Estimation of the dietary intake of pesticide residues, lead, cadmium, arsenic and radionuclides in France

Estimation of the dietary exposure of French consumers to 10 pesticides (om ethoate, oxydemeton, phosalon, phosphamidon, triazophos, dicofol (op' + pp' ), parathion ethyl, dichlorvos, procymidon and vinchlozolin), three heavy m etals (lead, cadmium and arsenic) and three radionuclides ((134)caesium, (1 37)caesium and (131)iodine) from collected duplicate portion in mass cateri ng establishments in 1998/1999 are reported, and compared with those from p revious French studies as well as those from other countries. Dietary expos ure estimates appear to be reassuring, in that Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) estimates are generally low, representing at maximum only 4% of the Accept able Daily Intake (ADI) for pesticide residues and 28% of the Provisional T olerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) for heavy metals. Moreover, none of the three radionuclides has been found in duplicate meals. When comparisons are poss ible, estimated dietary exposures for heavy metals are lower than those fro m previous French studies and similar or above those from other countries.