CONTENTS OF LEAD AND CADMIUM IN SELECTED FISH SPECIES CONSUMED IN FINLAND IN 1993-1994

The lead and cadmium contents of the main fish species consumed in Fin land were determined by ETAAS after wet digestion with HNO3. Analytica l quality was controlled with blanks, reference materials and blind re plicates. Mean and median lead contents of domestic fish species were <LOD (1 mu g/kg)-9.4 mu g/kg and <LOD-4.7 mu g/kg. The lead contents o f imported fish and imported canned or salted fish ranged from <LOD to 8, and 4 to 177 mu g/kg. Mean and median cadmium contents of domestic fish species were <LOD (0.4 mu g/kg)-5.8 mu g/kg and <LOD-4.4 mu g/kg . Fresh imported fish contained <LOD-11 mu g Cd per kg and canned or s alted fish 9-42 mu g Cd per kg. Higher fish consumption would not incr ease lead or cadmium intake significantly in Finland. At present fish contributes about 4% of the average lead intake and 3% of cadmium inta ke.