Dietary Acrylamide Intake and Health Risks Categorization among Adults in Kibera Slum, Nairobi

Aims: Determine dietary acrylamide intake and categorize health risks associated with exposure Study Design: Analytical cross-sectional Place and Duration of Study: Kibera slum, Nairobi city county, 2021 Methodology: A total of 384 consumers aged 18 years and above of at least one of the foods of interest were included. From the county (selected purposively), villages were selected using simple random sampling. Study participants were conveniently selected. Food frequency questionnaire was used to collect data. SPSS version 20 was use to enter and analyze data. Dietary acrylamide intake was estimated by multiplying the concentration of acrylamide in the food, frequency of consumption and food portion size. Risk categorization was done using MOEs calculated by dividing BMDL10 values for peripheral neuropathy and for neoplastic effects by acrylamide intake in mg/kg bodyweight per day. Results: The average dietary acrylamide intake was 17.008µg/day with chapati being the biggest contributor at 38.19%. The mean dietary acrylamide intake in µg/kg per kilogram of body weight per day for consumers was 0.254±0.051µg/kg bw/day. For peripheral neuropathy, the mean MOE (1693) for all consumers was above 100 hence of no public health concern for this category of effects. However, for neoplastic effects, the mean MOE (669) and all other obtained MOEs were less than 10,000 which implies high risk of public health concern for this category of effects, for all consumers. Conclusion: Experimental studies have shown acrylamide to be carcinogenic and also associated with non-neoplastic health issues. In this study, the mean MOE obtained for neoplastic effects is of high risk of public health concern while that for non-neoplastic effects is of no public health concern. Therefore, in relation to neoplastic effects, there is need for consumers to diversify their diets and eat acrylamide forming foods in moderation. Each food containing acrylamide contributes to the overall acrylamide exposure.