What is the tool?

"The frequency of detection of trace or higher levels of metal in foods and food ingredients has been on the rise over the past decade.  This is due in part to improvement in analytical methodology to detect and quantify at low levels, in the parts per billion (ppb), or lower range."  This tool is "designed to be used by risk assessors/managers to rapidly evaluate potential public health risk when confronted with the detection of select heavy metals in foods and food ingredients."  The MDEST is composed of three key elements of a dietary risk assessment: 1) hazard characterization, 2) dietary exposure assessment and 3) risk characterization.  The tool (MDEST), available below, "has been parameterized with objective and publicly available data (NHANES, TDS, FCID and published exposure limits and background exposure information) and the algorithm used in MDEST are based on well -defined dietary exposure and risk assessment constructs."  The tool "should be viewed as the beginning of a broader and iterative assessment process, such that for issues not set aside using MDEST, more refine risk assessment based on improved data and with less reliance on conservative default assumptions would need to be carried out."

Partitioning of Dietary Metal Intake—A Metal Dietary Exposure Screening Tool 

This manuscript describes the MDEST model construction, data choices and supporting rationale in the model development and implementation, model output and interpretation, and model strengths and limitations. 

Metal Dietary Exposure Screening Tool (MDEST) V4.2​

Please note that you must read and accept the user agreement each time you access the MDEST. Based on your spreadsheet software settings, you may need to "enable content" and exit "protected view"

Reference Info

Case Study

Inorganic Arsenic in Rice