Persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals in typical seafoods consumed in Singapore

In this study, the levels of several heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were measured in the edible portions of 20 different seafood types consumed in Singapore (2 < n < 12). The mean heavy metal concentrations among the seafood types ranged from below detection limits (BLD) to 14.2 microg/g wet weight (ww) for As (shark), to 0.50 microg/g ww for Cd (kunning), to 25.5 microg/g ww for Cu (gray prawn), to 0.58 microg/g ww for Hg (eel), and to 1.21 microg/g ww for Pb (salmon). Chlordane, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and p, p'-DDT [2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane] and its related metabolites (sum noted as DDTs) were the main POPs found among the seafood types, with highest concentrations in salmon fillets and green mussels. Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) concentrations in salmon fillets (2.75 ng/g ww) were one order of magnitude lower than the highest concentration of PCBs (28.5 ng/g ww). The mean daily intake of contaminants from seafood was calculated for the general population of Singapore. Daily intakes of heavy metals and POPs from seafood are below the oral reference dose set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), except for As, although our study did not characterize the species of As present. Daily intake of As, DDTs, heptachlor, and PCBs in seafood exceeded the conservative cancer benchmark concentrations set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), suggesting that a significant number of people are potentially at risk in Singapore over a lifetime from seafood consumption.     

Arsenic levels in cooked food and assessment of adult dietary intake of arsenic in the Region Lagunera, Mexico.

The aim of this paper is to estimate the levels of arsenic (As) ingestion through cooked foods consumed in an arsenic endemic area and the assessment of their dietary intake of As. The study was conducted in two villages: a population chronically exposed to a high concentration of As via drinking water (410+/-35 microg/l) and to a low-exposure group (12+/-4 microg/l). A 24-h dietary recall questionnaire was applied to about 25 adult participants in each community. Samples of cooked food, ready for intake, were collected separately from each family's participants. To obtain the As estimate for each food item consumed, the mean quantity of food ingested in grams (wet weight) was calculated and the concentrations of total arsenic (TAs) in each cooked food were determined. The estimations of TAs intake were based on the sum over mean of As ingested from each food item consumed during the 24-h period for each participant. For the estimation of total daily As intake, we summed the mean obtained from food, plain water and hot beverage intakes. The TAs average intakes calculated for low-As-exposure group were 0.94 and 0.76 microg/kg body weight/day, for both summer and winter exposure scenarios, respectively. These values are 44.7 and 36% of the provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI) for inorganic arsenic (2.14 microg/kg body weight/day), established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1989. The WHO reference value was obtained on a weekly basis intake estimation assuming an average body weight of 68 kg in adults. In contrast, for the high-exposure group the TAs average intakes were 16.6 and 12.3 microg/kg body weight/day for summer and winter, respectively. Ingestion via cooked food represented 32.5 and 43.9% of the total daily As intake in the high-exposure group; for summer and winter, respectively. None the less, the bioavailability of As through food can be different than via drinking water.     

Content and daily intake of copper, zinc, lead, cadmium, and mercury from dietary supplements in Mexico.

This study investigates the presence of Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Hg in 24 dietary supplements purchased in different health stores across the city of Hermosillo, located in the northwest of Mexico. Analysis of metals was done by microwave digestion and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The most abundant elements in dietary supplements were Cu (<0.19-137.85 microg/g) and Zn (<2.83-4785.71 microg/g), followed by Pb (<0.003-66.32 microg/g), Cd (<0.001-2.90 microg/g), and Hg (<0.24-0.85 microg/g). The estimated daily intakes of metals were below those recommended by WHO and the Institute of Medicine, showing that little risk from heavy metals is associated with the consumption of the dietary supplements analyzed. However, some products presented more than 10% of the tolerable daily intake of Pb, indicating that production processes should be improved.     

Lead,mercury, and cadmium in blood and their relation to diet among Swedish adults

The aim of the present study was to examine the body burden of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) in blood among Swedish adults and the association between blood levels, diet and other lifestyle factors.The study was based on a subgroup (n = 273) of the national survey Riksmaten 2010–2011 (4-day food records and questionnaire). Lead, Hg, and Cd were measured in whole blood, and Cd additionally in urine, by mass or fluorescence spectrometry methods.The median values (5–95th percentiles) of the metals in blood were as follows; Pb: 13.4 (5.8–28.6) μg/L, Hg: 1.13 (0.31–3.45) μg/L, and Cd: 0.19 (0.09–1.08) μg/L. All three metals increased with increasing age. Lead levels in blood were positively associated with intakes of game and alcohol, Hg was related to fish intake, and blood Cd related to smoking and low iron stores and to a low meat intake.Body burdens of the studied metals were generally below health based reference values, but several individuals had blood Pb levels above the reference point for possible nephrotoxic and developmental neurotoxic effects. As health effects cannot be excluded, individuals with high Pb exposure should aim at decreasing their body burden, both from food and from other exposure routes.     

Exposure of citizens in China and in Japan to lead and cadmium: a comparative study.

To compare the background exposure of general urban populations to lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in China and Japan, 250 adult women in five Chinese cities and 72 women in three Japanese cities were surveyed by means of collection and analyses of food duplicate and blood samples. The results show that the geometric mean dietary Pb intake and Pb level in blood were significantly higher among Chinese (24.6 microg/day and 45.8 ng/ml) than their counterparts in Japan (14.6 microg/day and 32.2 ng/ml). In contrast, Cd exposures were significantly higher among Japanese women (34.1 microg/day and 1.91 ng/ml) than among Chinese women (8.8 microg/day and 0.61 ng/ml). Thus, the public health concern should be focussed on Pb exposure for Chinese population and Cd for Japanese people.     

Human exposure to PBDEs through the diet in Catalonia, Spain: temporal trend. A review of recent literature on dietary PBDE intake

The mean concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) (sum tetra- to octaBDEs) were determined in samples of foodstuffs widely consumed by the population of Catalonia, Northeast Spain. The following six tetra-through heptabrominated congeners were also individually analyzed: PBDEs 47, 99, 100, 153, 154 and 183. Food samples were randomly acquired in 12 cities of Catalonia between March and June of 2006. The dietary intake of PBDEs was estimated for the population of this region. In order to determine the temporal trend on the exposure to PBDEs through the diet, the results were compared with those of a previous survey performed during 2000. The highest concentration of total PBDEs was found in fish and shellfish (563.9 ng/kg of wet weight), followed by oils and fats (359.3 ng/kg ww), and bakery products (98.8 ng/kg ww). Among six individually analyzed congeners, for most food groups BDE-47 and BDE-99 showed the highest levels. The dietary intake of PBDEs for a standard male adult of 70 kg body weight was 75.4 ng/day (or 1.1 ng/kg body weight/day, assuming ND = LOD/2). On a body weight basis, it means a decrease of 23% with respect to the daily intake of the 2000 survey (97.3 ng/day or 1.4 ng/kg/body weight/day). Finally, the current PBDE intake is compared with the results of recent studies on the dietary intake of PBDEs performed in various European, North American, and Asian countries.     

A review of heavy metals in rice (Oryza sativa) of Iran

With attention to high public concern to dietary intakes of heavy metals from various foods and rice as one of the main food of the people in the Iran, the aim of this study was to survey heavy metals in rice samples of Iran. Based on obtained results, among the metals in some Iranian cultivated rice samples, cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) concentrations were higher than national standard of Iran. But, totally in Iran, average weekly intake for Cd, As, Pb, cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr) were lower than the maximum weekly intake recommended by WHO/FAO. However, the average weekly intake amount for Hg from rice in Iran is higher than the maximum weekly intake recommended by WHO/FAO.     

Mercury and selenium in fish and shellfish: Occurrence,bioaccessibility and uptake by Caco-2 cells

This study evaluates Hg and Se concentrations and bioaccessibility (element solubilised after simulated gastrointestinal digestion) in 16 raw seafood species consumed in Spain. The concentrations varied greatly (Hg, 3.8–1621 ng/g wet weight, ww; Se, 84–1817 ng/g ww). Only one sample of swordfish exceeded the Hg limit permitted in Spain (1 mg/kg), and for this sample the Hg/Se molar ratio and Se Health Benefit Value food safety criteria also indicated the presence of a risk. Bioaccessibility of Hg (35–106%) and Se (17–125%) was very variable and the Hg/Se molar ratio in the bioaccessible fraction was less than one for all samples. Transport by Caco-2 cells, an intestinal epithelium model, was also evaluated from the swordfish bioaccessible fraction. Hg and Se transport from the food was less than 14%, and cell retention was much greater for Hg (49–69%) than Se (8–12%).     

Dietary intake estimations of organohalogen contaminants (dioxins, PCB, PBDE and chlorinated pesticides, e.g. DDT) based on Swedish market basket data.

By use of a Swedish Market basket study from 1999, in which foods were sampled from four regions, the dietary intake of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) was assessed. Based on earlier data, six food groups (fish, meat, dairy products, egg, fats/oils, and pastries; comprising 52 food items) were selected for POP analyses. Homogenates from these six groups were subjected to POP analyses and levels presented on dioxins (PCDD/PCDFs), dioxin-like PCBs, PCB-153, summation operatorPCBs, BDE-47, summation operatorPBDEs, DDE, summation operatorDDTs, HCB, summation operatorHCHs, and summation operatorchlordanes, after adjusting non-quantified levels to 1/2 LOQ. For all compounds, the fish homogenate contained the comparatively highest levels, on a fresh weight basis. Intake calculations based on the six food groups showed that summation operatorPCBs and summation operatorDDTs gave per capita intakes of 615 and 523 ng/day, respectively, that the estimated summation operatorPBDE intake was 51 ng/day and that of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs was 96 pg WHO-TEQ/day. The estimated mean intakes were below (total-TEQ: 1.3 pg/kgbw/day) or well below (summation operatorDDTs: 8.9 ng/kgbw/day) internationally agreed intake limits (total-TEQ: 2 pg/kgbw/day; summation operatorDDTs: 10,000 ng/kgbw/day). A number of uncertainty factors, including analytical limitations due to low POP levels in food, give reason for caution in the use of the presented intake data. However, the intake estimations of dioxins, summation operatorPCBs and summation operatorPBDEs are well in accordance to calculations of POP intakes in Sweden made by alternate methods.     

Intake of chemical contaminants through fish and seafood consumption by children of Catalonia, Spain: health risks.

The intake of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated diphenylethers (PCDEs), hexachlorobenzene, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons through fish and seafood consumption by children of Catalonia, Spain, was assessed. In 2005, samples of the 14 most consumed marine species in Catalonia were randomly acquired in various cities of the country. Analysis of the above chemical contaminants were determined according to the appropriate analytical techniques and the daily intakes were estimated. For most pollutants, intake was higher in boys than in girls. Average exposure of children to contaminants through fish and seafood consumption did not exceed the respective tolerable daily intake of those pollutants for which it has been already established (metals, PCDD/Fs plus dioxin-like PCBs, HCB, and PAHs). In relation to body weight, intake by children of most contaminants was higher than that found for other age groups of the general population of Catalonia.     

Dietary PCB intake in Belgium

A food market-basket, representative for the general Belgian population, containing various meat, fish and dairy food products, was analysed for its polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) content. Additionally, fast food samples were also investigated. Based on the measured PCB levels (sum of 23 congeners), an average daily dietary intake estimate of PCBs was calculated. Of all foods analysed, fish had the highest average sum of PCB levels (7.1ng/g ww), with a high variation between the investigated species, followed by dairy products and eggs (3.2ng/g ww), fast food (1.9ng/g ww) and meat products (0.62ng/g ww). One fresh salmon filet had the highest total concentration of PCBs (36ng/g ww or 200ng/g lw), whereas levels in steak and chicken breast were the lowest of all foods analysed. PCB intake calculations were based on the average daily food consumption in Belgium and were estimated between 404 and 535ng/day of total PCBs (lower and upper bound). This value is in accordance with what was previously reported for diets from geographical distinct areas. Although it is only a minor constituent of the Belgian diet, fish is the major contributor to the total daily PCB intake (around 50%) due to the high PCB levels in this type of food. Meat products account for around 20% of the total dietary intake of PCBs, while dairy products and eggs contribute to a lesser degree (less than 20%).     

Polybrominated diphenyl ether levels in foodstuffs collected from three locations from the United States

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to provide updated measurements of PBDEs in US food, to estimate possible difference in levels from differing geographical regions, and to provide an improved estimate of current dietary intake.

Methods

Thirty matched food samples for a total of 90 samples were collected from each of three cities (Los Angeles, California; Dallas, Texas; and Albany, New York) and were analyzed for 13 polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners (BDE 28, 47, 49, 66, 85, 99, 100, 138, 153, 154, 183, 203, and 209). Dietary intake of PBDEs was estimated by food type, age, and sex.

Results

In this pilot study, we did not note a statistically significant difference in total PBDE levels in food collected from the three locations. The median total PBDE levels (estimating non-detected values as half of the detection limit) in meat, dairy, eggs, and fish were 267 pg/g wet weight (ww) (range 102-3156 pg/g ww), 176 pg/g ww (range 41-954 pg/g ww), 637 pg/g ww (range 193-932 pg/g ww), and 243 pg/g ww (range 36-2161 pg/g ww). PBDE intake from food was estimated to range from 2.7 ng/kg/day for children 2 through 5 years of age to 0.8 ng/kg/day for women aged 60 years and older. This compares closely with our previous study where the intake estimate was 2.7 ng/kg/day for children 2 through 5 years of age and 0.9 ng/kg/day for women aged 60 years and older.

Conclusion

We did not find a decrease of PBDEs in food since our previous studies which we expected to find due to the declining use of PBDEs in the USA. These findings could be consistent with food contamination from depot sources of PBDEs. A larger, more representative sampling of the US food supply is indicated based on our findings.     

Heavy metals in Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) from the Aleutians: location, age, size, and risk

Considerable attention has been devoted to the risks from mercury (Hg) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) to high-level predators (including humans) who consume freshwater fish. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued advisories because of Hg for four marine fish species, there are few data on lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), or other metals in Bering Sea fish generally, or on the risk these levels pose to the fish themselves or to consumers of marine fish. Levels of arsenic (As), Cd, chromium (Cr), Pb, Hg, and selenium (Se) levels were examined in muscle and liver of 142 Pacific Cod (Gadus macrocephalus) collected in 2004 at Nikolski, Adak, Amchitka, and Kiska Islands in the Aleutian Chain (Alaska) in the Bering Sea/North Pacific Ocean, a major source of commercial fishing. One key objective was whether there were location, age, gender, and size effects on tissue concentration that might pose a risk to the fish or their predators (including humans). All fish were measured and weighed, and a subset was aged by examining otolith layers. As was higher in liver than in muscle (geometric mean 2420 versus 1590 ng/g or ppb wet weight), as were Cd (GM 224 versus 1.92) and Se (GM 1380 versus 165). Conversely, Cr was higher in muscle (76.8 versus 45 ppb), as were Pb (23.7 vs 12 ppb) and surprisingly Hg (128 versus 82 ppb). Adak, until recently a large military base, had the highest levels of As, Hg, and Se, while Amchitka had the highest Pb levels, but Nikolski, which generally had the lowest levels, had relatively high Pb in liver. In general, interisland differences were significant for most metals in muscle, but only for Cr in liver. Weight and length were positively related to age, but age tended to explain more of the variance in metal levels. The multiple regression relationships differed by tissue in an unanticipated manner. Location contributed significantly to the models for muscle Cd, Pb, Hg, and Se, but not for liver levels. Conversely the length by weight interaction entered all of the liver models but none of the muscle models. Se and Hg were positively but weakly correlated in both liver (tau = +0.16) and muscle tissue (tau = 0.12). Hg was positively correlated with length, weight, and age in muscle, but not in liver. As showed a significant negative correlation with size variable in both tissues, and Cr was negatively correlated in muscle. Cd was positively correlated with Hg, Se, and As. Between liver and muscle there were significant positive correlations for Hg (tau = .24), As (tau = .407), and Cr (tau = 0.17), but not for Pb, Cd, or Se. In this study, the only metals that might pose a risk to cod-eating predators is Hg, as well as some of the higher values of Pb at Amchitka and Nikolski . The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reference dose (RfD) (not available for lead) was used to evaluate the risk to people consuming an 8-ounce (228g) meal of cod once per day and once per week, and to calculate risk using the levels found in this study. If a subsistence fisher from one of the Aleut villages ate one meal of cod per week for As, or one meal per day for Hg, they would exceed the U.S. EPA reference dose for As and Hg (set at a level to be without adverse effect for any person with this average daily exposure).     

Dietary exposure to essential and toxic trace elements from a Total diet study in an adult Lebanese urban population

This study assesses, by the Total diet study approach, the adequacy of micronutrient intake (Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn) and the dietary exposure of a Lebanese adult urban population to two toxic elements (Cd, Pb). The foods that made up the average ‘total diet’ were derived from a previous individual consumption survey. A total of 1215 individual foods were collected, prepared and cooked prior to analysis. Analytical quantification was performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Average daily intakes of Co (11.4 μg/day), Cu (1104.19 μg/day), Fe (13.00 mg/day), Mn (2.04 mg/day), Ni (126.27 μg/day) and Zn (10.97 mg/day) were below toxicological reference values and were found to satisfy nutritional recommendations, except for manganese in men and iron in women. Average dietary exposure to Pb and Cd represented 3.2% and 21.7% of the respective provisional tolerable weekly intakes. Estimates of dietary intakes of iron appeared to be inadequate for 63% of adult women. These findings should constitute a current measure of assessing the adequacy and safety of foods consumed in Lebanon and may be a basis for future monitoring studies.     

Placental concentrations of mercury,lead, cadmium,and arsenic and the risk of neural tube defects in a Chinese population

To examine whether in utero exposure to mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) is associated with an elevated neural tube defects (NTDs) risk, placental concentrations of total Hg, Cd, Pb and As were measured with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) in 36 anencephaly and 44 spina bifida cases as well as in 50 healthy controls. The median Hg concentration in the NTD cases (2.25 ng/g) was higher than that of the controls (1.16 ng/g). The odds ratio (OR) for an Hg concentration above the median was 8.80 (95% CI 3.80–20.36) for the NTD cases. NTD risks increased for the second and third high levels of the concentrations, with ORs of 2.70 (95% CI 1.13–6.43) and 18.20 (95% CI 5.45–60.73), respectively. Therefore, higher placental levels of Hg are associated with an elevated risk of NTDs.     

Health risks of dietary intake of environmental pollutants by elite sportsmen and sportswomen

The dietary intake of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (PCDEs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) by elite sportsmen and sportswomen of Catalonia, Spain, was assessed. In 2000, food samples were randomly acquired in various cities of Catalonia. Analysis of the above pollutants were determined according to the appropriate analytical techniques (ICP-MS, HRGC/HRMS, HPLC). In general terms, elite sportsmen and sportswomen showed a higher intake of Cd, Hg, Pb, HCB, PCNs, PCDD/Fs and PAHs than the general population, while it was lower for PCDEs (both sexes), and PCBs and PBDEs (women). According to the FAO/WHO provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) for metals, the WHO tolerable daily intake (TDI) for HCB, and the US EPA’s reference dose (RfD) for PAHs, the dietary intakes of environmental pollutants should not mean a potential toxic hazard. However, the WHO-TDI for PCDD/Fs and “dioxin-like” PCBs is exceeded in sportsmen. The current results indicate that the consumption of those food groups showing the highest contribution to the intake of these pollutants should be diminished. In relation to this, the reduction of the consumption of dairy products and cereals would be important.     

维药刺叶锦鸡儿重金属及有害元素形态分布和健康风险评价

目的测定刺叶锦鸡儿中重金属及有害元素铜、镉、铅、砷和汞(Cu、Cd、Pb、As和Hg)的含量,了解其形态分布特征。方法采用欧洲共同体参考物机构(European Community Bureau of Reference,BCR)对不同形态的重金属及有害元素进行提取,使用原子吸收分光光度法测定重金属及有害元素的含量。依据联合国粮农组织/世界卫生组织(FAO/WHO)提出的健康人群金属的最大日允许摄入量(MTDI)及周耐受摄入量(PTWI)进行健康风险评估。结果刺叶锦鸡儿中Cu、Cd、Pb、As和Hg的含量分别为28.511 6,0.031 0,1.310 7,0.164 6和0.187 9mg·kg-1。其中,Cu、Pb和As以残渣态为主;Cd以可还原态所占比例最高;Hg以酸溶态的含量最高。健康风险初步评价结果表明,成人每日摄入刺叶锦鸡儿15~50g,从刺叶锦鸡儿中摄入的Cu、Cd、Pb、As和Hg含量分别为427.67~1 425.58,0.47~1.55,19.66~65.53,2.47~8.23和2.82~9.39μg,分别占每日允许摄入量(ADI)的21.39%~71.29%,0.82%~2.19%,9.17%~30.58%,1.96%~6.53%和6.62%~22.04%,均低于FAO/WHO所推荐的每人每日允许摄入量。结论日摄入刺叶锦鸡儿15~50g,对人体健康风险影响较小。     

Potential human health risks from metals (Hg, Cd, and Pb) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) via seafood consumption: Estimation of target hazard quotients (THQs) and toxic equivalents (TEQs)

Edible marine species (fish, cephalopod molluscs, crustaceans) from the Adriatic Sea were analyzed for content in heavy metals (Hg, Cd and Pb) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Health risks to human via dietary intake of seafood were assessed by the target hazard quotients (THQs) and the toxic equivalent factors (TEFs). Mercury maximum concentrations corresponded to fish (0.07-1.56 microg g(-1)w.w.), followed by cephalopod molluscs (0.10-0.55 microg g(-1)w.w.), and crustaceans (0.27-0.33 microg g(-1)w.w.). Cadmium levels in cephalopods (0.18-0.59 microg g(-1)w.w.) were higher than those in fish (0.01-0.05 microg g(-1)w.w.) and crustaceans (0.02-0.04 microg g(-1)w.w.), while for Pb the concentrations were generally low (fish: ND-1.18 microg g(-1)w.w., cephalopods: ND-0.17 microg g(-1)w.w., crustaceans: ND-0.03 microg g(-1)w.w.). For PCBs, concentrations in fish, cephalopods and crustaceans ranged between 141 and 3,406 ng g(-1)l.w., 190 and 542 ng g(-1)l.w., and 202 and 429 ng g(-1)l.w., respectively. Cd and Pb THQ values as well as estimates of PCB TEQ exposure indicated the absence of health risks through consumption of the various seafood. In contrast, mercury TEQs values due to consumption of certain fish species (albacore, rosefish and thornback ray) indicated that human health risk might be of concern.     

Mercury exposure from fish consumption within the Japanese and Korean communities

Public health guidance pertaining to fish consumption requires that we be cognizant of the health concerns associated with eating contaminated fish and the nutritional benefits obtained from fish consumption. In doing so, a need exists for an improved understanding of the extent of contamination within various fish species consumed by populations of concern and the extent of exposure to contamination by these populations. As part of the Arsenic Mercury Intake Biometric Study involving the Japanese and Korean communities, it was possible to obtain fish intake data, determine mercury (Hg) fish tissue concentrations for various species consumed, and examine hair for Hg levels of study participants. This longitudinal study (n = 214) included 106 Japanese and 108 Korean women of childbearing age. Hair Hg levels for the two populations and weight-normalized, species-specific, individual-consumption pattern data that estimated Hg intake levels were compared with published National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. Sensitivity analyses and population-specific probabilistic assessments of exposure were conducted. The estimated Hg intake levels for the Japanese (0.09 microg/kg/d) and Koreans (0.05 microg/kg/d) were above the NHANES estimates (0.02 microg/kg/d), as were the hair Hg levels (1.23, 0.61, 0.2 ppm, respectively). Results indicate that (1) there are significant differences between the fish-species-consumption behavior of these two populations; (2) even when fish-consumption rates are equal between two populations, Hg intakes between them can vary significantly; and (3) these population and Hg intake differences present public health challenges when attempting to provide fish consumption guidance.     

Contribution of fish consumption to heavy metals exposure in women of childbearing age from a Mediterranean country (Spain).

The concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) were determined in samples from sword-fish (Xiphias gladius, n=37) and louvar (Luvarus imperialis, n=17) taken in an official surveillance programme in Madrid (Spain). The levels of heavy metals were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (hydride generator for Hg and flame atomic absorption for Cd and Pb) after digestion of the samples (microwave digestion for Hg and drying chamber for Cd and Pb). Pb contamination was negligible in both species. Cd was detected in 89.19% of the samples from sword-fish and 52.94% from louver; 17.65% of louvar and none from sword-fish being higher than maximum residue limits (MRL). However, around 90% of louvar samples and around 35% of sword-fish portions exceeded MRL for Hg; around 30% of louvar samples having levels even higher than 1 microg/g. The consumption of one serving of 150 g either of louvar or sword-fish would not be relevant for Cd and Pb provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of these elements for women in childbearing age, but it would largely exceed the tolerable values for Hg.