DIETARY-INTAKE OF FOOD CONTAMINANTS IN THE NETHERLANDS (DUTCH NUTRITION SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM)

To assess the level of exposure to food contaminants (cadmium, lead, P CBs, DDT, hexachlorobenzene, nitrate and malathion) a total-diet study was carried out. A total of 226 food products were analysed individua lly; the concentration of contaminants in products not selected for an alysis was estimated with the help of published data. The results of t he analyses and estimations were used as input for the first Dutch Nat ional Food Consumption Survey (1987-1988) (n = 5898, age 1-85). Mean i ntakes of all contaminants analysed did not exceed the acceptable dail y intake (ADI) or comparable values in any of the age-sex groups. Comp arison of the results with chose of previous total diet studies sugges ts that the intake of all contaminants analysed had declined between 1 976-1978 and 1988-1989. In younger age groups an intake of lead and ca dmium exceeding the tolerable daily intake (derived from the WHO/FAO p rovisional tolerable weekly intake) was found in 1.5% of individuals a t most. For the older population groups and for the other contaminants in all population groups mean and maximum intakes were substantially below the ADI. However, individual intakes above the ADI for nitrate w ere found in 3-23% of individuals. For chronic exposure these percenta ges are likely to be overestimated because of the short time frame for food consumption measurement. In general, the difference between mean intake and tolerable daily intake was smallest for children aged 1-4. Therefore, it is recommended that future research is concentrated on the intake of contaminants in younger age groups.