Determinants of exposure to acrylamide in European children and adults based on urinary biomarkers: results from the "European Human Biomonitoring Initiative" HBM4EU participating studies

Abstract

Little is known about exposure determinants of acrylamide (AA), a genotoxic food-processing contaminant, in Europe. We assessed determinants of AA exposure, measured by urinary mercapturic acids of AA (AAMA) and glycidamide (GAMA), its main metabolite, in 3157 children/adolescents and 1297 adults in the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative. Harmonized individual-level questionnaires data and quality assured measurements of AAMA and GAMA (urine collection: 2014-2021), the short-term validated biomarkers of AA exposure, were obtained from four studies (Italy, France, Germany, and Norway) in children/adolescents (age range: 3-18 years) and six studies (Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Iceland) in adults (age range: 20-45 years). Multivariable-adjusted pooled quantile regressions were employed to assess median differences ((beta) coefficients) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) in AAMA and GAMA ((micro)g/g creatinine) in relation to exposure determinants. Southern European studies had higher AAMA than Northern studies. In children/adolescents, we observed significant lower AA associated with high socioeconomic status (AAMA: (beta) = -9.1 (micro)g/g creatinine, 95% CI -15.8, -2.4; GAMA: (beta) = -3.4 (micro)g/g creatinine, 95% CI-4.7, - 2.2), living in rural areas (AAMA: (beta) = - 4.7 (micro)g/g creatinine, 95% CI - 8.6, - 0.8; GAMA: (beta) = - 1.1 (micro)g/g creatinine, 95% CI -1.9, -0.4) and increasing age (AAMA: (beta)= -1.9 (micro)g/g creatinine, 95% CI -2.4, -1.4; GAMA: (beta) = -0.7 (micro)g/g creatinine, 95% CI -0.8, -0.6). In adults, higher AAMA was also associated with high consumption of fried potatoes whereas lower AAMA was associated with higher body-mass-index. Based on this large-scale study, several potential determinants of AA exposure were identified in children/adolescents and adults in European countries. © The Author(s) 2023