LEAD AND CADMIUM IN SOME CEREAL PRODUCTS ON THE FINNISH MARKET 1990-91

Lead and cadmium contents were determined in representatively collecte d (commercial mills, wholesalers) samples of rye flour, breakfast cere als, porridge flakes, muesli cereals and pasta products. The samples w ere digested by heating them overnight in concentrated HNO3. Lead and cadmium concentrations were determined by GFAAS using a platform and ( NH4)H2PO4 as a matrix modifier. ARC/CL coded wheat flour and other ref erence materials (NBS 1567a, BCR no. 189, BCR no. 191) were employed f or the analytical quality control. Lead and cadmium contents found in the above samples were generally much lower than the present tolerance limits in Finland (300 mug/kg and 100 mug/kg respectively). The mean cadmium and lead contents of rye flours studied were very low, being 9 mug/kg and 16 mug/kg respectively. The mean contents of lead and cadm ium in wheat-based breakfast cereals were 22 and 42, in rye products 1 9 and 26, in oats 17 and 2, in maize products 11 and 18 and in rice pr oducts 31 and 10 mug/kg, respectively. The mean contents of lead and c admium in muesli cereals were 34 and 27 mug/kg. Remarkably high cadmiu m contents were found in some pastas made from imported durum wheat. T he mean cadmium content of all past products was 79 mug/kg with a rang e of 26-182 mug/kg. Lead contents were low, with a mean of 18 mug/kg, and a range of 8 to 66 mug/kg. Cereals contribute about 59% of the ave rage total dietary cadmium intake in Finland. Nearly 60% of the total cereal consumption is wheat and 27% rye. Since rye has a lower cadmium content than wheat, rye is preferable to wheat. About 15% of lead is derived from cereals. As the total intake of heavy metals is very low in Finland, there is no need to alter cereal consumption.