Dr. Patrick Parsons, Director of the Division of Environmental Health Sciences at the Wadsworth Center, was invited to present at the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) Community of Practice Food Chemistry meeting.
His presentation focused on recent advances in X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry for the rapid screening of toxic metals in food. The invitation followed the publication of a peer-reviewed study (Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 2025; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2025.112749) which detailed new developments in monochromatic energy dispersive XRF instrumentation. This technology enables fast, efficient, and non-destructive testing of food products for key toxic elements, including lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic.
Dr. Parsons’ presentation covered:
- The scientific principles behind XRF technology;
- Its practical use in public health laboratories;
- Benefits such as rapid results and reduced sample preparation;
- Limitations that laboratories should consider when applying the technique.
These innovations hold promise for enhancing food safety monitoring and protecting public health by enabling faster detection of hazardous contaminants in consumer products.