Dietary surveys on a population at Shipham, Somerset, United Kingdom

The results are reported of three dietary surveys and crop sampling surveys carried out at Shipham in 1979. Concentrations of cadmium, lead and zinc in crops were higher than would normally be expected. Copper concentrations in crops were normal, and the results for mercury showed that mercury translocation from soil to crops was very low. Although cadmium dietary intakes were found to be greater than those expected from a normal UK diet, dietary lead and zinc intakes were normal. Dietary copper intakes at Shipham were a little lower than national average intakes. Four participants in the duplicate diet study, or 6% of the study population, had cadmium intakes higher than 0.4 mg per week.     

Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) in Greenlandic Eskimos. Dose-response relationship between SCE and seal diet, smoking, and blood cadmium and mercury concentrations

The mutagenicity of the chromosomes of the peripheral lymphocytes of 147 Greenlandic Eskimos living in the district of Angmagssalik, Greenland, and in Denmark, was evaluated by means of the sister chromatid exchange (SCE) test. Thirty cells from each person were examined. The purpose of the investigation was to determine if there was any relationship between mutagenic activity and diet, and hence the elements selenium, cadmium, mercury and lead. The probands were divided into three groups according to their intake of seal meat or industrially prepared food: group 1, those eating seal at least six times per week; group 2, two to five times per week; and group 3 once each week or not at all. The statistical analysis was performed by means of multiple linear regression analyses, with diet, living district, sex, age, tobacco smoking, and blood lead and mercury concentrations as variables. Forty-eight percent of the variation in SCE could be explained by differences in diet, living district, age, and tobacco consumption. Groups 1 and 2 had a 1.7 and 0.65 times higher SCE/cell, respectively, than group 3. For every additional 10 years of age of the probands, the SCE/cell increased by 0.4, and for every 10 g of tobacco smoked per day the SCE/cell was 0.7 higher compared to non-smokers. When priority was given to blood Hg concentration in the calculation, 16.3% of the total variation in SCE/cell could be explained. An increase in the blood Hg concentration of 10 micrograms l-1 corresponded to an increase of 0.3 SCE/cell. In 92 individuals blood Se and Cd concentrations were also analysed. The variables, tobacco smoking, diet, living district and Cd explained 53% of the total variation in SCE. Giving priority to the blood Hg and Cd concentrations, explained 21.4% of the total variation in SCE/cell. An increase of 10 micrograms l-1 in blood Cd and Hg corresponded to an increase in SCE/cell of 0.7 and 0.2, respectively. No influence on the SCE/cell could be attributed to the blood Pb and Se concentrations. Evaluated by the SCE test, seal diet, smoking, living district and blood Hg and Cd concentrations all contribute to mutagenicity in Greenlandic Eskimos, with seal diet as the most important of the factors examined.     

Acidic deposition and human exposure to toxic metals

Acid precipitation affects the solubility of several metals in aquatic systems and in soil. Cadmium levels in tap water samples from geological areas having low resistance to acidic pollution were significantly higher than those in samples from a neighbouring reference area where there was a different geological structure. The median cadmium levels and pH values were 0.14 microgram l-1 and 5.6 respectively, for the acidic areas compared with 0.07 microgram l-1 and 6.4 respectively for the reference area. Further, there was a significant inverse relationship between both cadmium and lead contents and the pH values of the samples. The mobility of the metals was thus dependent on the acidity. The blood lead levels in 195 subjects from the acidic areas were lower than those in 91 subjects from the reference area (medians 60 vs. 70 micrograms l-1); no significant differences were found in blood cadmium or blood mercury levels. Subjects in the acidic areas had lower plasma selenium levels than those from the reference area (medians 85 vs. 90 micrograms l-1); the difference was mainly attributed to subjects with private wells. The data may indicate a negative effect of the acidic pollution on selenium intake via water and/or foods. There was also a positive relationship between intake of fish on the one hand and blood mercury and plasma selenium on the other, which is in accordance with the role of fish as a source of these metals.     

Accumulation of cadmium in livers and kidneys in Greenlanders

In the Arctic, the traditional diet exposes its people to a very high intake of cadmium because it is highly concentrated in the liver and kidneys of commonly eaten marine mammals. In one study in Greenland, the cadmium intake was estimated to 182 microg/day/person in the fall and 346 in the spring. To determine whether the cadmium is accumulated in humans, we analyzed autopsy samples of liver and kidneys from 95 ethnic Greenlanders (aged 19-89) who died from a wide range of causes. The cadmium concentration in liver (overall mean 1.97 microg/g wet wt) appeared to be unrelated to any particular age group, whereas the concentrations in the kidneys peaked in Greenlanders between 40 and 50 years of age (peak concentration 22.3 microg/g wet wt). Despite the high cadmium levels in the typical Greenlander diet, we found that the cadmium concentrations in livers and kidneys were comparable to those reported from Denmark, Sweden, Australia and Great Britain. Furthermore, even though the mean cadmium intake from the diet was estimated to be 13-25 times higher in Greenlanders than in Danes, we found similar cadmium levels in the kidneys of both. Seal livers and kidneys are the main source of cadmium in the diet of Greenlanders, but these tissues are not eaten in Denmark. Thus, our results suggest that the accumulation of cadmium from Greenlander's marine diet is very low.     

Background lead and cadmium exposure of adult women in Xian City and two farming villages in Shaanxi Province, China

The objectives of the present study are: (a) to clarify the current levels of environmental exposure to lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in Shaanxi Province in China in comparison with levels in other parts of mainland China; (b) to examine if there is any urban-rural difference in Pb and Cd exposure; and (c) to quantify the role of cereals as the dietary source of environmental exposure to these metals. For this purpose, triplet surveys on lead and cadmium exposure were conducted in the provincial capital of Xian and two farming villages A and B in Shaanxi Province, China in 1997. The grand geometric mean for lead (Pb) intake via foods (Pb-F), Pb in blood (Pb-B) and Pb in urine as corrected for creatinine concentration (Pb-Ucr) were 30 micrograms/day, 33 micrograms/l and 5 micrograms/g creatinine, respectively, with significant differences among the survey sites, e.g. Pb-B being higher in Xian (43 micrograms/l) than in the two villages (38 and 22 micrograms/l). The counterpart values for cadmium (Cd) intake via foods (Cd-F), Cd in blood (Cd-B) and Cd in urine (Cd-Ucr) were 6.1 micrograms/day, 0.46 microgram/l and 2.8 micrograms/g creatinine, respectively, with no substantial inter-survey site difference. Thus, it was possible to conclude that, from comparison with the values reported in 1990s literature, the exposure of Shaanxi people to Pb and Cd is no higher than, and even possibly lower than, the levels reported for people in other parts of mainland China. The exposure to Cd was almost exclusively from foods, whereas the exposure to air-borne Pb was large enough in Xian to explain higher Pb-B and Pb-Ucr than the level in Village B despite lower Pb-F in Xian than in Village B. Cereals (wheat, rice, maize and foxtail millet) contributed 26 and 84% of dietary Pb and Cd intake, respectively.     

Fish as a source of exposure to mercury and selenium.

In a total of 395 subjects with varying fish consumption habits, mercury levels in whole blood (B-Hg), and selenium levels in plasma (P-Se) were studied. Also, in subcohorts, mercury levels in blood cells (Ery-Hg; n = 79), plasma (P-Hg; n = 158) and urine (U-Hg; n = 125) were analysed. There were statistically significant associations between fish intake on the one hand, and B-Hg, Ery-Hg and P-Hg, on the other, but not so with U-Hg. In subjects who never had fish, the average B-Hg was 1.8 ng/g, in subjects who had at least two fish meals each week, 6.7 ng/g. Ery-Hg, and to a less extent P-Hg, were associated with levels of marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in serum phosphatidylcholine. P-Hg and U-Hg were associated with numbers of teeth with amalgam fillings. P-Se also correlated with fish intake. In subjects who never had fish, P-Se averaged 80 micrograms/l, in subjects who had at least two fish meals per week, 91 micrograms/l. There was an association between PUFA and P-Se. Further, there were statistically significant associations between P-Se on the one hand, and B-Hg, Ery-Hg and P-Hg on the other. The data clearly demonstrate the importance of fish for the exposure to methylmercury and selenium in the Swedish diet, and the impact of amalgam as a source of exposure to inorganic mercury.     

Geographical differences of zinc, cadmium, mercury and selenium in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Greenland

Muscle, liver, and kidney tissues from 100 polar bears (Ursus maritimus), caught in the Avanersuaq area, north-west Greenland, and Ittoqqortoormiit area, central-east Greenland, were analysed for zinc, cadmium, mercury and selenium. The zinc concentrations in muscle and liver were higher than in kidney. Mean zinc concentrations ranged from 19.7 to 76.0 micrograms/g (all data are presented as geometric means on a wet wt. basis). The presented cadmium concentrations by area and age groups were all low in muscle and in many cases below the detection limit (range: < 0.015-0.048 microgram/g). Cadmium concentrations were intermediate in liver (range: 0.120-1.98 micrograms/g) and highest in kidney tissue (range: 2.16-28.9 micrograms/g). Mercury was likewise lowest in muscle tissue (range: 0.034-0.191 microgram/g). Mercury concentration ranged quite similarly in liver and kidney tissue (liver range: 2.13-22.0 micrograms/g; kidney range: 2.87-32.0 micrograms/g). The selenium concentration increased from muscle (range: < 0.2-0.452 microgram/g) over liver (range: 1.20-9.80 micrograms/g) to kidney (range: 2.34-13.9 micrograms/g). No age accumulation was found for zinc. A weak increase was found for selenium, whereas cadmium and mercury clearly accumulated with age. An exception was mercury concentrations in muscle tissue, where no clear pattern was observed. Polar bears had significantly lower cadmium concentrations than ringed seals from the same area in all three tissues. Likewise mercury was significantly lower in the muscle tissue of polar bears than in ringed seals, whereas liver and kidney concentrations were higher. Biomagnification factors are provided for different tissues and age groups. Tissue ratios are given for different age groups and metals to enable a rough extrapolation from one tissue to another. Tissue ratios for cadmium, selenium and for mercury vary up to a factor of 6 with age. No significant differences could be detected between the elements analysed in bears from two management zones in north-west Greenland. This finding is in agreement with the genetic pattern in the two areas. In central-east Greenland, however, cadmium, selenium, and some of the mercury concentrations in polar bears from the southern area were higher than from the northern area, indicating that the east Greenland area represents two different ecological regions with different polar bear populations. Geographical differences between polar bears from north-west and east Greenland were only found for mercury and cadmium in liver tissue, where the concentrations were highest in bears from north-west Greenland. The geographical trend of increasing cadmium concentrations in polar bear liver tissue from west to east, which has been found previously in Canada, could be extended to cover north-west Greenland as well. East of this region a decrease was found. Mercury concentrations in polar bear liver tissue showed an increase from Svalbard over east and north-west Greenland, peaking in bears from south-west Melville Island. A marked decrease was found west of Melville Island, and the lowest concentrations were found in the Chukchi Sea.     

Survey of lead, cadmium, cobalt and nickel in infant formulas and evaporated milks and estimation of dietary intakes of the elements by infants 0-12 months old

Lead, cadmium, cobalt and nickel were determined in 282 infant formulas and evaporated milks using a graphite-furnace atomic absorption coprecipitation method capable of determining background levels in all samples. On an "as sold" basis, lead in ready-to-use (RTU), concentrated liquid, and powder formulas averaged 1.6, 3.7 and 12.6 ng g-1, respectively. Evaporated (evap.) milks in lead-free and lead-soldered cans contained 2.8 and 95 ng g-1, respectively. Average concentrations of cadmium, cobalt and nickel in evap. milk, milk-based RTU formulas and soy-based RTU formulas were: Cd, 0.38, 0.35 and 3.39 ng g-1; Co, 0.89, 0.46 and 2.79 ng g-1; and Ni, 4.7, 6.0 and 63.7 ng g-1, respectively. In milk-based formulas, cobalt and nickel concentrations were statistically higher in those fortified with iron. Dietary intakes of lead, cadmium, cobalt and nickel by 0-12-month-old infants from food and water used to dilute concentrated foods averaged 1.81 micrograms per kilogram body weight per day (micrograms kg-1 day-1) (13.2 micrograms day-1), 0.44 micrograms kg-1 day-1 (3.5 micrograms day-1), 0.52 micrograms kg-1 day-1 (3.93 micrograms day-1), and 5.0 micrograms kg-1 day-1 (38.2 micrograms day-1), respectively. Lead and cadmium intakes were below the respective FAO/WHO provisional tolerable daily intakes (PTDI) of 3.6 and 0.96-1.2 micrograms kg-1 day-1, except the lead intake of 6 micrograms kg-1 day-1 by infants fed evap. milk stored in lead-soldered cans.     

Organochlorines and heavy metals in pregnant women from the Disko Bay area in Greenland

Recent studies from Greenland and the Canadian Arctic have shown high concentrations of heavy metals, such as mercury, and organochlorines in the blood and fatty tissue of the Inuit. This is attributed in particular to their high consumption of the meat and blubber of marine mammals. In the present study, 180 pregnant women and 178 newborn babies were studied, amounting to 36% of the total number of births in the Disko Bay area during 1994-1996. The pesticides found in the highest concentrations in maternal blood were DDE (4.8 micrograms/l wet wt.), trans-nonachlor (1.6 micrograms/l) and hexachlorobenzene (1.2 micrograms/l) while the total concentration of PCB (Aroclor 1260) was 19.1 micrograms/l. Calculated on a lipid basis, concentrations were slightly higher in maternal than in cord blood. The mercury concentrations were 16.8 micrograms/l in maternal blood and 35.6 micrograms/l in cord blood. In a linear regression analysis, the concentrations of organochlorines, mercury and selenium increased with maternal age. Concentrations of mercury and cadmium increased with the consumption of marine mammals, and cadmium was associated with smoking. The contaminants are potentially toxic for several organ systems but the high concentrations of pollutants have so far not been shown to influence health in Greenland.     

Accumulation of cadmium, mercury and lead by vegetables following long-term land application of wastewater

Several vegetable species which are part of the daily diet of Tehran's population were examined for potential uptake of cadmium, mercury and lead from soil following longterm land application of wastewater. The three study sites located in the south of Tehran have been receiving untreated domestic wastewater by flood irrigation for many years. Elevated levels of cadmium, mercury and lead were found in the upper layers of soil. Examined vegetables accumulated some cadmium, mercury and lead from treated soils, but accumulation was relatively low. Due to the low concentration of these metals and their poor absorption from the gastrointestinal tract (excluding absorption of lead in children), it does not appear that the short-term consumption of these contaminated vegetables would produce acute toxicity. However, since absorption of dietary lead in children is relatively high and children are very sensitive to lead toxicity, short-term consumption of these vegetables plus other environmental sources of these metals in Tehran may produce chronic effects in children.     

Lead, zinc, cadmium, mercury, selenium and copper in Greenland caribou and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

Samples of caribou and reindeer muscle (127 samples) and liver (126 samples) were collected from four locations during two seasons plus 3 years in Greenland. The levels of lead, zinc, cadmium, mercury, selenium, and copper were determined, and analyzed in relation to location, two seasons, age and year of sampling. The lead concentrations (geometric mean) ranged from below the detection limit to 0.007 microgram/g wet weight (wet wt.) in muscle and from 0.027 to 0.926 microgram/g wet wt. in liver. Zinc geometric mean concentrations ranged from 17.5 to 39.6 micrograms/g wet wt. in muscle and from 23.2 to 31.7 micrograms/g wet wt. in liver. For cadmium, the geometric mean concentrations were at, or below the detection limit in muscle, while concentrations in liver ranged from 0.121 to 0.695 microgram/g wet wt. Mercury levels ranged from 0.003 to 0.043 microgram/g wet wt. in muscle and from 0.040 to 0.618 microgram/g wet wt. in liver. Selenium concentration levels in muscle ranged from 0.030 to 0.252 microgram/g wet wt., and from 0.085 to 0.984 microgram/g wet wt. in liver. Copper levels in muscle ranged from 2.09 to 3.60 micrograms/g wet wt., and from 21.8 to 71.0 micrograms/g wet wt. in liver. Mercury concentrations were higher than those found at lower latitudes in Norway and Canada, especially in Isortoq in southern Greenland. Selenium levels were also high compared to other Arctic regions. Concentrations of lead, zinc, cadmium and copper are similar to those reported in caribou from Canada and Norway. Concentrations of elements generally decreased in the following order: Isortoq > Akia > Itinnera > Kangerlussuaq, and there was only found minor variation in the annual levels during 3 years in Itinnera. Late winter levels were generally significantly higher than early winter levels especially in the lichen-rich localities, and it is suggested that the availability of lichens as winter forage is the key determining the level of elements. Accordingly, when using caribou and reindeer as monitoring organism, knowledge of winter forage is very important for interpretation of results.     

Lead and cadmium exposures from canned and non-canned beverages in Nigeria: a public health concern

The lead and cadmium levels of canned and non-canned foods purchased in Nigeria were studied. Fifty samples of these beverages were digested in nitric acid and were analyzed using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The cadmium levels ranged from 0.003-0.081 mg/L for the canned and 0.006-0.071 mg/L for non-canned beverages. About 85.71% of the canned beverages had cadmium levels that exceeded the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 0.005 mg/L set by US EPA while 82.7% non-canned beverages had cadmium levels exceeding the MCL. The mean and median levels of cadmium exceeded the MCL in both the canned and non-canned beverages. Whereas only 79.3% of the non-canned beverages showed lead levels that exceeded the US EPA's MCL of 0.015 mg/L, 100% of the canned beverages had lead levels that were greater than the MCL. The range of the lead in the canned beverages was 0.002-0.0073 and 0.001-0.092 mg/L for the non-canned beverages. The mean and median values of lead exceeded the MCL in both the canned and non-canned beverages. The calculated amount of lead and cadmium in three beverages were 0.204 mg (204 microg) and 0.177 mg (177 microg), respectively. These represent the estimated intake of a consumer who takes three of the products selected randomly in a week; assuming an average volume of one liter (1 L) for each product. Taken together 86% and 84% of the 50 beverages (canned and non-canned) studied in March, 2005 in Nigeria failed to meet the US EPA criteria for acceptable lead and cadmium levels in consumer products.     

Man's mercury loading from a dental amalgam

The release of mercury from an amalgam surface in natural saliva during cyclic loading, as well as under static conditions, simulating the clinical conditions of chewing and rest, has been studied using a nuclear tracer technique. Cyclic loading strongly promoted degradation of the amalgam surface in the saliva environment. Corrosion products were found to be loosely bound on the amalgam surface and could be removed by brushing similar to toothbrushing. Most of the mercury released from the surface was present in amalgam particles, produced during the cyclic loading procedure. The daily release of ionic mercury was estimated to be approximately 3 micrograms/cm2, according to the model experiment. Extrapolating the present findings to clinical conditions, man's ionic mercury intake from dental restorations may be at the same level as the total mercury intake from food and drink.     

Lead, cadmium, mercury and selenium in Greenland marine biota and sediments during AMAP phase 1

Lead, cadmium, mercury and selenium levels in the Greenland marine environment from the first phase of the AMAP are presented. Samples were collected in 1994-1995 covering four widely separated regions in Greenland. Samples included sediments, soft tissue of blue mussel; and liver of polar cod, shorthorn sculpin, glaucous gull, Iceland gull and ringed seal. Concentrations of lead were found to increase with the size of blue mussel, but not with the age of gulls or ringed seal. Both cadmium and mercury concentrations were found to increase with the size/age of all species. Selenium concentrations decreased with increasing size of blue mussel, but increased with the age of gulls and ringed seal. Element levels found are within the range of those found in previous studies in Greenland. Relative to global background levels, lead levels must be considered low, whereas levels of cadmium, mercury and selenium in Greenland marine biota are high. Significant differences in element levels in sediments and biota among regions in Greenland were seen in several cases. There was a tendency for the highest lead and mercury concentrations to be found in east Greenland, whereas the highest cadmium concentrations were found in central west Greenland. However, the geographical differences among the media did not show a consistent pattern.     

Lead, cadmium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, calcium and magnesium in SPF male rats exposed to a dilution of automotive exhaust gas throughout their lives

Male pathogen free CFE albino Sprague Dawley rats were exposed 8 h per day, 5 days per week, for three years to a 1/1000 dilution of automotive exhaust gas, containing 58 ppm carbon monoxide, 0.37% carbon dioxide, 23 ppm nitrogen oxides, 2 ppm aldehydes, less than 5 mg/l hydrocarbons and 8.5 micrograms/m3 lead. Lead, cadmium, iron, zinc, calcium and magnesium were measured by atomic absorption in the femurs and tibias of the rats which died during the experiment. A comparison with two control groups revealed that the only significant difference in the elements measured in the bones was a 500% increase in lead concentration. The calculations of the correlations between the percentages of the elements in bones, the ages and the body weights of the rats, as well as cluster analysis, did not show consistent variations of the water, calcium, magnesium concentrations nor of the other studied metals related to this increase in lead concentration. Moreover, longevity was the same in the 3 groups of rats, but the body weight was statistically smaller (4%) in the group exposed to the auto exhaust dilution.     

Human exposure to contaminants in the traditional Greenland diet

The traditional diet is a significant source of contaminants to people in Greenland, although contaminant levels vary widely among species and tissue from very low in many to very high in a few. Our study has included cadmium, mercury, selenium, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), dichlorophenyltrichloroethane (DDT), chlordane, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH), chlorobenzenes, dieldrin and toxaphene in the major species and tissues consumed by Greenlanders. In general, the levels of these are very low in terrestrial species and in muscle of many marine species. High organochlorines concentrations are typically found in blubber of marine mammals and high metal levels in liver and kidney of seals and whales. In this study, the mean intakes of cadmium, chlordanes and toxaphene significantly exceed 'acceptable/tolerable intakes' (ADI/TDI) by a factor between 2.5 and 6. Mean intakes of mercury, PCB and dieldrin also exceed ADI/TDI by up to approximately 50%. However as these figures are mean intakes and as variation in both food intake and contaminant levels is large, the variation of contaminant intake among individuals is also large, and some individuals will be exposed to significantly higher intakes. The mean intakes of DDT, HCH and chlorobenzenes are well below the ADI/TDI values, and it seems unlikely that the TDI for these contaminants normally is exceeded in the Greenland population. The evaluation of contaminant intake in this study points to seal muscle, seal liver, seal kidney, seal blubber and whale blubber as the dominant contributors of contaminants in the traditional diet. Levels in liver from Greenland halibut, snow crab, king eider, kittiwake, beluga and narwhal and kidney of beluga and narwhal are also high but were, with the exception of toxaphene in Greenland halibut liver, not important sources in this study, because they were eaten in low quantities. A way to minimize contaminant intake would be to avoid or limit the consumption of diet items with high contaminant levels. If we assume a traditional diet composition in this study without fish liver, bird liver, seal liver, seal kidney, seal blubber, whale liver, whale kidney and whale blubber, the intake of all contaminants would be below the TDIs for these. This will result in a reduction of the intake of the amount of traditional food of only 24-25%, and it is not likely that this changed diet will result in deficiency of minerals, vitamins or other nutritional compounds.     

Human exposure to heavy metals in East Greenland I mercury

The concentration of mercury in 178 blood samples and 32 hair samples from the Angmagssalik district in East Greenland has been determined.For Greenlanders mercury concentrations are highly dependent on the amount of seal eaten. In the most heavily exposed group (eating more than six meals of seal per week), a significant positive correlation between blood mercury and age was demonstrated. No differences according to sex were demonstrated when the mean values were corrected for influence of age. In the most heavily exposed group, a mean value of 62.5 μg Hg/l was found, while in the group eating 1 meal of seal or less per week, the mean value was 22.2 μg Hg/l. In the control group consisting of Danes living temporarily in the district, the mean blood mercury concentration was 5.8 corresponding to the fact that they eat seal only occasionally.Hair mercury concentrations were found to correlate well with blood mercury concentrations (r = 0.9222). The hair/blood ratio was estimated to 289.It is concluded that the present relatively high mercury exposure in Greenland does not excert any immediate risk of intoxication to the adult population, but supplementary investigation on fetal exposure is needed.     

Concentrations of mercury, cadmium, lead and copper in fruiting bodies of edible mushrooms in an emission area of a copper smelter and a mercury smelter

Four metals were determined by AAS techniques in 56 samples of 23 wild mushroom species collected in a heavily polluted area in eastern Slovakia in 1997 and 1998. The area has been contaminated from historical polymetallic ores mining and smelting and by emissions from a mercury smelter between 1969 and 1993 and from a copper smelter since 1951. No significant differences in metal concentrations (P < 0.05) were found in four species when comparing the periods 1992-1993 and 1997-1998. Considerable contamination of most species was observed mainly for mercury and cadmium. The highest levels of mercury, up to 50 mg kg-1 dry matter, were found in Boletus reticulatus, Lycoperdon perlatum and Marasmius oreades, and of cadmium up to 20 mg kg-1 dry matter in Xerocomus chrysenteron and Lycoperdon perlatum. The latter species also had extremely high lead and copper concentrations in hundreds of milligrams per kilogram dry matter. Concentrations of mercury and copper in caps of four Boletaceae species were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those in stipes.     

Methyl mercury exposure in Swedish women with high fish consumption

We studied the exposure to methyl mercury (MeHg) in 127 Swedish women of childbearing age with high consumption of various types of fish, using total mercury (T-Hg) in hair and MeHg in blood as biomarkers. Fish consumption was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), including detailed information about consumption of different fish species, reflecting average intake during 1 year. We also determined inorganic mercury (I-Hg) in blood, and selenium (Se) in serum. The average total fish consumption, as reported in the food frequency questionnaire, was approximately 4 times/week (range 1.6-19 times/week). Fish species potentially high in MeHg, included in the Swedish dietary advisories, was consumed by 79% of the women. About 10% consumed such species more than once a week, i.e., more than what is recommended. Other fish species potentially high in MeHg, not included in the Swedish dietary advisories, was consumed by 54% of the women. Eleven percent never consumed fish species potentially high in MeHg. T-Hg in hair (median 0.70 mg/kg; range 0.08-6.6 mg/kg) was associated with MeHg in blood (median 1.7 microg/L; range 0.30-14 microg/L; rs = 0.78; p < 0.001). Hair T-Hg, blood MeHg and serum Se (median 70 microg/L; range 46-154 microg/L) increased with increasing total fish consumption (rs = 0.32; p < 0.001, rs = 0.37; p < 0.001 and rs = 0.35; p = 0.002, respectively). I-Hg in blood (median 0.24 microg/L; range 0.01-1.6 microg/L) increased with increasing number of dental amalgam fillings. We found no statistical significant associations between the various mercury species measured and the Se concentration in serum. Hair mercury levels exceeded the levels corresponding to the EPA reference dose (RfD) of 0.1 microg MeHg/kg b.w. per day in 20% of the women. Thus, there seems to be no margin of safety for neurodevelopmental effects in fetus, for women with high fish consumption unless they decrease their intake of certain fish species.     

Consumption of homegrown products does not increase dietary intake of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury by young children living in an industrialized area of Germany

The dietary intake of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) was studied among young German children with different food consumption behaviour (consumption of own grown foodstuffs and of products from the supermarket). The study area comprised an industrialized and a rural area of West Germany. Dietary intake of contaminants was measured by the duplicate method according to the WHO guideline. A total 588 duplicate portions were collected daily from 84 individuals between May and September 1998. Intake of food groups was calculated from dietary records. Determination of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb was performed following high-pressure digestion of lyophilized samples by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Geometric mean weekly intake [microg/(kgbw x week)] was as follows: As 1.4, Cd 2.3, Hg 0.16, and Pb 5.3. Geometric mean intake corresponded to the percentage of the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) as follows: As 9.7%, Cd 32%, Hg 3.3%, Pb 21%. As and Hg intake were mainly influenced by fish consumption. The amount of cereals and bakery wares mainly determined the Cd and Pb intake. Children living in the industrialized area with a substantial food consumption of own grown vegetables or products from domestic animals products had no increased dietary intake of the metals.