Sixty dried agricultural products were collected from February to July 2024. Among these, 16 samples were randomly purchased from large supermarkets and local markets in Gwangju, and 44 were obtained from online marketplaces. Only products labeled with phrases such as “No Food Additives” or “100% Raw Ingredients” were selected for analysis. The aims of this study were to determine the concentrations of sulfur dioxide, preservatives, artificial colorants, and toxic heavy metals (lead and cadmium) in dried agricultural products, assess their risk indices, and provide foundational data to establish relevant regulatory standards. The results revealed that sulfite compounds were detected in some samples, with the highest sulfur dioxide concentrations found in gourds (82.99- 1046.95 mg/kg), apricots (10.87-529.45 mg/kg), and konjac powder (23.59-475.92 mg/kg). The highest sulfur dioxide risk index was observed in persimmons, with values ranging from 4.74% to 16.61% for male and 6.26% to 26.84% for female consumers. Sweet potatoes followed, with risk index values of 6.87% and 11.29% for male and female consumers, respectively. All the samples exhibited sulfur dioxide risk indexes below 100%, indicating safety. No preservatives or artificial colorants were detected in any of the samples, suggesting that sulfites can be used as alternatives to preservatives in certain products. The concentrations of lead in dates (9.55-137.09 μg/kg) and gourds (10.76-49.14 μg/kg) and cadmium in gourds (16.36-51.76 μg/kg) were within safe limits, with risk indexes below 100%. This study provides crucial baseline data for evaluating the safety of dried agricultural products. Furthermore, it underscores the need for more comprehensive risk assessments that consider the interactions between sulfur dioxide, heavy metals, and consumption patterns. Lastly, it highlights the necessity of strengthening regulatory standards to better protect consumers.

E171, a mixture of titanium dioxide, has been widely used as a food additive due to its whitening effect and low toxicity. However, it has been proven that E171 is no longer safe for public health. So far, there are insufficient studies on the toxic effects of E171 on organisms especially using standardized test methods. In this study, toxicity assessments of E171 to two aquatic species, water flea (Daphnia magna) and zebrafish (Danio rerio), were performed using modified standardized test methods based on the physicochemical properties of E171. The hydrodynamic diameter, polydispersity index, and turbiscan stability index (TSI) were measured to ensure the dispersion stability of E171 in exposure media during the test period. The EC50 for immobilization of water flea was 141.7 mg L-1 while zebrafish was not affected until 100 mg L-1 of E171. Measurements of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant enzyme activities confirmed that E171 induced oxidative stress, leading to the activation of superoxide dismutase and catalase in both water flea and zebrafish, although the expression of antioxidant enzyme genes differed between species. These results suggested the potential risk of E171 to aquatic organisms and provided toxicological insights into the impacts of E171 on the environment.