Loading
Life sciences · epidemiological data synthesis
The Lancet. Global Health · May 27, 2027
Reinforces what was already believed, rather than introducing something new.
This WHO synthesis updates the global burden of nine foodborne chemicals, estimating 1.12 million deaths and 29.8 million DALYs in 2021, predominantly from cardiovascular effects of inorganic arsenic and lead. It integrates systematic reviews, dose-response models, and GBD 2021 data with uncertainty quantification across 21 years.
Global burden of disease synthesis with hierarchical meta-regression. Global, regional, and national populations exposed to aflatoxins B1 and M1, inorganic arsenic, lead, methylmercury, cadmium, dioxin, peanut allergy, and cassava cyanide. Intervention: Dietary exposure to nine foodborne chemical hazards. Global, with regional estimates (including South-East Asia and the Americas noted) and national-level data.
In 2021, nine foodborne chemicals caused 1.12 million (0.40–2.10) deaths and 29.8 million (12.9–53.1) DALYs globally Cardiovascular diseases due to inorganic arsenic and lead caused 88.9% of foodborne chemical deaths and 76.5% of DALYs South-East Asia had the highest DALY rate at 789 (272–1660) per 100,000, with 94.2% due to inorganic arsenic and lead
Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.
Foodborne chemicals, particularly inorganic arsenic and lead, drive substantial cardiovascular mortality and warrant integration with non-communicable disease prevention. Regional variation highlights the need for subnational risk assessment and targeted interventions in high-burden areas.
Updated global burden-of-disease synthesis using established models and systematic reviews; reinforces known foodborne chemical hazards at population scale.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
Foodborne chemicals, particularly inorganic arsenic and lead, drive substantial cardiovascular mortality and warrant integration with non-communicable disease prevention. Regional variation highlights the need for subnational risk assessment and targeted interventions in high-burden areas.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Background. We updated WHO estimates of the global, regional, and national foodborne disease burden caused by chemical hazards. We estimated incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of aflatoxins B1 and M1, inorganic arsenic, lead, methylmercury, cadmium, dioxin, peanut allergy, and cassava cyanide for 2000-21.Methods. We used data from systematic reviews, established dose-response relationships, the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, and, where applicable, a structured expert judgment study. We used disease-specific models and a hierarchical meta-regression model with geographical clustering and global linear time trend with uncertainty propagation.Findings. In 2021, the nine foodborne chemicals caused 6·26 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 3·36-10·30) cases, 1·12 million (0·40-2·10) deaths, and 29·8 million (12·9-53·1) DALYs globally. Inorganic arsenic and lead caused the highest burden. Cardiovascular diseases due to inorganic arsenic and lead caused 88·9% of foodborne chemical deaths and 76·5% of foodborne chemical DALYs. The greatest DALY rate was estimated for the South-East Asia region, with 789 DALYs (272-1660) per 100 000 people mostly due to inorganic arsenic and lead (94·2%). The region of the Americas carried the highest foodborne chemical DALY rate in children younger than 5 years, with 749 DALYs (435-1260) per 100 000 children, mainly due to the effect of methylmercury on intellectual disability (91·0%). DALY rates from dioxin showed the steepest decrease from 2000 to 2021.Interpretation. Dietary exposure to chemicals causes a substantial global disease burden. An integrated response with ongoing non-communicable disease prevention efforts is key. Granular assessment including subnational exposure contexts is essential to ensure equity.Funding. WHO.
Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.