Elevated levels of toxic metals in some fruit juices and soft drinks — ScienceDaily

Five of the 60 drinks tested contained levels of a toxic metal above federal drinking water standards, according to the Tulane University study. Two mixed juices had arsenic levels above the standard of 10 micrograms/liter. A cranberry juice, a mixed carrot-fruit juice, and an oat milk had cadmium levels that exceeded the standard of 3 parts per billion.

The sampled beverages, which included those commonly found in grocery stores (single and mixed fruit juices, plant-based milks, soft drinks, and teas), were measured for 25 different toxic metals and trace elements. Mixed fruit juices and plant-based milks (such as oat and almond) contained elevated concentrations of toxic metals more often than other beverages, according to findings published in the journal Journal of Food Composition and Analysis.

In all, seven of the 25 elements exceeded drinking water standards in some of the beverages, including nickel, manganese, boron, cadmium, strontium, arsenic and selenium. Although lead was detected in more than 93% of the 60 samples, most contained very low levels, below 1 part per billion. The highest level (6.3 micrograms/kg) was found in a lime sports drink, although it is below the EPA and WHO standards for drinking water.

Tewodros Godebo, lead author and an assistant professor of environmental health sciences in the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, said the study was important because there are few peer-reviewed studies examining the content of American drinks.

“It was surprising that there aren’t many studies on toxic and essential elements in soft drinks in the United States,” Godebo said. “This raises awareness that more study is needed.”

These soft drinks are often consumed in smaller amounts than water, which means that the health risks for adults are likely to be low. But Godebo said parents should be careful about the drinks they offer their children.

“People should avoid giving babies and young children mixed fruit juices or plant-based milks in large amounts,” Godebo said. “Arsenic, lead and cadmium are known carcinogens and are well established to cause internal organ damage and cognitive impairment in children, especially during early brain development.”

Godebo said that most of these elements found in the drinks presumably come from contaminated soil.

“These metals occur naturally, so it’s hard to get rid of them completely,” Godebo said.

Hannah Stoner and Julia Ashmead, students at Tulane University who participated in the study, said they hope the findings will encourage people to think more about what they eat.

“I don’t think there should be fear,” Stoner said. “In toxicity, it’s the dose that often makes the difference, so everything in moderation. But this raises awareness that more study is needed.”

Godebo said the next step is to carry out a risk assessment based on the data collected to look at the impacts of consuming toxic metals on children and adults.

“We are curious to further explore what is in our beverages and foods that are sold commercially to consumers,” Godebo said.