Would Whey Protein Be a Probable Risk of Mercury Exposure? Case Study

Whey protein is highly consumed among athletes as a food supplement, mainly due to the high content of proteins, commonly used for recovery and muscle growth by practitioners of physical activities. In this way, the consumption of this product is closely related to healthiness. However, several food sources can present chemical contaminants, such as mercury, the most toxic of the inorganic trace elements, and corrupt the concept of healthy longevity. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of total mercury (HgT) in whey protein samples obtained in the retail market of Rio de Janeiro and to perform a long-term risk assessment to human health. The concentration of HgT was determined in 30 different samples analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry using DMA 80 equipment (Millestone). The daily intake of mercury was calculated according to the USEPA - 1989. The mean content (±SD) of HgT observed was 0.0321± 0.0361 mg·kg−1 (min.: Not Detected [ND] – max.: 1.923 mg·kg −1). The hazard coefficient ("Hazard Quotient-HQ") was calculated considering the recommended intake dose for whey protein products, ranging from 30 to 60 g/day, considering the daily consumption of this product for ten years. Among the samples evaluated, 27% had an HQ greater than 1, which means a potential risk to human health. In the highest-value sample, the presence of cocoa is verified among the ingredients. In addition, mercury is present in 60% of the samples, and 39% contain cocoa in their composition. Some authors link toxic elements in cocoa beans to soil contamination and atmospheric pollution, primarily tied to mineral exploration. In summary, long-term consumption of whey protein may represent a potential source of exposure to HgT, underscoring the need to implement control measures to safeguard against associated health issues.