Dietary heavy metal exposure of Finnish children of 3 to 6 years

ABSTRACT

The dietary exposure of Finnish 3-year-old and 6-year-old children to cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury was determined using concentration data from Finland and individual food consumption data as well as individual weights of the children. Using middle bound estimates, 88% of the 3-year-olds and 64% of the 6-year-olds exceeded the tolerable weekly intake of cadmium. The benchmark dose for neurological damage caused by lead was exceeded by 14% and 1%, while the lowest benchmark dose of inorganic arsenic was exceeded by 43% and 29% for the 3-year-olds and 6-year-olds, respectively. The exposure of both age groups was below the tolerable weekly intake for inorganic mercury and methyl mercury. Although high, the exposures calculated with predominantly national concentration data were lower than previously estimated by EFSA, due to, for example, lower average concentrations in some much-consumed foods. The heavy metal exposure levels of the girls and the boys were also compared. Exposure to cadmium and lead was significantly higher for the boys than for the girls in both age groups, and exposure to inorganic arsenic was significantly higher for the 6-year-old boys than the girls of same age.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Dietary exposure
• risk assessment
• children
• cadmium
• lead
• arsenic
• mercury
• Monte Carlo

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the following for the use of concentration data of control samples and previously published projects: Terhi Andersson (Finnish Customs Laboratory), Anja Hallikainen, Mirja Kartio, Kaija-Leena Saraste, Eija-Riitta Venäläinen and Ulla Luhtasela (Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira), Martin Lodenius and Tiina Tulonen (University of Helsinki), Martti Rask and Pekka Vuorinen (National Resources Institute Finland), Matti Verta (Finnish Environment Institute), Anna-Maija Taimisto (Valio) and Outi Zacheus (Institute for Health and Welfare). The authors thank the following for the use of the consumption data collected in the DIPP project: Suvi Ahonen (Institute for Health and Welfare) and the steering group of the DIPP: Jorma Toppari (University of Turku), Mikael Knip (HUS), Olli Simell (University of Turku), Jorma Ilonen (University of Turku), Heikki Hyöty (University of Tampere), Riitta Veijola (University of Oulu). The authors thank Jakob van Klaveren and Gerda van Donkersgoedt, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment of Netherlands (RIVM) for the use of the MCRA v. 8 and for advice on exploiting the programme.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.