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Dietary exposure of lead, cadmium and mercury in Korean adults
Author(s) -
Kwon Sung Ok,
Hwang Hyojeong,
An Hyojin,
Oh Seyoung
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.lb409
Subject(s) - cadmium , mercury (programming language) , heavy metals , chemistry , zoology , environmental chemistry , food frequency questionnaire , mercury exposure , food science , toxicology , biology , medicine , biomonitoring , environmental health , organic chemistry , computer science , programming language
Diet has been suggested as a major contributor of heavy metals, yet related studies are limited for Koreans. This study estimated the dietary exposure of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) using data collected from ≈ 2000 Korean adults. We collected dietary intake by 2‐d recalls and semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Using the intake data, usual exposure levels of heavy metals were calculated by the multiple‐source method (MSM). Respective mean usual dietary exposure levels were 0.12, 0.17, and 0.07 ug/kg bw/d for Pb, Cd, and Hg. FFQ data showed higher levels of heavy metals (0.16, 0.21, 0.10 ug/kg bw/d for Pb, Cd, Hg, respectively) than the usual intake values. Major food groups contributing to the levels of heavy metals were vegetables (23.4–25.5% for Pb, 15.3–16.4% for Cd, and 8.3–10.2% for Hg), cereals (36.7–40.1% for Cd and 21.2–26.3% for Hg) and fishes and shellfishes (17.3–19.6% for Pb, 18.1–22.0% for Cd, 37.4–48.4% for Hg). These values corresponded to 3.4–4.5%, 18–21%, and 9.8–14% of the provisional tolerable weekly intakes (PTWI) for Pb, Cd, and Hg, respectively. Proportions of adults with the levels greater than PTWI were < 1% for all heavy metals. These findings suggest that diet exposure of Pb is low, yet that of Cd and Hg needs further attention for Korean adults. (Supported by grant No. S‐12‐04‐2‐PMP‐994‐0‐F from the Korea Food & Drug Administration)