Intake risk assessment of heavy metals in Korea - marine agricultural products

摘要

According to several news reports on food contamination in Korea, the general population is exposed to potential ingestion of heavy metals from marine and agricultural products on the domestic market. Koreans' dietary habits of consuming internal organs and raw vegetables increase their dietary ingestion risk of heavy metals. The objectives of this study were to estimate the intake doses of heavy metals(Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Al) and to assess potential health risks posed by agricultural and marine products on the Korean market, considering food consumption patterns by age groups. The ultimate aim is to identify dietary patterns that may reduce the risk of ingestion of heavy metals. The total average daily intake of Pb in marine&agricultural products was 0.203 μg/kg-day, and the total average daily intake of Cd was 0.302 μg/kg-day, and the total average daily intake of Al was 5.996 μg/kg-day, and the total average daily intake of Hg was 0.068 μg/kg-day, and the total average daily intake of As was 3.636 μg/kg-day. The intake of Pb, Cd, Al, and As via ingestion of marine products was high, with seaweed and mollusk mainly responsible for the high intake. And the intake of Cd, As, and Hg via ingestion of agricultural products was high, with Cereal and Vegetable mainly responsible for the high intake. The percent of intake to the PTWI of Pb, As(includ Inorganic As), Hg and methyl-Hg were below about 20%. However, in case of Cd, marines products(specially mollusks) and agricultural products have the slightly high contribution rate. And in case of Al, agricultural products(specially vegetables) have the slightly high contribution rate. The concentration of Cd and Al in food were higher than that of other metals. The daily ingestion doses of Pb, Hg and As in food were below 20% of the PTWIs, respectively. And the concentration of Al in food were higher than that of other metals from the agricultural products. Steps are needed to prevent the ingestion of heavy metals via consumption of marine and agricultural products. In the marine products group, consumption of mollusks was mainly responsible for exposure to heavy metals. Caution is needed with regard to the intake of food by sensitive groups. In the case of agricultural products, rice is primarily responsible for exposure to heavy metals due to characteristic Korean dietary habits. A mixed diet containing various cereals is recommended to ensure an adequate intake of nutrients.