CONTAMINANTS AND NUTRIENTS IN TOTAL DIETS IN SPAIN

Objective: To monitor the intake of lead, cadmium, mercury, copper, ir on and zinc in different geographical areas of Spain, to estimate the potential health risk of toxicity by comparing with the provisional to lerable weekly intake (PTWI) or the acceptable daily intake (ADI). Des ign: Representative total diets of the populations of Galicia, Valenci a, Anadalucia and Madrid, were prepared. The contents of lead, cadmium , mercury, copper, iron and zinc were analysed. The number of differen t foodstuffs used in each area (64, 67, 71 and 73) were based on the n umber of foods providing the 95% of the total energy intake. The foods were aggregated into food groups and these were analysed to calculate the contribution to the total daily intake of contaminants and potent ially toxic nutrients. Results: The daily amounts of lead in the diets were between 37 and 521 mu g/d, the Madrid population having the high est average intake of this metal, due to cereals. The average total di etary cadmium intakes (provided mainly by crustacea, molluscs and vege tables) were about 25-45% of the PTWI. Mercury, which is provided by f ish (66-90%), was about 9-17% of the PTWI. The daily intakes of iron a nd zinc in the four areas did not reach the ADI for these metals. In M adrid the intake of copper was within a range of maximum acceptable da ily load of this element. Conclusions: The high average intake of lead in Madrid (exceeding the PTWI) is of concern. The mean intake of cadm ium is close to ADI and would signify that there are individuals, and perhaps those of certain populations consuming high amounts of seafood , who would exceed with their intake the PTWI for this metal. Further studies are needed in order to assess more closely the intake of the p opulations to revise the established limits.