Carcinogenic and neurotoxic risks of acrylamide and heavy metals from potato and corn chips consumed by the Lebanese population

The present study aims to quantify acrylamide and metals in potato and corn chips and to determine their carcinogenic and neurotoxic risks. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the average acrylamide level in potato and corn chips (1756 μg/kg) was 3500-fold higher than the permissible limit for acrylamide in drinking water (0.5 μg/kg). Potato-based chips and baked chips were found to contain 23% and 18% more acrylamide than corn-based chips and fried chips, respectively. The daily consumption of acrylamide from potato and corn chips was found to be 7-40-fold higher than the risk intake for carcinogenesis set by World Health Organization (WHO) but was below the neurotoxic risk threshold. Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence and thermal atomic absorption analysis revealed that the mean concentrations of zinc, lead and cadmium in corn chips were approximately 1.5-, 1.7- and 2.4-fold higher than the permissible limits set by Food and Agriculture Organization/WHO, respectively. However, the daily intake of these metals was lower than the oral reference dose and the upper tolerable daily intake set by the US Food and Drug Administration. The cancer risk for the Lebanese population from acrylamide exposure estimations appears to be significant, highlighting the need to conduct further epidemiological studies and ensure monitoring of acrylamide levels in food products.