Concentrations, compositional profiles, and health risks of benzophenones among the Taiwanese population based on analysis of 23 daily consumed foods

In this study, we analyzed the occurrence and distribution of 11 benzophenone-type ultraviolet filters (BPs) in 893 food samples spanning 7 food categories in Taiwan. We conducted a Monte Carlo simulation to determine the carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks of BPs. The results indicated that cornflakes had the highest mean level of BPs (103ng/g), followed by bread (101ng/g) and pastries (59ng/g). BP was the most prevalent category, followed by 4-methylbenzophenone (4-MBP), 2-hydroxybenzophenone, and benzophenone-3. Estimation of the lifetime cancer risk (LTCR) of BP (average life expectancy of 80 years) placed them in the 50th and 97.5th percentiles [P50 (P97.5)] LTCR of 1.9 × 10−7 (5.7 × 10−6), indicating that BP in food poses a low renal hazard to the Taiwanese population. The noncarcinogenic risk of BPs was evaluated using a hazard quotient and combined margin of exposure (MOET), revealing a P50 (P97.5) hazard index of <1 for BP, 4-MBP, and methyl-2-benzoylbenzoate. Although the P50 MOET values for all age groups were within the moderate range of concern, with a more conservative extreme (P2.5), the MOET values for the 0–3, 3–6, and 6–12 age groups fell below 100, indicating a high concern for renal degeneration and hyperplasia. Environmental Implication Studies have investigated the ecological risks, but not the human exposure risks, of benzophenone (BP)-type ultraviolet filters (BPs). BPs are widely used in personal care products, plastics, adhesives, and furniture to prevent UV degradation. The mass production and widespread use of BPs have been reported to be associated with numerous health concerns and environmental contamination risks. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study to analyze the dietary exposure to and health risks of emerging contaminants of BPs. This article shows that dietary BP poses a low renal hazard to the Taiwanese population. This knowledge improves the health assessment of BPs.