MFDS Launches 'Harmful Substance Human Exposure Safety Survey' Targeting 5,000 Citizens

On the 8th, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that it will conduct a "Hazardous Substance Human Exposure Safety Survey" to evaluate the total exposure levels and risks of hazardous substances that can be exposed from food, cosmetics, and other products applied to the human body, focusing on the user.

From this year until 2025, the Ministry will conduct a survey on the concentration of hazardous substances such as heavy metals in the bodies of 5,000 citizens. The first phase of this survey will be carried out jointly by the Ministry and 12 institutions including Chungbuk National University.

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According to sample distribution criteria by local government, gender, and age, 5,000 citizens aged 3 to 79 will be selected. The concentrations of 40 types of hazardous substances in the blood and urine of the subjects will be analyzed, and 24 types of clinical tests including blood diseases and liver function will be conducted.

In addition, to conduct an in-depth analysis of the sources and routes of exposure to hazardous substances, a survey will be conducted in questionnaire form regarding the subjects' occupation, age, residential environment, dietary habits, and frequency of cosmetic use.

In particular, the evaluation of human exposure risks to seven types of phthalate plasticizers and 15 types of perfluorinated compounds, which have not been assessed so far, will be expanded. The survey results will be used as data for integrated risk assessments of hazardous substances throughout the life cycle, including infants, adolescents, adults, and the elderly.

Participants in the survey will be provided with 24 health indicators that can check their health status such as blood diseases, diabetes, and liver function, the analysis results of hazardous substance concentrations, and expert diagnosis results for improving dietary habits and food intake.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated, "We expect this to be a useful basic data for establishing policies for user-centered integrated risk assessment of hazardous substances and food safety management," and added, "We will do our best to create a safe living environment by monitoring and assessing the risks of hazardous substances that can be exposed in daily life."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.