Ventura et al. 2025 — Portuguese Total Diet Study: dietary exposure to trace elements
This paper presents occurrence data for nine trace elements (As, Cd, Co, I, Mo, Pb, Se, Sn, and Sr) in representative foods consumed by the Portuguese population, using the first harmonised Portuguese Total Diet Study (TDS) methodology aligned with WHO and EFSA guidelines. The study analysed 163 pooled samples representing 1,956 food items purchased at retail level in 2014-2016, categorised into 17 food groups per the FOODEX2 classification. All measured levels of trace elements were below applicable legal limits, indicating no consumer health risk from the analysed foods. The dataset fills previously missing data in the Portuguese Food Composition Database and is reported to EFSA to support pan-European dietary exposure monitoring.
Key numbers
Lowest concentrations of all trace elements were found in the “Water and water-based beverages” group. Highest concentrations by element: As, Cd, I, Pb, Se, Sr in “Fish, seafood, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates”; Co in “Sugar confectionery and water-based sweet desserts”; Mo in “Legumes, nuts, oilseeds and spices”; Sn in “Fruit and fruit products.” Analysis performed by ICP-MS using isotopes 75As, 111Cd, 59Co, 127I, 95Mo, 208Pb, 77Se, 88Sr, and 118Sn. Note: arsenic is reported as total arsenic (tAs) by ICP-MS without speciation; inorganic arsenic fraction is not separately quantified in this study. All 163 pooled samples were analyzed; specific concentration tables for each food group are in the source document.
Methods (brief)
ICP-MS (Thermo X Series II) with autosampler; samples purchased retail 2014-2016 in Greater Lisbon; each pool composed of 12 equal food items (100 g each) prepared as consumed; harmonised TDS methodology per WHO/EFSA guidelines. Total arsenic reported; no HPLC-ICP-MS speciation.
Implications
Certification: provides EU/PT occurrence data for multiple trace elements across food groups; fish and seafood group is the primary driver for As, Cd, and Pb occurrence in Portuguese diet.
Courses: exemplary case study for TDS methodology and the relationship between food-group occurrence and dietary exposure estimation.
App: total arsenic data by food group (not by specific commodity) provides context for exposure estimates; speciated arsenic would be needed for iAs-specific app logic.
Microbiome: not applicable.