open access

Vol 73, No 2 (2023)
Review paper
Published online: 2022-12-16
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Cancerogenic food contaminants in European countries

Elwira Gliwska12, Paweł Koczkodaj1, Marta Mańczuk1
·
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2023;73(2):95-102.
Affiliations
  1. Cancer Epidemiology and Primary Prevention Department, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
  2. Department of Food Market and Consumer Research, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Warsaw, Poland

open access

Vol 73, No 2 (2023)
Cancer prevention and public health
Published online: 2022-12-16

Abstract

Contamination of food is inevitable in the production process from manufacturing to preparation for consumption. Some of the contaminants in food are serious health hazards and may increase the risk of cancer. Carcinogenic food contaminants include mycotoxins, dioxins, benzopyrene, acrylamide, cadmium and arsenic. European Union countries are required to meet standards for individual contaminants that may be present in food and to monitor these contami­nants in products on the market. However, based on the European warning system for carcinogenic contaminants, it can be seen that they are still present in various countries of the EU. In view of the increasing number of cancer cases and the overall burden of non-communicable diseases on society, it is recommended to consider not only the nutritional value of food, but also the contamination of food with carcinogenic substances.

Abstract

Contamination of food is inevitable in the production process from manufacturing to preparation for consumption. Some of the contaminants in food are serious health hazards and may increase the risk of cancer. Carcinogenic food contaminants include mycotoxins, dioxins, benzopyrene, acrylamide, cadmium and arsenic. European Union countries are required to meet standards for individual contaminants that may be present in food and to monitor these contami­nants in products on the market. However, based on the European warning system for carcinogenic contaminants, it can be seen that they are still present in various countries of the EU. In view of the increasing number of cancer cases and the overall burden of non-communicable diseases on society, it is recommended to consider not only the nutritional value of food, but also the contamination of food with carcinogenic substances.

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Keywords

food contamination; risk assessment; human exposure; cancer risk; cancer prevention

About this article
Title

Cancerogenic food contaminants in European countries

Journal

Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology

Issue

Vol 73, No 2 (2023)

Article type

Review paper

Pages

95-102

Published online

2022-12-16

Page views

1998

Article views/downloads

329

DOI

10.5603/NJO.a2022.0063

Bibliographic record

Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2023;73(2):95-102.

Keywords

food contamination
risk assessment
human exposure
cancer risk
cancer prevention

Authors

Elwira Gliwska
Paweł Koczkodaj
Marta Mańczuk

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