The aim of this study was to determine the contamination of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and microplastic (MP)-like particles in bivalves and estimate the exposure of the Thai population to these contaminants due to bivalve consumption. Clams, mussels and cockles were purchased from five wholesale seafood markets located on the upper Gulf of Thailand during the period 2017–2019. Determinations of Cd and Pb in the bivalves were conducted using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer (GFAAS). Visualization was conducted using a stereomicroscope to investigate the morphology and content of MP-like particles in the bivalve samples. The average Pb contents in clams, mussels and cockles were 112, 64 and 151 µg/kg wet wt., respectively. The average Cd contents were 126, 107 and 457 µg/kg wet wt. for clams, mussels and cockles, respectively. The average number of MP-like particles in bivalve samples varied from not detected to 1.2 items/g wet wt. and not detected to 4.3 items/individual. The exposure to Pb, Cd and MP-like particles due to bivalve consumption varied between 0.005 and 0.29 µg/kg bw/day, 0.017 and 28.9 µg/kg bw/month and 0.015 and 27.5 items/person/day, respectively. There was no potential health risk of exposure to Pb and Cd due to bivalve consumption in any age group. However, a high consumption of cockles with high Cd levels (the worst-case scenario) in children may be of concern.

The aim of this study was to validate a method for determining nine types of steviol glycoside and its derivatives in food and beverage products, using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (UHPLC ESI MS/MS). The performance characteristics of the analysis method were determined along with their suitability for the intended use. Coefficient of determination (R²) calibration curves from 0.2 to 1.0 mg L⁻¹ were in the ranges of 0.9911–0.9990, 0.9939–1.0000 and 0.9973–0.9999 for a beverage, yogurt and snack, respectively. Intra-day precisions in terms of percent relative standard deviation (% RSD) of concentration, at 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 mg L⁻¹, for the beverage, yogurt and snack were lower than 15% (1.1–9.3%). At all concentrations, percentage recoveries were in the accepted range of 70–120%. For the matrix effect study, matrix-matched calibration was used for all compounds, obtaining a linear concentration range from 0.2 mg L⁻¹ to 1.0 mg L⁻¹. Almost all matrix-matched results presented as percentage recoveries were within the accepted range of 80–120%. The limit of detection (LOD) for steviol glycosides ranged from 0.003 to 0.078 μg g⁻¹, while the limit of quantitation (LOQ) ranged from 0.011 to 0.261 μg g⁻¹. These results indicate that the modified test method can be applied to determine the presence of steviol glycoside and its derivatives in a wide range of sample matrices.

This study aimed to assess dietary exposure to steviol glycosides and identify the key contributors to the exposure in the Thai population. In total, 2114 participants were included in this study, and a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and a photobook of foods and beverages were used to collect their food consumption data. In addition, the body weight data of the participants were recorded, and a survey was conducted to obtain information regarding their consumption of foods and beverages that contain steviol glycosides, including data on the amount consumed and the frequency of intake. The amount of steviol glycosides in the foods and beverages was determined using ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. We used data on the mean and 97.5th percentile (PCTL) consumption of food or beverages for both the per capita and consumer‐only scenarios to estimate the dietary intake of steviol glycosides from consumption of food and beverages. The risk of steviol glycoside exposure was evaluated using the hazard quotient, which involved a comparison of the estimated dietary intake with the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of steviol equivalents (4 mg/kg BW/day). Children aged 3–9 years had the highest mean and 97.5th PCTL intake per capita, which accounted for 2.35% and 22.95% of the ADI, respectively. The results of this study demonstrate that the estimated intake of steviol glycosides by the Thai population across all scenarios and age groups is below the ADI, indicating that foods and beverages that contain steviol glycosides do not pose a risk to the Thai population. Nevertheless, the top three contributors to the intake of steviol glycosides, which are products in categories 14 (beverages), 11 (sweeteners), and 1 (dairy products and analogues), should be consumed cautiously.

Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a phytochemical from cruciferous vegetables, is known to modulate detoxification enzymes. Fortification of PEITC into a complete nutrition gel, Nutri-PEITC jelly, has been shown to improve its bioavailability. This work aimed to study the effect of Nutri-PEITC jelly on active smokers’ detoxification of tobacco-derived carcinogens.