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—2016年间，采集斯洛文尼亚市场上约3000份食品样本与2500份饮用水（自来水）样本，针对其中有毒元素铅（lead, Pb）与镉（cadmium, Cd）的含量开展检测，并针对每种元素评估了慢性膳食暴露量。本次检测中，铅的平均最高浓度见于特殊营养用途产品——膳食补充剂（0.383 mg/kg），镉的平均最高浓度则见于鱼类及海产品（0.117 mg/kg）。膳食消费数据来源于全国家庭预算调查研究，以及欧洲食品安全局（European Food Safety Authority, EFSA）的汇总统计资料。慢性膳食暴露量采用确定性方法进行估算。食品与饮用水（自来水）中的铅、镉平均摄入量范围如下：儿童群体为0.90~1.021 微克/千克体重/天，以及4.65~5.65 微克/千克体重/周；成人（含青少年）群体则为0.40~0.53 微克/千克体重/天，以及1.98~2.82 微克/千克体重/周。在多数年龄群体中，谷类食品与蔬菜的高消费量是导致整体铅、镉摄入量偏高的主要贡献因素。与欧盟平均水平相比，本次研究中铅的暴露水平普遍偏低，而镉的暴露水平则偏高。儿童群体的暴露风险最高，两种元素的摄入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。镉暴露的一个重要来源为斯洛文尼亚本土种植的谷物与马铃薯，该国土壤中的镉含量高于其他欧盟国家。未来需进一步采取措施降低铅与镉的摄入量，以最大限度降低潜在的健康风险。