Total dietary intake of mercury in the Canary Islands, Spain

Estimating the risk associated with dietary intake of heavy metals by consumers is a vital and integral part of regulatory processes. The assessment of exposure to mercury shown in this paper has been performed by means of a study on the whole diet. Total mercury (Hg) levels were determined by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) in 420 samples of regularly consumed food and drink. The total Hg concentrations measured in the different groups of food ranged from non-detectable to 119 microg kg(-1) w/w. The fish group had the highest concentrations of total Hg. All groups of food with regulated Hg content showed levels that were lower than the legally set values. The food consumption data used in the analysis were taken from the latest nutritional survey made in the Canary Islands, Spain. The estimated total Hg intake of local population (5.7 microg/person day(-1)) did not exceed the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) limit of 0.3 mg week(-1) of total mercury (43 microg/person day(-1)) fixed by the Joint Food and Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) Expert Committee on Food Additives. Fishery products contributed 96% of the total Hg intake. The mean Hg intake for each island in this archipelago, formed by seven, has also been calculated. Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and El Hierro are the islands with the highest level of Hg intake (7.0, 7,0 and 6.1 microg/person day(-1), respectively). La Palma Island, due to its low fish consumption, had the lowest level of Hg intake (4.5 microg/person day(-1)), followed by La Gomera (5.4 microg/person day(-1)), Tenerife (5.5 microg/person day(-1)) and Gran Canaria (5.6 microg/person day(-1)). A comparison has been made of the results obtained in this study with those found for other national and international communities.     

Copper in foods,beverages and waters from South East Spain: influencing factors and daily dietary intake by the Andalusian population

The copper content of 225 food, 49 beverage and twelve potable water samples were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Analyses of NIST and BCR reference materials demonstrated the accuracy of this technique. The highest copper levels were found in dried fruit and legumes, followed by organ meats, molluscs and crustaceans, cephalopods, cereals and sausages, respectively. In cereals, legumes and fruit, copper levels increased significantly with increasing levels of protein and decreasing carbohydrate content (p?<?0.001). In meat and meat by-products, copper concentrations found in organ meats were significantly higher (p?<?0.01). In fresh fish products, copper levels in shellfish were significantly higher than those measured in fish (p?<?0.001). In vegetables, the copper concentrations found in mushrooms were significantly higher (p?<?0.005). Mean copper concentrations analysed in cheese were statistically higher than those determined in other dairy products (p?<?0.01). In beverages, copper levels determined in rum and juices were significantly higher (p?<?0.001). Beverages for which a vegetable component was directly used in their manufacturing process (juices, wines and beers) had statistically higher copper levels when compared with fresh drinks. The daily dietary intake (DDI) of copper in the Andalusian diet was 1979 μg day^?1 per person. Cereals, meat, meat by-products and vegetables are the food categories that are the main source of copper in the daily diet. Taking into account the dietary reference intakes and upper levels (900 and 10, 000 μg Cu day^?1 for healthy adults, respectively), the mean copper DDI found indicate that for most of healthy adult individuals from the area, no adverse effects occur in relation to copper nutrition (deficiency or toxicity). Potable waters supplied 53 μg day^?1, which constitutes on average 0.025% of the maximum tolerable daily intake of this element set by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee.     

Total dietary intake of mercury in the Canary Islands, Spain.

Estimating the risk associated with dietary intake of heavy metals by consumers is a vital and integral part of regulatory processes. The assessment of exposure to mercury shown in this paper has been performed by means of a study on the whole diet. Total mercury (Hg) levels were determined by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) in 420 samples of regularly consumed food and drink. The total Hg concentrations measured in the different groups of food ranged from non-detectable to 119 microg kg(-1) w/w. The fish group had the highest concentrations of total Hg. All groups of food with regulated Hg content showed levels that were lower than the legally set values. The food consumption data used in the analysis were taken from the latest nutritional survey made in the Canary Islands, Spain. The estimated total Hg intake of local population (5.7 microg/person day(-1)) did not exceed the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) limit of 0.3 mg week(-1) of total mercury (43 microg/person day(-1)) fixed by the Joint Food and Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) Expert Committee on Food Additives. Fishery products contributed 96% of the total Hg intake. The mean Hg intake for each island in this archipelago, formed by seven, has also been calculated. Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and El Hierro are the islands with the highest level of Hg intake (7.0, 7,0 and 6.1 microg/person day(-1), respectively). La Palma Island, due to its low fish consumption, had the lowest level of Hg intake (4.5 microg/person day(-1)), followed by La Gomera (5.4 microg/person day(-1)), Tenerife (5.5 microg/person day(-1)) and Gran Canaria (5.6 microg/person day(-1)). A comparison has been made of the results obtained in this study with those found for other national and international communities.     

Effects of washing pre-treatment on mercury concentration in fish tissue

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of washing pre-treatment on mercury concentration in fish fillet. Response surface methodology was used to investigate the influence of three variables, pH (1–6.5), NaCl (0–1% w/v) and exposure time (5–30 min) by using a three-factor central composite design. The aim was to obtain the best possible combination of these variables in order to reduce mercury in fish fillet. The experimental data were adequately fitted into a second-order polynomial model with multiple regression coefficients (R ²) of 0.961. The results indicated that the reduction of mercury in fish flesh significantly depends on the pH of the solution used. The overall optimal condition resulting in the maximum mercury reduction in fish fillet was obtained at a combined level pH of 2.79, NaCl of 0.5% and exposure time of 13.5 min. The optimized protocol produced a solution that can reduce mercury from raw fish fillet up to 81%.     

Comparative study of the mineral composition of several varieties of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) from different countries cultivated in Canary Islands (Spain)

Potatoes are a basic component of human diets worldwide being an excellent source of minerals linked the maintenance of health. Contents of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), sodium (Na), cupper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr) in seventy‐four fresh potato samples from different varieties consumed in Tenerife Island (Canary Islands, Spain) were determined by flame atomic absorption spetrometry (FAAS). The mean concentrations were 60.1 mg kg^?1, 222 mg kg^?1, 5047 mg kg^?1, 125 mg kg^?1, 1.69 mg kg^?1, 8 mg kg^?1, 1.70 mg kg^?1, 3.88 mg kg^?1, 62.7 μg kg^?1 and 19.9 μg kg^?1 for Ca, Mg, K, Na, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni and Cr, respectively. The varieties of local potatoes presented higher mineral contents than imported potatoes. Potassium presented the highest contents in all varieties of potatoes. Iron was the most abundant microelement. Local potatoes offer greater nutritional contributions to the recommended intakes than imported varieties. Within the macrominerals, the highest contribution to the intakes was observed for K, while Fe was the trace element with the largest contribution to the proposed intake.     

Determination of mercury in fish by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry using an automatic mercury analyzer

The concentration of mercury in fish samples from the Atlantic coast of Ghana was determined using a simple, rapid and accurate method. A mixture of HNO₃, HClO₄ and H₂SO₄ was used for complete oxidation of organic tissue. Mercury is detected by the cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry technique using an automatic mercury analyzer developed at the National Institute for Minamata Disease (NIMD). In total, 56 samples covering 13 species of fish were analysed for total mercury. The concentration of mercury in the edible muscle tissue of these fish ranged from 0.004 to 0.122 μg g⁻¹ wet weight. All fish species sampled had concentrations less than the WHO limit of 0.5 μg g⁻¹ wet weight. The low concentrations of mercury detected in the samples do not constitute any significant mercury exposure to the general population through fish consumption.     

Assessment of mercury and cadmium via seafood consumption in Italy: estimated dietary intake (EWI) and target hazard quotient (THQ)

Mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd) were quantified in fish, cephalopods and crustaceans from Italian supermarkets. Sample compliance with European dietary standards as well as human health risks according to provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) and the methodology of target hazard quotient (THQ) were evaluated. Both element levels were under European legal limits, except for some fish having Hg and Cd contents exceeding or equal to critical values. Estimated weekly intakes (Hg: fish = 0.07–1.44 µg kg^?1 bw week^–1; cephalopods = 0.05–0.15 µg kg^?1 bw week^–1; crustaceans = 0.04–0.08 µg kg^?1 bw week^–1; and Cd: fish = 0.04–0.32 µg kg^?1 bw week^–1; cephalopods = 0.07–0.27 µg kg^?1 bw week^–1; crustaceans = 0.05–0.11 µg kg^?1 bw week^–1) as well as THQ < 1 were within safe limits. Although there seems to be no important risks associated with seafood consumption, Hg exposure was in some cases close to safety margins and thus levels of this metal should be under frequent surveillance.     

Total content of As,Sb, Se,Te and Bi in Spanish vegetables,cereals and pulses and estimation of the contribution of these foods to the Mediterranean daily intake of trace elements

As, Sb, Se, Te and Bi were quantified in vegetables, pulses and cereals, in order to increase the available information on the presence of these elements in the Mediterranean daily intake. Samples were dry ashed and the ashes dissolved with diluted HCl. Hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry was used for quantification. Limits of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.2 to 1.7 ng g⁻¹ and the accuracy was assessed by the analysis of three certified reference materials, Rice Flour (NIST 1568a), Tomato Leaves (NIST 1573) and Cabbage (IAEA 359). Good concordance between results found and certified values were always observed. As, Sb, Se, Te and Bi levels varied in samples analysed from values under the LOD till 1001, 47, 270, 104 and 48 ng g⁻¹, respectively.     

Simultaneously determination of methyl and inorganic mercury in fish species by cold vapour generation atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple and rapid non-chromatographic method was developed to determine methylmercury (MeHg) and inorganic mercury (iHg) levels in muscles tissues of 10 freshwater fish species. The MeHg and iHg were determined by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry after alkaline wet digestion of samples. The digested samples were reduced sequentially with stannous chloride and sodium tetrahydroborate for iHg and MeHg, respectively. Parameters such as carrier gas flow rate (argon), volume of oxidizing and potassium persulphate solutions were investigated in detail. The accuracy of the technique was evaluated by using certified reference material (DORM-2) and spiking the both Hg species in muscles tissue of a fish. The limits of detection were 0.117 and 0.133 μg kg⁻¹ for MeHg and iHg, respectively. The concentrations of MeHg and iHg in muscles tissues of ten fish species were found in the range of (28.4–56.3) and (3.01–8.11) μg kg⁻¹, respectively.     

Human dietary exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances in Catalonia, Spain. Temporal trend

In this study, we assessed the levels of 18 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the most widely consumed foodstuffs in Catalonia, Spain, as well as the total dietary intake of these compounds. Forty food items were analysed. Only perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA), perfluorohexadecanoic acid (PFHxDA) and perfluorooctanoicdecanoic acid (PFOcDA) were not detected in any sample. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was the compound found in the highest number of samples (33 out of 80), followed by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (PFDS). Fish and shellfish was the food group in which more PFASs were detected and where the highest PFAS concentrations were found. The highest dietary intakes corresponded to children, followed by male seniors, with values of 1787 and 1466ng/day, respectively. For any of the age/gender groups of the population, the Tolerable Daily Intakes (TDIs) recommended by the EFSA were not exceeded. In general terms, PFAS levels found in the current study are lower than the concentrations recently reported in other countries.     

Dietary intake of trace elements by the population of Catalonia (Spain): results from a total diet study

This study aimed to analyse the concentrations of Al, Ba, Bi, Cu, Cr, Ge, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sb, Se, Sr and Zn in food samples collected in 2008 in Catalonia (Spain). The dietary intake of these 13 trace elements was subsequently estimated by different age–gender groups of the population: children, adolescents, adults and seniors. In general terms, fish and shellfish, cereals, and pulses were the food groups showing the highest levels for most elements. Higher dietary intakes were associated with male groups (adolescents, adults and seniors). However, none exceeded the tolerable levels. When exposure was estimated based on body weight, children were the group with the highest dietary intake. Notwithstanding, only the weekly intake of Al by children exceeded the recommendations of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). It is a consequence of the higher intake of cereals in relation to their respective body weights. In addition to the periodical food surveillance of toxic metals (As, Cd, Hg and Pb), it is also important to determine the levels of other trace elements in order to ensure that the dietary exposure by the Catalan population is under control.     

预富集-冷原子吸收光谱法测定水中的痕量汞

建立了一种预富集-冷原子吸收光谱法测定水中的痕量汞的方法,研究了预富集条件、测定条件等对灵敏度的影响.在最佳的条件下,用这个方法测定水样中的痕量汞,150ml样品中,特征质量为0.01ng/1%,标准偏差为0.0008～0.001,回收率为95.0%～100.0%,结果较为满意.     

Lead and cadmium in meat and meat products consumed by the population in Tenerife Island, Spain

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of lead and cadmium in chicken, pork, beef, lamb and turkey samples (both meat and meat products), collected in the island of Tenerife (Spain). Lead and cadmium were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). Mean concentrations of lead and cadmium were 6.94 and 1.68 µg kg^-1 in chicken meat, 5.00 and 5.49 µg kg^-1 in pork meat, 1.91 and 1.90 µg kg^-1 in beef meat and 1.35 and 1.22 µg kg^-1 in lamb meat samples, respectively. Lead was below the detection limit in turkey samples and mean cadmium concentration was 5.49 µg kg^-1. Mean concentrations of lead and cadmium in chicken meat product samples were 3.16 and 4.15 µg kg^-1, 4.89 and 6.50 µg kg^-1 in pork meat product, 6.72 and 4.76 µg kg^-1 in beef meat product and 9.12 and 5.98 µg kg^-1 in turkey meat product samples, respectively. The percentage contribution of the two considered metals to provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) was calculated for meat and meat products. Statistically significant differences were found for lead content in meats between the chicken and pork groups and the turkey and beef groups, whereas for cadmium concentrations in meats, significant differences were observed between the turkey and chicken, beef and lamb groups. In meat products, no clear differences were observed for lead and cadmium between the various groups.     

2007~2014广东省膳食中铅、镉、砷、汞元素的 人群健康风险评估

目的采用中国总膳食研究方法,运用广东省重金属污染监测工作所采集的各类居民日常食品中的铅、镉、砷、汞检测数据,评估广东省居民膳食中铅、镉、砷、汞的人群健康暴露情况。方法测定广东22市各类食品中的铅、镉、砷、汞含量,计算居民铅的暴露边界比,镉的每月摄入量,砷、汞的每周摄入量并以此作为评价标准。结果各类食品中铅、镉、砷、汞的总体均值分别为0.140、0.118、0.320、0.018 mg/kg,18岁以下未成年人群,铅的暴露边界比(MOE)值为0.35~13.76;18岁以上成年人群,铅的MOE值为1.83~89.57,镉的每月摄入量为0.02~20.28μg/kg.bw,占镉暂定每月可耐受摄人量的0.08%~81.1%。各人群大米中镉的EMI值为11.47~20.28μg/kg·bw,占镉暂定每月可耐受摄入量的45.9%~81.1%;砷的EWI值为0.2~10.4μg/kg·bw,占PTWI的1.3%~69%;汞的EWI值为0.01~1.29μg/kg·bw,占PTWI的0.25%~32.2%。结论广东省居民膳食中铅、镉、砷、汞污染的暴露情况对于各年龄段人群来说总体处于安全水平,但其中大米的镉、蔬菜中的铅暴露却存在一定的风险。     

Cadmium accumulation in pak choi (Brassica chinensis L.) and estimated dietary intake in the suburb of Hangzhou city,China

The total content of cadmium and its distribution between leaves and roots were investigated for pak choi (Brassica chinensis L.), which was grown in a contaminated area of Hangzhou city, China. Results showed that cadmium concentrations in 90% of samples exceeded the Chinese tolerance limit for food. Although roots of pak choi had a higher concentration of cadmium than leaves, leaf tissue (the edible part) accumulated over 80% (on average) of the whole plant cadmium burden due to the greater biomass in leaf tissue. Since pak choi is the staple vegetable in the study area and of great relevance to human health, the dietary intake of cadmium and calculated risk indexes to local residents through the food chain were determined.     

Estimation of the dietary intake of 13 priority additives in France,Italy, the UK and Ireland as part of the FACET project

The aim of this study was to assess the dietary exposure of 13 priority additives in four European countries (France, Italy, the UK and Ireland) using the Flavourings, Additives and Contact Materials Exposure Task (FACET) software. The studied additives were benzoates (E210–213), nitrites (E249–250) and sulphites (E220–228), butylated hydroxytoluene (E321), polysorbates (E432–436), sucroses esters and sucroglycerides (E473–474), polyglycerol esters of fatty acids (E475), stearoyl-lactylates (E481–482), sorbitan esters (E493–494 and E491–495), phosphates (E338–343/E450–452), aspartame (E951) and acesulfame (E950). A conservative approach (based on individual consumption data combined with maximum permitted levels (Tier 2)) was compared with more refined estimates (using a fitted distribution of concentrations based on data provided by the food industry (Tier 3)). These calculations demonstrated that the estimated intake is below the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for nine of the studied additives. However, there was a potential theoretical exceedance of the ADI observed for four additives at Tier 3 for high consumers (97.5th percentile) among children: E220–228 in the UK and Ireland, E432–436 and E481–482 in Ireland, Italy and the UK, and E493–494 in all countries. The mean intake of E493–494 could potentially exceed the ADI for one age group of children (aged 1–4 years) in the UK. For adults, high consumers only in all countries had a potential intake higher than the ADI for E493–494 at Tier 3 (an additive mainly found in bakery wares). All other additives examined had an intake below the ADI. Further refined exposure assessments may be warranted to provide a more in-depth investigation for those additives that exceeded the ADIs in this paper. This refinement may be undertaken by the introduction of additive occurrence data, which take into account the actual presence of these additives in the different food groups.     

盘龙区9岁及以上社区居民膳食营养素摄 入状况分析

目的 分析2010年昆明市盘龙区9岁及以上居民膳食与营养素摄入状况。方法 采用整群随机抽样的方法,在盘龙区抽取180户334名9岁及以上居民开展连续3天24小时膳食回顾调查。 结果 2010年盘龙区9岁及以上居民谷类及制品每日平均摄入量为485.4g,豆及其制品摄入量为19.1g,动物性食物摄入量为185.8g(猪肉91.4g、其他畜肉31.0g、内脏4.9g、禽肉类18.4g、蛋类20.5g、鱼虾贝壳类19.6g),乳及其制品50.6g,蔬菜及制品321.6 g,水果及其制品61.8g,油脂类食物39.0 g,调味品24.7g(盐8.8g,酱类7.7g、酱油0.4g),坚果及种子类2.9g,糕点糖果类26.4g。居民每标准人日能量摄入为1960.9Kcal,蛋白质摄入70.4g/d,脂肪摄入为82.5 g/d,碳水化合物摄入235.5 g/d,胆固醇为281.3,膳食纤维为12.5 g/d,灰分摄入为20.7 g/d,维生素A视黄醇当量561.9ug /d,胡萝卜素2074.2 ug/d,视黄醇213.6 ug/d,维生素E总量29.7 mg/d,硫胺素1.0 mg/d,核黄素0.9 mg/d,维生素C104.3 mg/d,尼克酸19.5 mg/d,α维生素E9.3 mg/d,钙403.1mg/d,磷1018.9mg/d,钾1789.1mg/d,钠4957.1mg/d,镁278.3mg/d,铁23.5mg/d,锌12.3mg/d,硒44.1mg/d,铜1.7mg/d,锰5.4mg/d。盘龙区居民蛋白质、脂肪和碳水化合物提供能量比例分别为14.6%、36.1%和49.9%;谷类、豆类、薯类、动物性食物、纯热能食物、其他食物等各类食物提供的能量分别占总能量的42.2%、3.9%、1.8%、23.0%、16.0%和13.1%。膳食蛋白质来源于谷类、豆类、动物性食物、其他食物分别为32.3%、8.5%、42.7%和16.6%。脂肪来源于动物性食物和植物性食物的脂肪分别为43.5%和56.5%。 结论 2010年盘龙区居民膳食情况较2002年全国平均水平的摄入状况有较大变化。盘龙区居民的膳食结构不合理,营养素摄入不平衡,蛋类、鱼虾贝壳类、干豆及其制品、乳及其制品等摄入不足,均低于我国居民膳食营养素参考摄入量,而油脂类食物和食盐的摄入量均高于我国居民膳食营养素参考摄入量。     

AFS法和ICP-MS法测定饲料中砷和汞的比较

在优化的实验条件下,应用原子荧光光谱法(AFS)和电感耦合等离子质谱法(ICP-MS)测定饲料中砷和汞,并对两种方法进行比较。AFS法测定饲料中砷和汞的检出限分别为0.062、0.001 3ng/ml,ICP-MS法测定饲料中砷和汞的检出限分别为0.017、0.001 5ng/ml。对12份饲料样品中砷和汞的测定结果进行F检验,结果表明:两种方法不存在显著性差异,标准物质测定结果表明两种方法均具有高准确性和精密度。     

原子吸收光谱法测定食品中重金属含量的研究进展

原子吸收光谱近年来被广泛用于食品中重金属含量的测定,该方法与传统化学分析方法相比具有灵敏度更高、测定结果更准确等优点。本文综述使用原子吸收法测定蔬菜、粮食、海产品和饮品中的铅(Pb)、镉(Cd)、铬(Cr)、汞(Hg)和砷(As)等重金属元素的研究进展。对使用火焰原子吸收(FAAS)、石墨炉原子吸收(GFAAS)和氢化物发生原子吸收(HGAAS)等方法测定不同元素的准确性、灵敏度和回收率等进行评述,并对原子吸收法在食品重金属检测中的应用进行展望。     

Assessment of dietary intake of polychlorinated biphenyls from a total diet study conducted in Pavia, Northern Italy

The diet is considered to be the main source of body burden of polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) in the general population. The most cost-effective and reliable way to estimate the dietary intake is based on total diet studies (TDSs). The aim of the present study was to provide a reliable estimate of recent average dietary intakes of PCBs in Northern Italy. Congener-specific analysis of PCBs was undertaken on total diet samples collected at the cafeteria of the University of Pavia. The average daily intake for total PCBs was calculated to be 0.26 µg/person day^-1. The major contributor to PCB intake was accounted for by pooled samples of bread, cereals and potatoes, followed by the protein composite, and fruit and vegetables. Although diverse dietary habits and differences in sampling and analytical procedures make comparison between different studies difficult, the daily intake of PCBs in Northern Italy can be located in the lower part of the range for values reported in the literature.