Dietary Exposure and Chronic Health Risks of Beverage Preservatives: A Multimatrix HPLC Assessment in Erbil, Kurdistan‐Iraq

Chemical preservatives are widely added to beverages to inhibit microbial growth and extend shelf life, yet excessive or unregulated use may pose toxicological risks. This study aimed to quantify major beverage preservatives and evaluate chronic dietary exposure using internationally recognized risk-assessment models. Forty-five beverages (flavored milk, canned coffee, and fruit juices) were collected from local markets. Sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, citric acid, ascorbic acid, calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and natamycin were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Dietary exposure was assessed using estimated daily intake (EDI), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and margin of exposure (MOE) following World Health Organization (WHO) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guidelines. Preservative concentrations varied substantially across beverage types. Sodium benzoate ranged from 60 to 500 mg/L, with fruit juices showing the highest levels and exceeding Codex Alimentarius limits by 25%-50%. Potassium sorbate concentrations reached 400 mg/L in some samples, while calcium disodium EDTA ranged 70-150 mg/L. Risk assessment showed that sodium benzoate and natamycin produced the strongest chronic exposure signals, with HQ values up to 0.286-1.0 and MOE values as low as 3.5. Although cumulative HI values remained below 1 (range: 0.235-0.644), exposure levels in children were consistently higher than adults due to lower body weight. This first integrated toxicological assessment in the Kurdistan Region demonstrates frequent exceedances of international preservative limits and identifies sodium benzoate and natamycin as primary contributors to chronic exposure. While acute risk appears low, long-term intake among children may be of concern. These findings reveal gaps in regulatory enforcement and emphasize the need for routine monitoring and strengthened food safety oversight in Iraq and similar low- and middle-income regions.