Determinants of exposure to acrylamide in European children and adults based on urinary biomarkers: results from the “European Human Biomonitoring Initiative” HBM4EU participating studies

Little is known about exposure determinants of acrylamide (AA), a genotoxic food-processing contaminant, in Europe. We assessed determinants of AA exposure, measured by urinary mercapturic acids of AA (AAMA) and glycidamide (GAMA), its main metabolite, in 3157 children/adolescents and 1297 adults in the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative. Harmonized individual-level questionnaires data and quality assured measurements of AAMA and GAMA (urine collection: 2014–2021), the short-term validated biomarkers of AA exposure, were obtained from four studies (Italy, France, Germany, and Norway) in children/adolescents (age range: 3–18 years) and six studies (Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Iceland) in adults (age range: 20–45 years). Multivariable-adjusted pooled quantile regressions were employed to assess median differences (β coefficients) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) in AAMA and GAMA (µg/g creatinine) in relation to exposure determinants. Southern European studies had higher AAMA than Northern studies. In children/adolescents, we observed significant lower AA associated with high socioeconomic status (AAMA:β =  − 9.1 µg/g creatinine, 95% CI − 15.8, − 2.4; GAMA: β =  − 3.4 µg/g creatinine, 95% CI − 4.7, − 2.2), living in rural areas (AAMA:β =  − 4.7 µg/g creatinine, 95% CI − 8.6, − 0.8; GAMA:β =  − 1.1 µg/g creatinine, 95% CI − 1.9, − 0.4) and increasing age (AAMA:β =  − 1.9 µg/g creatinine, 95% CI − 2.4, − 1.4; GAMA:β =  − 0.7 µg/g creatinine, 95% CI − 0.8, − 0.6). In adults, higher AAMA was also associated with high consumption of fried potatoes whereas lower AAMA was associated with higher body-mass-index. Based on this large-scale study, several potential determinants of AA exposure were identified in children/adolescents and adults in European countries.