As diseases with a significant social impact, including endocrine disorders and cancer, are on the rise, concerns are growing about the health of children and adolescents [1–4]. Of all known toxic contaminants, heavy metals like lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury, which represent the group of priority pollutants, pose the most danger to children [5–7]. Heavy metals tend to accumulate in organs and tissues and thus affect the child’s health when ingested with food even at subthreshold concentrations [8–16].

The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of baby food contamination and the primary incidence of endocrine disorders and cancer in the pediatric and adolescent populations.

METHODS

Data used for the analysis was obtained from the Russian Federal Information Public Health Surveillance Foundation and covered the period from 2012 to 2017. Information about baby food contamination was extracted from Form 18, which aggregates data on the environmental health from Russian regions, and Statistical Form 12, which aggregates data on the primary incidence of diseases reported by local medical facilities and which we used to analyze morbidity in 2 cohorts: infants and children aged 0 to 14 years.

The obtained data were processed in Microsoft Word 2010 and Microsoft Excel 2010; relative and mean values were calculated. A correlation analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between baby food contamination with heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury) and the primary incidence of endocrine, nutrition and metabolic disorders among infants and cancer, obesity, types 1/2 diabetes mellitus among children aged 0 to 14 years in 65 Russian regions. The significance of differences was tested using Pearson’s correlation; calculations were performed in Microsoft Excel 2010.

RESULTS

In 2012–2017, a total of 67,940 samples of baby foods were analyzed for chemical contamination; of them 33,091 were tested for the presence of toxic chemicals. Chemical contamination was detected in 15,589 samples (22.9%), whereas contamination with heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury) in 9,566 samples (14.1%). Contamination above the maximum allowable level (MAL) was detected in 129 samples; subthreshold contamination levels were observed in 9,437 samples.

Half of the tested baby food samples (4,505 samples, 47.1%) were fruit and vegetable purees; they were the most contaminated. Adapted or partially adapted milk formulas and cultured dairy products made up one-fifth of the samples (6.631 samples, 20.1%) and were the second most contaminated baby foods (1,896 samples, 19.9%). The numbers of the analyzed infant cereals and canned pureed meat (with or without vegetables) and fish (with or without vegetables) products were comparable: 4,601 vs 3,909 samples, respectively. Contaminants were present in 1,685 purred meat and fish samples (17.6%) and in 1,151 infant cereal samples (12%). The rest types of baby foods made up less than 5% of the analyzed samples, and their contribution to the total contamination with heavy metals was less than 3%.

The primary incidence of endocrine disorders among infants was analyzed based on 10, 121 indicators. It fell by 18.2% over the analyzed period but its mean values grew by 21.7% relative to the background incidence.

The primary incidence of obesity among children aged 0 to 14 years was analyzed based on 10,914 indicators. Over the analyzed period, it increased by 16.3%; the mean values also increased by 41% relative to the background incidence.

The primary incidence of type 1 diabetes among children aged 0 to 14 years was analyzed based on 6,110 indicators. Over the analyzed period, it increased by 21.6%, while the mean values rose by 80.1% relative to the background incidence.

The primary incidence of type 2 diabetes among children aged 0 to 14 years was analyzed based on 6,110 indicators. Over the analyzed period, it fell by 36.4% but the mean values increased 28-fold relative to the background incidence.

The primary incidence of cancer among children aged 0 to 14 years was analyzed based on 6,110 indicators. Over the analyzed period, it fell by 4% but the mean values increased 2.2-fold relative to the background incidence.

Possible correlations between baby food contamination and the primary incidence of endocrine disorders and cancer were investigated. The results are presented in the table below.

DISCUSSION

The obtained results are similar to the results of the comparative analysis of chemical contamination of foods for children aged 0 to 14 years and primary morbidity in this age group. Previously, reliable correlations were established for chemical contamination of foods for children aged 0 to 14 years and the primary incidence of cancer and obesity in this age group (r=0.27; p≤0.05 and r=0.13; p≤0.05, respectively) [17].

The established correlations are consistent with the results of other studies showing the effects of air, water, soil, and food contamination on the incidence of endocrine disorders and cancer in some Russian regions.

For example, Kislitsyna LB, Kiku PF et al. have demonstrated the impact of water pollution with heavy metals on the risk of cancer and non-cancerous health problems in children and the impact of food pollution with heavy metals on the risk of cancer in both adults and children [18–21].

Luzhetsky KP et al. have described the effects of water, air and food pollution with heavy metals on the risk of endocrine disorders, such as overweight, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and thyroid disorders, in children and adults [2, 22–24].

Kolnet IV and Studenikina EM have compared carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks in children following exposure to soil contaminated with heavy metals [25].

Setko AG et al. have described heavy metals as priority pollutants of food and calculated carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks associated with exposure to toxic chemicals in water and foods [26–28]

The established correlations are consistent with the joint report of UNEP and WHO recognizing chemical contamination as an endocrine disruptor [29].

CONCLUSION

The analysis has revealed correlations between contamination of baby foods with heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury) and the primary incidence of endocrine disorders, including obesity and types 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus, in infants and children aged 0 to 14 years, as well as the primary incidence of cancer in children aged 0 to 14 years.

These findings raise the need for taking measures to minimize contamination of baby foods with heavy metals. This will prevent and reduce the risk of endocrine disorders and cancer.