Concentrations of aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, tin and zinc were determined in samples from the 1997 UK Total Diet Study and used to estimate dietary exposures of the general UK population. Population average dietary exposures to aluminium (3.4mg/day), arsenic (0.065mg/day), cadmium (0.012mg/day), chromium (0.10mg/day), copper (1.2mg/day), mercury (0.003mg/day), nickel (0.13mg/day), tin (1.8mg/ day) and zinc (8.4mg/day) are similar to those from previous UK Total Diet Studies and are below the appropriate PTWIs, PMTDIs and TDIs. Dietary exposure of the UK population (0.026 mg/day) to lead is falling as a result of measures taken to reduce lead contamination of the environment and food and is well below the PTWI. There has been little change in UK estimates of selenium exposure since the 1994 Total Diet Study but current estimates (0.039mg/day) are lower than those derived from earlier Total Diet Studies.

1997 UK Total Diet Study--dietary exposures to aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, tin and zinc.

Dietary exposures of consumers to 30 elements (aluminium, antimony, arsenic, barium, bismuth, boron, cadmium, calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, germanium, gold, iridium, iron, lead, lithium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, selenium, strontium, thallium, tin and zinc) estimated from the UK 1994 Total Diet Study are reported, and compared with those from previous UK Total Diet Studies and those from other countries. Dietary exposure estimates were generally low and, where comparisons are possible, similar to those from other countries and below the relevant Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes and Provisional Maximum Tolerable Daily Intakes. For most of those elements included in previous UK Total Diet Studies, dietary exposures have declined.

Dietary exposure estimates of 30 elements from the UK Total Diet Study

Estimation of the dietary intake of cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic by the population of Santiago (Chile) using a Total Diet Study.

As part of a large European Union (EU)-funded comparative toxicology and human epidemiology study, EU-Compare, a selection of organohalogen compounds (OHCs) was analyzed in maternal serum, collected at the 35th week of pregnancy, and in cord serum of a number of their infants to determine maternal concentrations and to investigate the extent of transplacental transfer of these compounds. Eight neutral OHCs were analyzed: one polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB: CB-153),4,4'-DDE, five polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs: BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, and BDE-154), and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD). Five phenolic OHCs were analyzed: three hydroxylated PCBs (40H-CB-107, 40H-CB-146, and 40H-CB-187), one hydroxylated PBDE (60H-BDE-47), and pentachlorophenol (PCP). All OHCs, except 60H-BDE-47, were present in maternal and cord serum. The historically identified OHCs showed the highest concentration: 4,4'-DDE (median value 89 ng/g lipid in maternal serum and 68 ng/g lipid in cord serum) and PCP (median value 970 pg/g serum in maternal serum and 1500 pg/g serum in cord serum). HBCDD and the PBDEs were present at much lower concentrations. We conclude that OHCs are present in the serum of pregnant women, and all compounds tested are transferred over the placenta. Because transfer is occurring at a critical stage of infant development, investigation of the health impact is urgent.

Serum Concentrations of Neutral and Phenolic Organohalogens in Pregnant Women and Some of Their Infants in The Netherlands

Dietary exposures to nitrate have been estimated for two different groups of UK consumers. The daily dietary exposure of the general population was estimated from the UK 1997 Total Diet study to be 52 mg/day. Vegetables contributed approximately 70% to this total dietary exposure. Dietary exposure estimates for adult consumers of vegetables commonly eaten in the UK were 93 mg/day and 140 mg/day for mean and 97.5th percentile consumers, respectively. Dietary exposures to nitrate of UK consumers are similar to those in other European countries and are less than the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for nitrate set by the European Commission's Scientific Committee for Food.

Dietary exposures to nitrate in the UK

To assess the level of exposure to food contaminants (cadmium, lead, PCBs, DDT, hexachlorobenzene, nitrate and malathion) a total-diet study was carried out. A total of 226 food products were analysed individually; the concentration of contaminants in products not selected for analysis was estimated with the help of published data. The results of the analyses and estimations were used as input for the first Dutch National Food Consumption Survey (1987-1988) (n = 5898, age 1-85). Mean intakes of all contaminants analysed did not exceed the acceptable daily intake (ADI) or comparable values in any of the age-sex groups. Comparison of the results with those of previous total diet studies suggests that the intake of all contaminants analysed had declined between 1976-1978 and 1988-1989. In younger age groups an intake of lead and cadmium exceeding the tolerable daily intake (derived from the WHO/FAO provisional tolerable weekly intake) was found in 1.5% of individuals at most. For the older population groups and for the other contaminants in all population groups mean and maximum intakes were substantially below the ADI. However, individual intakes above the ADI for nitrate were found in 3-23% of individuals. For chronic exposure these percentages are likely to be overestimated because of the short time frame for food consumption measurement. In general, the difference between mean intake and tolerable daily intake was smallest for children aged 1-4. Therefore, it is recommended that future research is concentrated on the intake of contaminants in younger age groups.

Dietary intake of food contaminants in the Netherlands (Dutch nutrition surveillance system)

Survey of the contamination of Dutch coastal waters by chlorinated hydrocarbons, including the occurrence of methylthio-pentachlorobenzene and di-(methylthio)tetrachlorobenzene

C.G. van der Paauw

Papers

Dietary intake of food contaminants in the Netherlands (Dutch nutrition surveillance system)

Survey of the contamination of Dutch coastal waters by chlorinated hydrocarbons, including the occurrence of methylthio-pentachlorobenzene and di-(methylthio)tetrachlorobenzene