Toxic Trace Elements in Meat and Meat Products Across Asia: A Comprehensive Literature Review and Implications for Human Health

Meat and meat products are vital sources of essential nutrients for human health and development. However, an excessive or inappropriate consumption can pose significant health risks. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified red meat as “probably carcinogenic to hum...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Jose L. Domingo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Foods
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/1/9
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1841549214277959680
author Jose L. Domingo
author_facet Jose L. Domingo
author_sort Jose L. Domingo
collection DOAJ
description Meat and meat products are vital sources of essential nutrients for human health and development. However, an excessive or inappropriate consumption can pose significant health risks. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified red meat as “probably carcinogenic to humans” and processed meat as “carcinogenic to humans”, yet the role of environmental contaminants in these products was not addressed. The present review focuses on human exposure to toxic trace elements (arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead) through meat and meat products in Asia, covering scientific literature from 1 January 2000, to 30 August 2024. Based on the citations in PubMed and Scopus databases, Asia is the region with the highest number of reported studies, with China contributing the most data. Concentrations of toxic elements in meat vary significantly depending on animal species, specific tissues consumed, and geographic origin. Correspondingly, estimated daily intakes of toxic elements from meat consumption also differ across studies. While some research highlights negligible carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks, others indicate potential health concerns due to elevated toxic element exposure in specific cases. However, similar to observations with organic pollutants, meat and meat products in Asia are not among the primary dietary sources of exposure to toxic elements for humans.
format Article
id doaj-art-5e6e23736b42472994e46bb922a94569
institution Kabale University
issn 2304-8158
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Foods
spelling doaj-art-5e6e23736b42472994e46bb922a945692025-01-10T13:17:29ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582024-12-01141910.3390/foods14010009Toxic Trace Elements in Meat and Meat Products Across Asia: A Comprehensive Literature Review and Implications for Human HealthJose L. Domingo0Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorens 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, SpainMeat and meat products are vital sources of essential nutrients for human health and development. However, an excessive or inappropriate consumption can pose significant health risks. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified red meat as “probably carcinogenic to humans” and processed meat as “carcinogenic to humans”, yet the role of environmental contaminants in these products was not addressed. The present review focuses on human exposure to toxic trace elements (arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead) through meat and meat products in Asia, covering scientific literature from 1 January 2000, to 30 August 2024. Based on the citations in PubMed and Scopus databases, Asia is the region with the highest number of reported studies, with China contributing the most data. Concentrations of toxic elements in meat vary significantly depending on animal species, specific tissues consumed, and geographic origin. Correspondingly, estimated daily intakes of toxic elements from meat consumption also differ across studies. While some research highlights negligible carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks, others indicate potential health concerns due to elevated toxic element exposure in specific cases. However, similar to observations with organic pollutants, meat and meat products in Asia are not among the primary dietary sources of exposure to toxic elements for humans.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/1/9arseniccadmiummercuryleadmeat and meat productshuman health risks
spellingShingle Jose L. Domingo
Toxic Trace Elements in Meat and Meat Products Across Asia: A Comprehensive Literature Review and Implications for Human Health
Foods
arsenic
cadmium
mercury
lead
meat and meat products
human health risks
title Toxic Trace Elements in Meat and Meat Products Across Asia: A Comprehensive Literature Review and Implications for Human Health
title_full Toxic Trace Elements in Meat and Meat Products Across Asia: A Comprehensive Literature Review and Implications for Human Health
title_fullStr Toxic Trace Elements in Meat and Meat Products Across Asia: A Comprehensive Literature Review and Implications for Human Health
title_full_unstemmed Toxic Trace Elements in Meat and Meat Products Across Asia: A Comprehensive Literature Review and Implications for Human Health
title_short Toxic Trace Elements in Meat and Meat Products Across Asia: A Comprehensive Literature Review and Implications for Human Health
title_sort toxic trace elements in meat and meat products across asia a comprehensive literature review and implications for human health
topic arsenic
cadmium
mercury
lead
meat and meat products
human health risks
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/1/9
work_keys_str_mv AT joseldomingo toxictraceelementsinmeatandmeatproductsacrossasiaacomprehensiveliteraturereviewandimplicationsforhumanhealth