최근 2008년 12월 1～4일에 캐나다 오타와에서 열렸던 WHO/FAO 전문가회의는 멜라민의 새로운 TDI (Tolerable Daily Intake, 최대무작용량) 수치로 0.2 ㎎/㎏ bw/day을 새롭게 제시하였습니다. 해당 수치는 기존 우리나라 등에서 적용하던 유럽의 0.5 ㎎/㎏ bw/day에 비하여 2.5배 강화된 것입니다. 해당 수치를 고려하여 우리나라 어린이들의 멜라민 위해가능성을 평가한 논문이 유가공기술과학회지 2009년 5월호에 게제되었으며 아래는 해당 논문의 영문초록입니다. 해당 논문에 의하면 두유 등의 섭취량이 다른 연령대에 비하여 많은 1~2세 아동 중 극단섭취자 (섭취자의 5%)의 경우 멜라민 노출의 위해지수 (Hazard Index)가 1.7 수준으로 1을 넘어 위해가능성이 있음을 나타내었다. 이는 2005년 국민영양조사자료에서 1~2세 아동들이 즐겨먹는 식품 중 현재까지 멜라민이 검출되었던 식품들에 최대 2.5ppm의 멜라민이 모두 오염되어있다는 가정하에 실시한 위해평가 자료로서 그러한 가능성은 희박하나, 현재의 일반식품 중 멜라민 기준 2.5ppm은 1~2세 아동들의 건강을 확보하는데 충분하지 않을 수 있음을 보여주는 것입니다. 더구나 현재 FAO/WHO의 멜라민 TDI는 멜라민과 그 유사물질인 cyanuric acid의 결착물 형성으로 인한 독성 증가를 고려하고 있지 못하므로 더욱더 보수적인 관리가 필요한 부분입니다.
In 2008, baby formula containing melamine was found to be responsible for a large outbreak of renal failure in infants in China. A total of 294,000 infants were hospitalized, and at least 6 babies died due to ingestion of the tainted formula. Melamine contains high levels of nitrogen (>60%), which is used as an indicator of protein content. Therefore, high levels of melamine in infant formula were thought to be the result of deliberate contamination in an attempt to increase its apparent protein content. Following inspections by China's national inspection agency, assorted products from at least 22 dairy manufacturers across China were found to have varied levels of melamine (range: 0.09~6196.61 ㎎/㎏). Melamine co-exposure with cyanuric acid can induce acute melamine-cyanurate crystal nephropathy, which can lead to renal failure at much lower doses than if either compound were ingested alone. However, currently, there are very few data on melamine analogues other than cyanuric acid. At an expert meeting of the WHO and FAO held to review toxicological aspects of melamine and cyanuric acid on December 14, 2008, a new tolerable daily intake (TDI) of melamine was established that could be applied to the entire population, including infants. Therefore, a risk assessment of the various theoretical melamine contamination levels in infant formula and ndicator of protein content. Therefore, high levels of melamine in infant formula were thought to be the result of deliberate contamination in an attempt to increase its apparent protein content. Following inspections by China's national inspection agency, assorted products from at least 22 dairy manufacturers across China were found to have varied levels of melamine (range: 0.09~6196.61 ㎎/㎏). Melamine co-exposure with cyanuric acid can induce acute melamine-cyanurate crystal nephropathy, which can lead to renal failure at much lower doses than if either compound were ingested alone. However, currently, there are very few data on melamine analogues other than cyanuric acid. At an expert meeting of the WHO and FAO held to review toxicological aspects of melamine and cyanuric acid on December 14, 2008, a new tolerable daily intake (TDI) of melamine was established that could be applied to the entire population, including infants. Therefore, a risk assessment of the various theoretical melamine contamination levels in infant formula and selected representative foods (other than infant formula and sole-source nutrition products) is urgently needed for Korean babies and children up to 7 years of age. Although the undetectable level regulation for infant formula may be low enough to guarantee the safety of babies under the age of 1 year (including premature babies), the melamine standard of 2.5 ppm for foods other than baby formula could be insufficient to protect the 95th percentile population aged 1
