Abstract:

This study aimed to analyze the status of sulfur dioxide residue in different types of ginseng roots and to
assess the health risk of sulfur dioxide residue based on the obtained data. A total of 80 samples of four types of ginseng
roots were obtained from different ginseng markets in northeast China and prepared for analysis by fluorometry after
derivatization. Exposure assessments of sulfur dioxide residue in ginseng roots were carried out by point assessment and
probabilistic assessment based on Monte Carlo simulation method. The results showed that sulfur dioxide contents of some
samples exceeded the maximum residue level stipulated the Chinese national standard for sulfur dioxide (50 mg/kg). The
average concentrations of sulfur dioxide in four types of ginseng roots were 62.70 mg/kg for preserved fresh ginseng,
89.16 mg/kg for dried raw ginseng, 45.01 mg/kg for red ginseng and 40.94 mg/kg for honeyed ginseng slice, respectively,
indicating a significant difference between dried raw ginseng and red ginseng or honeyed ginseng slice. The point estimation
based on the mean intake and residue showed that the daily exposure to sulfur dioxide due to ginseng consumption of the
investigated inhabitants were 1.08 × 10-2 mg/(kg·d) for preserved fresh ginseng, 8.35 × 10-3 mg/(kg·d) for dried raw ginseng,
4.46 × 10-3 mg/(kg·d) for red ginseng and 2.83 × 10-3 mg/(kg·d) for honeyed ginseng slice, respectively. Their hazard
quotients were all less than one. The results of probabilistic assessment showed that when the highest exposure site (99.5%)
was used to measure the high exposure population, the daily exposure of sulfur dioxide in preserved fresh ginseng, dried
raw ginseng, red ginseng and honeyed ginseng slice were 0.039 3, 0.158 2, 0.026 1 and 0.019 4 mg/(kg·d), respectively.
The hazard quotients were far higher than the average but far lower than one. These results indicated that they were still at
a safe level though their health risks were increased. Thus the levels of sulfur dioxide exposure from ginseng roots might be
acceptable in principle for the general population and even for high-risk populations.

Key words: ginseng, sulfur dioxide, Monte Carlo, health risk assessment