Lead, cadmium, mercury and selenium intake by Greenlanders from local marine food

The human intake of lead, cadmium, mercury and selenium from local Greenlan dic marine food was estimated based on dietary studies and contaminant info rmation. The average lead intake was calculated to be 15 mu g/person per we ek, which is very low, whereas the intake of cadmium and mercury was estima ted to be very high, on average 1004 mu g/person per week for cadmium and 8 46 for mercury, thereby significantly exceeding limits established by FAO/W HO. The main cadmium and mercury source was seal liver. Selenium intake was also high with whale skin as the dominant source. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc e B.V. All rights reserved.