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Skogheim, T.S., Weyde, K.V.F., Engel, S.M., Aase, S., Surén, P., Oie, M.G., Biele, G., Reichborn-Kjennerud, T., Caspersen, I.H., Hornig, M., Haug, L.S. and Villanger, G.D. (2021) Metal and Essential Element Concentrations during Pregnancy and Associations with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children. Environment International, 152, Article ID: 106468.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106468

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Trends of Laboratory-Detected Heavy Metals in Children: Solutions for Heavy Metal Contamination in Infant Food Products

  AUTHORS: Maidah Khan

  KEYWORDS: Infant Nutrition, Infant Food Products, Laboratory-Detected Heavy Metals, Environmental Contaminants, Consumer Safety

  JOURNAL NAME: Food and Nutrition Sciences, Vol.14 No.9, September 18, 2023

  ABSTRACT: In 2019, an investigation by the U.S. House of Representatives revealed major infant food conglomerates had products with high levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury, posing concerns for infants’ vulnerability to the neurotoxic effects of these metals. Trends of laboratory-detected heavy metals were analyzed in children aged zero to five from 1999-2020, providing insights on heavy metal contamination in infant food products. Utilizing National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, mean heavy metal levels in children were calculated, considering gender, race, and income-to-poverty ratio as proxies for assessing associations with increasing heavy metal rates in infant food. Findings indicated an overall decrease in mean concentrations over time, though remaining elevated. Black children exhibited higher lead levels than the overall average, while the Asian subgroup displayed higher levels of total blood mercury and cadmium levels. Lack of internal standards in regulatory bodies, particularly the FDA, exacerbates the issue, with no legally enforceable guidelines or strict maximum levels for heavy metals in infant foods. Urgent FDA interventions are needed, addressing contamination at the sources of raw materials, implementing transparent and extensive product testing, and comprehensive manufacturer labeling to inform consumers about elevated heavy metal levels in infant products.