Appendix 2: Benzene in Beverages -- Deterministic Exposure Assessment
Notes
The following table incorporates consumption data from the most recent Canadian survey, the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) - Cycle 2.2 on Nutrition, Statistics Canada, 2004.
All non-alcoholic beverages (including soft drinks and juices) were lumped together and the intake figure for the combination of soft drinks, fruit drinks, and fruit juices in males (a higher consuming group than females) were utilized.
Use of grenadine and syrups in small quantities as a flavouring on desserts was not included in the exposure assessment.
The calculations for specific products are for scenarios where a consumer has a strong preference for the product and therefore consumes it on a regular basis (e.g. on a daily basis).
Mean body weights based on CCHS data
70 kg, adult body weight
60 kg, 12-19 yr old body weight
30 kg, 5-11 yr old body weight
* It should be noted that the absence of any particular brand from this survey means only that the brand was not included in the survey. No particular inference should be drawn from the presence or absence of any brand.
* It should be noted that differences between foods and brands do not necessarily reflect differences in exposure or potential risk that would be faced by consumers. The results shown in the table are exploratory and should not be used as indices of good product choices for consumers.
| Mean benzene | ADULT | 12-19 yr old | 5-11 yr old | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| concentration | Mean Intake | PDI (4) | Mean Intake | PDI (4) | Mean Intake | PDI (4) | |
| Beverage | (ng/g = ppb) (2) nd=0.5 DL (1) |
Eaters only (g/day) (3) | (ng/kg bw/day) | Eaters only (g/day) (3) (5) | (ng/kg bw/day) | Eaters only (g/day) (3) | (ng/kg bw/day) |
| Non-alcoholic beverages | 0.192 | 638.7 | 1.8 | 882.1 | 2.8 | 522 | 3.3 |
| Alcoholic beverages | 1.026 | 750.9 | 11.0 | 248.5 | 4.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Diet A & W Famous Root Beer, sugar-free, considering all four lots. | 2.598 | 638.7 | 23.7 | 882.1 | 38.2 | 522 | 45.2 |
| Diet A & W Famous Root Beer, sugar-free, considering lots 2 to 4 only. | 0.386 | 638.7 | 3.5 | 882.1 | 5.7 | 522 | 6.7 |
| Diet A & W Famous Root Beer, sugar-free, considering lot 1 only. | 9.236 | 638.7 | 84.3 | 882.1 | 135.8 | 522 | 160.7 |
| MOTT's Mr & Mrs T Margarita Mix - old formula | 9.044 | 750.9 | 97.0 | 248.5 | 37.5 | n/a | n/a |
| MOTT's Mr & Mrs T Margarita Mix - reformulated | 0.024 | 750.9 | 0.3 | 248.5 | 0.1 | n/a | n/a |
- The non-detects (nd) were set to half the detection limit (DL) of 0.016 µg/L.
- Benzene concentrations were measured in ng/mL and were converted to ng/g in the "as consumed" product using the density values provided by the Food Research Division and dilution factors where appropriate.
- The intake figures for "soft drinks, fruit drinks and fruit juices combined" and "alcoholic beverages" are based on a 24-hour dietary recall survey for males (higher consuming group).
- PDI = Probable Daily Intake
- The CCHS "alcoholic beverage" eaters only intake figure (males only) of 869.8 g for 12-19 yr olds has been multiplied by a factor of 2/7 in order to assume a frequency of consumption of 2 times per week.
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