Table 22.
Summary of qualitative evaluation of the impact of uncertainties on the risk assessment of the dietary exposure of furan and methylfurans in food
| Sources of uncertainty | Direction |
|---|---|
| Extrapolation of the occurrence data to the whole of Europe | +/−a |
| Lack of occurrence data in coffee in relation to its roasting degree | +/− |
| Assumptions on the preparation of coffee and coffee imitate beverages | +/− |
| Assumptions on the contribution of commercially processed foods to the consumption | +/− |
| Assumptions on the consumption of unspecified coffee beverages | +/− |
| Exclusion of reheating commercially prepared foods in the baseline exposure scenario | + |
| Exclusion of home‐cooking practices in the baseline exposure scenario | − |
| Exclusion of methylfurans in the baseline exposure scenario | − |
| Evaporation of furan in tissues and cell cultures | − |
| Potential for a direct genotoxic mechanism in the carcinogenic mode of action of furan | − |
| Potential genotoxicity and carcinogenicity of methylfurans | − |
| Using an additive approach for furan and methylfurans regarding hepatotoxicity | +/− |
a
+ = uncertainty with potential to cause over‐estimation of exposure/risk; − = uncertainty with potential to cause under‐estimation of exposure/risk.