults, frequent consumers of mammalian liver exceeded the ADI in median and 95th percentile. Intake of copper-containing dietary supplements may also lead to exceedance of the ADI in all age groups.