Lead and cadmium in foods/drinking water from Slovenian market/taps: Estimation of overall chronic dietary exposure and health risks

Approximately 3000 food samples from the Slovenian market and 2500 drinking (tap) water samples in the period 2011 − 2016 were evaluated for the presence of toxic elements lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) and the overall chronic dietary exposure was assessed for each element. The highest mean concentrations were found for Pb in products for special nutritional use – dietary supplements (0.383 mg/kg) and for Cd in fish and seafood (0.117 mg/kg). The consumption data were obtained from the national study of the household budget and from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) summary statistics. Chronic dietary exposure was estimated deterministically. The average Pb and Cd intakes from food and drinking (tap) water ranged for children from 0.90 to 1.021 µg/kg bw/day and 4.65 to 5.65 µg/kg bw/week, respectively, and for adults, including adolescents, from 0.40 to 0.53 µg/kg bw/day and 1.98 to 2.82 µg/kg bw/week, respectively. The high consumption of cereal-based foods and vegetables contributed most to overall Pb and Cd intake in the majority of the age groups. The exposure to Pb was generally lower and that to Cd was higher compared to the average EU values. The most exposed were children, as the health-based guidance values were exceeded for both elements, which indicates a health concern. An important contribution to Cd exposure can be attributed to grains and potatoes grown in Slovenia, where the soil contains more Cd than that in other EU countries. Further efforts to reduce Pb and Cd intake are required to minimize potential health risks.

本研究于2011至2016年间，针对斯洛文尼亚市场采集的约3000份食品样本与2500份饮用水（自来水）样本，开展了有毒元素铅（lead, Pb）与镉（cadmium, Cd）的残留检测，并针对两种元素分别评估了膳食慢性暴露水平。检测结果显示，铅的平均最高浓度出现在特殊营养用途产品——膳食补充剂中（0.383 mg/kg），而镉的平均最高浓度则见于鱼类及海鲜类产品（0.117 mg/kg）。本研究的消费数据来源于全国家庭预算调研以及欧洲食品安全局（European Food Safety Authority, EFSA）的汇总统计数据。膳食慢性暴露水平采用确定性方法进行估算。经测算，儿童通过食品与饮用水（自来水）摄入的铅和镉的平均剂量分别为0.90~1.021 μg/(kg·bw·天)与4.65~5.65 μg/(kg·bw·周)；而包括青少年在内的成人群体的对应摄入量则分别为0.40~0.53 μg/(kg·bw·天)与1.98~2.82 μg/(kg·bw·周)。在多数年龄群体中，谷物类食品与蔬菜的高消费量是铅与镉总摄入量的主要贡献来源。与欧盟平均水平相比，本研究中人群的铅暴露水平普遍偏低，而镉暴露水平则偏高。儿童群体的暴露风险最高，因为他们的两种元素摄入量均超出了基于健康的指导限值，这一结果提示存在健康隐患。斯洛文尼亚本土种植的谷物与马铃薯对镉暴露水平有着重要贡献——该国土壤中的镉含量高于欧盟其他国家。未来仍需进一步采取措施降低人群的铅与镉摄入量，以最大限度降低潜在健康风险。