Heavy Metal Index

p4-batch7-2026-05-13

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P4 Batch 7 — Ingest Report

Date: 2026-05-13 Handles processed: 200 (food-matrix-filtered P4, all 2024, positions 800–999) Source pages created: 16 False positives: 184 (92%)

Summary

Batch 7 processed the first all-2024 slice (positions 800–999). Yield is consistent with batch 6. High-priority finds include a PNAS 2024 global fisheries MeHg model (li2024), a multi-year US chocolate/cocoa Prop 65 survey (hands2024, 43% of products above Pb MADL), an iAs-speciated rice AWD field trial at U. Delaware (limmer2024, corroborates seyfferth2025), and a GeoHealth spinach Cd/Pb review (seyfferth2024) using FDA TDS data. Total source pages after batch 7: 417.

Source Pages Created

Group 1 (FM_11066274 – FM_11199744)

mekonnen2024-ethiopia-fruit-metals (FM_11111305) FAAS, n=120 samples (mango, banana, orange) from open markets in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. Mango Cd 1,771 ppb dw and Pb 576 ppb dw — 8.9× and 1.9× FAO/WHO limits respectively; HI 3.69 for mango. [publication unspecified] 2024. Evidence tier: A. Metals: Pb, Cd, Cr. Matrices: tropical-fruit. Jurisdictions: ET.

seyfferth2024-spinach-cd-pb-review (FM_11181011) GeoHealth comprehensive review of Cd and Pb in US spinach, synthesizing FDA TDS 1991–2017 and 2018–2020 data. Cd range 0.03–1.09 mg/kg FW in boiled spinach; 37% of 2018–2020 raw spinach samples would exceed EU 0.2 mg/kg FW limit; Pb declining over time but ~15% still exceed FDA draft guidance for baby/young-child foods. Direct input for FDA Closer to Zero spinach category. GeoHealth 2024. Evidence tier: A. Metals: Cd, Pb. Matrices: spinach. Jurisdictions: US.

eccles2024-polar-bear-metals-traditional-food (FM_11198741) ICP-MS + cold vapor AAS, n=49 bears, 6 Canadian Arctic subpopulations (2016–2019). MeHg in muscle mean 0.43 µg/g dw; tHg in liver mean 45.86 µg/g dw (range to 158.33 µg/g dw). Inuit traditional food exposure context. PLoS ONE 2024, CC BY. Evidence tier: A. Metals: tAs, Cd, Pb, tHg, MeHg. Matrices: game-meat, game-liver. Jurisdictions: CA.

Group 2 (FM_11211354 – FM_11332954)

escobar-camacho2024-mercury-fish-ecuador-amazon (FM_11213792) ICP-MS, freshwater fish from two indigenous communities in Piedmont Ecuadorian Amazon. Multiple predatory species exceed Codex/WHO 500 µg/kg tHg limit; MeHg speciated in some samples. [publication] 2024. Evidence tier: A. Metals: tHg, MeHg. Matrices: freshwater-fish. Jurisdictions: EC.

sadee2024-arsenic-speciation-marine-organisms-review (FM_11228943) Review of arsenic speciation in marine organisms (fish, shellfish, seaweed) covering occurrence ranges and HPLC-ICP-MS analytical methods. Confirms that tAs in seafood is dominated by organoarsenicals and does not proxy for iAs; documents the species-by-species speciation profile. [publication] 2024. Evidence tier: A. Metals: tAs, iAs. Matrices: marine-fish, shellfish, seaweed.

limmer2024-arsenic-cadmium-rice-irrigation (FM_11286649) Critical find. Field experiment at University of Delaware. HPLC-ICP-MS speciated iAs and ICP-MS Cd in polished rice grain under 6 irrigation regimes across 2 seasons. iAs range 20–90 µg/kg dw; Cd range 10–150 µg/kg dw. AWD (alternate wetting and drying) reduces iAs by 30–50% vs. continuous flood but increases Cd. Direct corroboration of seyfferth2025 (GeoHealth) at a sister facility; speciated iAs data rather than total As. [journal] 2024. Evidence tier: A. Metals: iAs, Cd. Matrices: rice-grain. Jurisdictions: US.

hands2024-dark-chocolate-cocoa-heavy-metals-usa (FM_11321977) High priority. Multi-year (2014–2022) ICP-MS survey of 72 US dark chocolate and cocoa products. 43% exceeded California Prop 65 MADL for Pb (0.5 µg/day); 35% exceeded MADL for Cd. Organic dark chocolate had significantly higher Cd. Pb and Cd both declined significantly from 2014 to 2022 cohorts. [journal] 2024. Evidence tier: A. Metals: Pb, Cd, tAs. Matrices: dark-chocolate, cocoa-powder. Jurisdictions: US.

Group 3 (FM_11333363 – FM_11421792)

moussa2024-spices-herbs-lebanon (FM_11406529 or similar) GF-AAS and DMA, n=96 composite samples, 13 spice/herb types from Lebanese markets. 20% of samples exceeded Codex Pb MPL (0.3 mg/kg); thyme, thyme mix, garlic powder (100% non-compliant) and paprika (75%) worst performers. 4% exceeded Cd MPL; As and Hg within limits. [journal] 2024. Evidence tier: A. Metals: Pb, Cd, tAs, tHg. Matrices: herbs-spices. Jurisdictions: LB.

naspolini2024-human-milk-sao-paulo (FM_11347280 area) ICP-MS, n=185 human milk samples, Germina prospective cohort, São Paulo, Brazil. As detected 38.6% (mean 2.76 µg/L), tHg 23.9% (mean 1.96 µg/L), Pb 22.8% (mean 2.09 µg/L), Cd 0 detections. Pb exposure associated with significantly lower infant language trajectory at 10–16 months (β = −0.413). [journal] 2024. Evidence tier: A. Metals: tAs, tHg, Pb, Cd. Matrices: human-milk. Jurisdictions: BR.

katebe2024-vegetables-lubumbashi (FM_11379750 area) Greenhouse pot experiment, four vegetable species grown in mine-contaminated soils from Lubumbashi urban market gardens, DRC. Co daily intake from vegetables in low-contamination garden 0.5–8.45× FAO/WHO limit; Pb/Cd within limits for low contamination soils. [journal] 2024. Evidence tier: A. Metals: Pb, Cd. Matrices: leafy-vegetables, root-vegetables. Jurisdictions: CD.

Group 4 (FM_11422272 – FM_11541582)

paezosuna2024-tilapia-mining-dams (FM_11422272) AAS, n=320 tilapia (O. aureus) from 11 mining-watershed dams in Sinaloa, Mexico. Cd/Cu/Pb/Zn in muscle, liver, gills, guts. Liver Zn exceeded 220 µg/g ww in highest-contamination dams; non-carcinogenic Pb risk flagged at ≥231.5 g/week consumption. CC BY. Evidence tier: A. Metals: Cd, Pb. Matrices: freshwater-fish. Jurisdictions: MX.

samma2024-bangladesh-vegetable-metals (FM_11437587) ICP-MS, potato, tomato, pepper, cabbage, cauliflower + paired soils across 6 upazilas, Bogura, Bangladesh. Pb in all vegetable types exceeded BFSA maximum allowable limit (max 25.77 mg/kg dw in potato); Cr exceeded FSSAI limits; CHR > 10⁻⁴ and HI > 1. CC BY. Evidence tier: A. Metals: Pb, Cr, Cd. Matrices: root-vegetables, brassica-vegetables. Jurisdictions: BD.

aendo2024-thailand-egg-metals-goldmine (FM_11438829) ICP-MS, Hg/Pb/Cd/Mn in eggs from 23 laying hen, laying duck, and free-grazing duck farms in Pichit Province, Thailand, near legacy gold mine. Free-grazing duck eggs highest Hg; Hg partitions to albumen, Pb/Mn to yolk. Ecological risk from Cd in soil at considerable-to-high level. CC BY. Evidence tier: A. Metals: tHg, Pb, Cd. Matrices: eggs. Jurisdictions: TH.

li2024-global-fisheries-mehg (FM_11459155) Critical find — P1-grade. PNAS 2024. Global fisheries MeHg modeling from catch statistics and species-resolved tHg/MeHg data. Catch-weighted MeHg range 0.004–1.7 µg/g ww, geometric mean 0.13 µg/g ww across 1,774 species. Tropical/subtropical fisheries account for >70% of MeHg fished; large pelagics 36% of total MeHg mass. 84–99% of subsistence fishing entities likely exceed MeHg exposure thresholds. CC BY. Evidence tier: A. Metals: tHg, MeHg. Matrices: marine-fish. Jurisdictions: global.

owusuadoma2024-ghana-lettuce-metals (FM_11483403) ICP-MS, lettuce and spring onion from 6 anthropogenic sites in Kumasi, Ghana. Ni 137–174 mg/kg dw at highest site, far exceeding WHO/FAO limits. CC BY. Evidence tier: A. Metals: Ni, Cr. Matrices: leafy-vegetables. Jurisdictions: GH.

oseisafo2024-ghana-spices-metals (FM_11527527) ICP-MS, n=90 spice samples (10 types, 3 Accra markets). tAs up to 14,010 ppb in turmeric (no iAs speciation); Pb up to 3,580 ppb; several spices exceed Codex limits. All arsenic is tAs. CC BY. Evidence tier: A. Metals: tAs, Pb, Cd. Matrices: herbs-spices. Jurisdictions: GH.

High-Value Finds

  1. li2024 (PNAS) — Global fisheries MeHg: 84–99% of subsistence fishing entities exceed thresholds. Critical for HMT&C seafood policy.

  2. limmer2024 — iAs-speciated AWD rice field trial at U. Delaware: iAs 20–90 µg/kg dw under 6 irrigation regimes. Directly corroborates seyfferth2025; provides the speciated iAs side of the AWD/Cd trade-off.

  3. hands2024 — US chocolate/cocoa 2014–2022 Prop 65 survey: 43% of products above Pb MADL, 35% above Cd MADL. Temporal decline documented. Most comprehensive US cocoa metals dataset in corpus.

  4. seyfferth2024 (GeoHealth) — Spinach Cd/Pb FDA TDS synthesis: 37% of raw spinach would exceed EU Cd limit. Critical for leafy greens risk context.

  5. naspolini2024 — Human milk Pb associated with lower infant language trajectory (β = −0.413). First corpus entry linking human milk Pb to specific developmental outcome.

Batch Commits

  • 591741c — groups 1+2 absorbed: 7 pages (3 from g1 + 4 from g2), 93 FP
  • 7067f94 — group 3: 3 pages, 47 FP
  • 0562446 — group 4: 6 pages, 44 FP