Probabilistic risk assessment of dietary exposure to acrylamide in Korean adolescents (12–18 years) based on KNHANES 2017–2023 data

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Acrylamide (AA) has raised global health concerns owing to its potential carcinogenic and neurotoxic effects. Adolescents may be highly exposed to AA due to their dietary preferences for processed foods. Limited data are available on AA exposure and associated health risks among Korean adolescents. This study aimed to estimate dietary exposure and characterise the health risks of AA in Korean adolescents (aged 12–18 years) using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2017–2023). AA concentrations in seven major food groups were highest in French fries and snacks. A probabilistic exposure model using Monte Carlo simulation revealed that the mean estimated daily intake (EDI) was 0.066 μg/kg bw/day, while the 95th percentile (P95) reached 0.429 μg/kg bw/day. Although the mean EDI remained relatively stable between the pre-pandemic (2017–2019) and post-pandemic (2020–2023) periods, the P95 increased from 0.423 to 0.437 μg/kg bw/day, suggesting a shift towards higher exposure in high-consuming subgroups. The margin of exposure (MOE) for the mean group was 2,580 for carcinogenicity and 396 for the P95 group, indicating relatively greater concern for high-exposure groups. These findings suggest that certain high-consumption adolescents may require targeted risk management and dietary mitigation strategies.