Dietary intakes of mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic by Finnish children.

Abstract

In connection with the Multicenter Study on Atherosclerosis Precursors in Finnish Children, the dietary intakes of some toxic heavy metals were determined. The population of this study, conducted in five urban and 12 rural areas in Finland, consisted of 1768 children ages 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 years. Food consumption was measured by the 48-h recall method. The intakes of mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic were estimated using analytical data for the heavy metal content of Finnish foods. The total daily intakes of these four heavy metals increased with age. The energy-adjusted intakes of mercury, lead and arsenic were highest in the youngest age groups, whereas no change was observed in the mean cadmium intake expressed per 1000 kcal. Mean daily intakes of these metals per kg of body weight were three times higher in the 3-year-old children compared with the 18-year-olds. Cereals, potatoes and vegetables, and milk products were the main sources of these metals in the diet. Fruits and berries were also a significant source, especially in the youngest age groups. Consumption of fish was positively associated with intakes of mercury and arsenic, despite a contribution of only 1 per cent to the daily energy from this food group. The large standard deviations in the mean daily intakes of these metals indicate that exposure to these metals via diet is unevenly distributed among the Finnish children and adolescents. Further detailed evaluation of food patterns with a risk of high intakes of toxic heavy metals by children is needed.