Chung 2021 — Toxic Elements In Infant Formulas From The Chinese Market
Summary
This study measured chromium, arsenic, cadmium, and lead in 93 cow milk-based infant formulas purchased in Beijing, China in 2019-2020. It is relevant to formula rows because it reports concentration distributions by formula stage, but it does not distinguish non-soy powder from ready-to-feed liquid formula in HMTc terms.
Key numbers
- Total samples: 93 cow milk-based infant formulas.
- Overall means and ranges: Cr 27.38 ug/kg (2.51-83.80), As 3.32 ug/kg (0.89-7.87), Cd 0.98 ug/kg (0.13-3.58), Pb 2.03 ug/kg (0.36-5.75).
- Stage 1, n=28: Cr 27.09 ug/kg (2.51-67.70), As 3.00 ug/kg (0.89-7.87), Cd 0.88 ug/kg (0.16-3.53), Pb 1.61 ug/kg (0.42-4.82).
- Stage 2, n=27: Cr 26.71 ug/kg (8.12-58.33), As 3.57 ug/kg (1.09-6.34), Cd 1.01 ug/kg (0.18-2.62), Pb 2.19 ug/kg (0.81-5.45).
- Stage 3, n=24: Cr 27.39 ug/kg (4.81-83.80), As 3.39 ug/kg (1.29-5.53), Cd 1.03 ug/kg (0.23-3.58), Pb 2.09 ug/kg (0.36-3.60).
- Stage 4, n=14: Cr 30.62 ug/kg (5.68-56.15), As 3.37 ug/kg (1.35-5.54), Cd 1.04 ug/kg (0.13-3.17), Pb 2.55 ug/kg (0.62-5.75).
Methods (brief)
Samples were digested and analyzed by ICP-MS. Reported limits of detection in infant formula were Pb 0.2 ug/kg, As 0.5 ug/kg, Cr 2.0 ug/kg, and Cd 0.1 ug/kg.
Limitations
The study reports arsenic as arsenic, not inorganic arsenic. Chromium is not hexavalent chromium. The study uses cow milk-based formula and does not resolve the HMTc powder/non-soy versus ready-to-feed split.
Implications
- Certification: Useful formula concentration evidence for Pb, Cd, As, and Cr screening.
- Courses: Useful example of stage-specific formula monitoring.
- App: Supports broad formula-row evidence but needs HMTc-row caveats.
- Microbiome: No direct microbiome endpoint.