Occurrence and Dietary Exposure Assessment of Quinolone Antibiotics in Animal-Derived Foods and Associated Health Risks Among Different Population Groups in Guangzhou, China

Quinolone antibiotics (QNs) are widely used in animal production and may pose potential health risks through dietary exposure. A total of 1612 animal-derived food samples covering 10 food categories were collected in Guangzhou, China, from 2016 to 2023. Residues of six QNs were determined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Dietary exposure among different age groups was assessed using a probabilistic approach based on local food consumption data, and non-carcinogenic health risks were characterized using hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) methods. QN residues were detected in 7.75% of samples, with an exceedance rate of 2.23%. Aquatic products, particularly fish and crustaceans, exhibited the highest detection frequencies and contributed most to overall dietary exposure. Enrofloxacin (ENR) was the most frequently detected compound, while sporadic samples showed extremely high residue concentrations (1003 unit/g in eggs). Children aged 3–6 years had the highest HI (mean is 1.94 × 10−2). All HQ and HI values were below 1, indicating low non-carcinogenic health risks under current exposure scenarios. Although dietary exposure to QNs among Guangzhou residents is unlikely to pose appreciable non-carcinogenic health risks, elevated exposure in children and sporadic high-residue events highlight the need for continued risk-based monitoring and targeted food safety management.