Assessment of hazards and risks associated with dietary exposure to mineral oil for the Belgian population

Recently collected dietary exposure data on mineral oil saturated (MOSH) and aromatic (MOAH) hydrocarbons were used to evaluate the risks associated with through food for Belgian population. For MOSH, no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) value of 19 mg kg−1 bw day−1 based hepatic inflammation-associated granulomas found in a 90-day oral study F-344 rats was as point departure (PoD). Due existing toxicological uncertainties, margin (MOE) approach applied. In all investigated scenarios, MOE values well above 100, indicating that there is direct health concern related MOSH Nevertheless, more appropriate risk assessment approaches adequate PoD are needed. MOAH, which potentially genotoxic carcinogenic, could be calculated due lack dose-response carcinogenicity data. two worst-case MOAH not excluded, highlighting needed perform an assessment. The possibility use vitro bioassays collect such additional information present samples also investigated.