Seasonal concentrations of lead in outdoor and indoor dust and blood of children in Riyadh,Saudi Arabia

Because detrimental effects of exposure to lead (Pb) on human health have been observed, we previously investigated concentrations of Pb in water supplies and blood of adult residents of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The objectives of the present study were to: (1) examine seasonal rates of deposition of Pb in dust in several areas of Riyadh city, (2) measure concentrations of Pb in both outdoor and indoor dust, (3) compare concentrations of Pb in dust in Riyadh with those reported for other cities, and (4) quantify Pb in blood of children living in Riyadh. Mean, monthly deposition of PB in outdoor dust was 4.7 × 10¹ ± 3.6 tons km^?2, with a mean Pb concentration of 2.4 × 10² ± 4.4 × 10¹ μg/g. Mean, monthly deposition of Pb in indoor dust was 2.7 ± 0.70 tons km^?2, with a mean concentration of 2.9 × 10¹ ± 1.5 × 10¹ μg Pb/g. There was a significant (P < 0.01) correlation between concentrations of Pb in outdoor and indoor dust. There was no correlation between concentrations of Pb in indoor dust and that in blood of children of Riyadh, whereas there was a weakly significant (P < 0.05) correlation between concentrations of Pb in outdoor dust and that in blood of children. The mean (±SD) concentration of Pb in blood of children in Riyadh was 5.2 ± 1.7, with a range of 1.7–1.6 × 10¹ μg/dl. Concentrations of Pb in blood of 17.8 % of children in Riyadh were greater than 10 μg/dl, which is the CDC’s level of concern.     

福建省稻米中的砷水平及其健康风险研究

为更好了解区域水平上水稻(OryzasativaL.)砷所引起的健康风险,在福建省9个地区采集了206份水稻样品并对其总砷和无机砷含量进行了分析,然后在此基础上建立风险评价模型并对其健康风险进行了评价。结果表明,福建省水稻精米中总砷平均含量为(0.105±0.091)mg·kg-1,无机砷平均含量为(0.045±0.019)mg·kg-1。全省所有样品中无机砷含量符合中国国家标准规定的限量标准(MCL)0.15mg·kg-1。通过膳食调查的数据和水稻无机砷含量对每天通过稻米消费无机砷摄入量进行了计算,全省平均每天无机砷摄入量为13.50μg,并且9个地区每天无机砷摄入量均超过了美国国家研究委员会所规定的最大限量标准10μg·d-1。根据无机砷摄入量和癌症斜率因子所构建的癌症风险模型结果表明,福建省稻米无机砷所引起的癌症风险为每100000有37.5人,虽然低于中国的平均水平(每100000有61人),但是超过了美国国家环境保护局所规定的可以接受的癌症风险的上限(每100000人有10人)。因此,需要进一步通过流行病学方面的调查来确定福建省稻米无机砷摄入和健康风险之间的关系。     

Exposure assessment of heavy metals (Cd,Hg, and Pb) by the intake of local foods from Zhejiang,China

Considering the environmental pollution, food safety is of great concern to the consumers. The present study was conducted to assess the health risk of cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) through the dietary intake in Zhejiang, China. Eight hundred and sixty two food samples including aquatic products, meat, vegetables, milk and dairy products, and cereal grains were analyzed. Only 2.44 % (Cd), 1.39 % (Hg), and 1.51 % (Pb) of the samples exceeded the maximum allowable concentration set by Chinese Ministry of Health. The average dietary intakes of Cd, Hg, and Pb were estimated to be 0.26, 0.14, and 0.55 μg/kg bw/day, respectively. Compared with the reference doses, the mean exposure of Cd, Hg, and Pb was all less than the tolerable intake value. Only at the 95th percentile level, Cd and Hg exposure exceeded the values of tolerable intakes by 40 and 277 %, respectively. It indicates that there is low health risk to the dietary exposure of Cd, Hg, and Pb for general people in Zhejiang province, China.     

菊花茶中砷含量特征及砷健康风险评价

菊花茶是深受人们喜爱的一种饮品,但其干燥过程及加工工艺不当会造成菊花茶的重金属污染,尤其是和硫磺矿伴生的重金属砷。以市售菊花茶为研究对象,采用硝酸-双氧水消解体系,高压密闭消解系统和原子荧光光谱法分析测定了其中砷(As)含量,对典型超标菊花茶样品进行不同冲泡方式的筛选,确定其适宜的饮用方式,并根据我国绿色代用茶行业标准和WHO砷最大日允许摄入量(ADI)对菊花茶中砷的人体健康风险做出评价。结果表明,菊花茶中砷的含量范围在0.01～3.52mg·kg-1,91.1%的样品符合绿色代用茶的《中华人民共和国农业行业标准》(0.5mg·kg-1),其中砷含量最高的为药用祁菊花达3.52mg·kg-1,所有样品中超标的8个菊花茶样品种类分别为祁白菊(2个),杭白菊(2个),黄山贡菊(1个)和野菊花(1个),怀菊和药用祁菊各1个,75%的超标样品为散装饮品;选择超标的2个典型菊花茶样品(杭白菊和药用祁菊花)进行冲泡方式筛选,得出适宜的饮用方式为:用水茶质量比例为25∶1的开水清洗菊花茶5min,然后用开水冲泡5～20min再饮用。随菊花茶进入人体的最大日摄入量(极限值)为43.7～169μg·d-1,其占ADI(allowable daily intake)的比值范围在34.1%～132%,其中随药用祁菊花进入人体的As最大日摄入量与ADI的比值超过100%,这表明砷经菊花茶饮品摄入人体内所潜在的健康风险不容忽视。砷超标的菊花茶经过冲泡后饮用,砷的人体日摄入量13.1～36.3μg·d-1,其占ADI的比值范围在10.3%～28.4%。因此,经过洗茶后再冲泡饮用,砷的日摄入量显著降低(P<0.01),建议饮用菊花茶时洗1次茶后再冲泡饮用。     

Human health impacts of exposure to metals through extreme consumption of fish from the Colombian Caribbean Sea

The health risks of metal exposure due to the high consumption of fish were assessed for a riverine population living on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. The concentrations of metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the edible tissues of fish were determined and used for risk assessment. The daily fish consumption of residents (n = 95) was as high as 283, 366 and 469 g/day in children (CH), women of childbearing age (WCHA) and the remaining population groups (RP), respectively. The estimation of the potential risk (HQ) indicated that there was no health risk from most of the metals, because they did not exceed their related reference doses, with values of HQ < 1. Although the concentrations of Pb and Hg were not particularly high in fish (<0.2 µg/g), their possible health effects for vulnerable groups are of great concern due to the extremely high fish intake. The Pb intake for all groups was higher than the lower confidence limit of the benchmark dose for nephrotoxicity and neurodevelopmental effects in children. The weekly intake of methylmercury was also elevated, with values approximately 3, 2 and 1.5 times the provisional tolerable weekly intake for CH, WCHA and RP, respectively. Moreover, higher Hg levels were found in top predators, whereas maximum levels for other metals were found in bottom-feeding fish. This study highlights that an accurate data of daily intake, a continuous monitoring of metals in fish and their related fish consumption advisories to protect subsistence fishing communities are recommended in a local and worldwide context.     

中国居民碘营养健康风险评估

我国碘元素的天然分布极不均匀,因此对地域差异缺乏考虑的全民食盐加碘政策(USI)并非碘缺乏病的最适宜的防控策略,甚至还增加了"碘过量"导致的潜在健康风险。近年来,中国卫生部多次调整食盐加碘政策,但亟需从健康风险评估的角度对该政策进行科学的论证和解读。通过解析全国碘缺乏病监测数据中8～10岁儿童尿碘浓度的数据,采用有阈值的剂量效应曲线,评价了中国居民碘营养健康状况,并计算出全国31个省级地区8～10岁儿童因碘过量导致的"亚临床甲状腺功能减低(亚甲减)"的发病率,最后利用5%基准剂量(benchmark dose,BMD),并结合我国居民膳食营养结构的调查结果,提出了考虑地域差异的分层次的食盐加碘量推荐值上限。研究表明,我国居民尿碘浓度分布有明显的区域性特征,尿碘浓度几何平均值和几何标准差分别为168.17和2.24μg·L-1,由于碘摄入过量导致的亚甲减发生率为4.00%。低水碘地区(水碘浓度低于150μg·L-1)的食盐加碘量推荐值上限为29.62mg·kg-1;中、高水碘地区(水碘浓度高于150μg·L-1)的居民通过非碘盐途径摄入的碘量已高于日可耐受最大摄入量,不宜再食用加碘食盐。这些结果基本支持了我国调整后的现行食盐加碘政策,即各地区根据当地人群实际碘营养水平,选定适合本地的食用盐加碘量。     

Abstracts to forthcoming papers

Food is the major source of metal exposure for the nonsmoking general population. Food samples of plant and animal origin from Ismailia, Egypt, were analyzed for the content of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) using AAS. The Cr, Zn, and Cu concentrations were in the range of 1.7–249?µg?kg^?1 wet weight (ww), 2–66?mg?kg^?1?ww, and 0.5–3.46?mg?kg^?1?ww, respectively. The mean daily intake of Cr, Zn, and Cu was 28.9?µg day^?1, 8.55?mg day^?1, and 1.7?mg day^?1, respectively. The intake estimates are within the range of the recommended intake established internationally. Concentrations of Cd and Pb were in the range of 10–321?µg?kg^?1?ww and 31–1200?µg?kg^?1?ww, respectively. The weekly dietary intake for Cd and Pb (4.02 and 20.4?µg?kg^?1 b.w, respectively) is lower than the FAO/WHO PTWI. Bread is the foodstuff that provided the highest rate of Pb and Cd (62 and 46% of the daily intake) to adults in Ismailia city.     

Groundwater vulnerability to selenium in semi-arid environments: Amman Zarqa Basin,Jordan

An evaluation of ~250 samples of groundwater in the Amman Zarqa Basin for selenium along with other major and trace elements showed that concentrations of Se ranged between 0.09 and 742 μg/L, with an average value of about 24 μg/L. Selenium concentrations exceeded the recommended threshold for drinking water of the World Health Organization (WHO; 10 μ/L of Se) in 114 samples, with greater than 50 μg/L (quantity equivalent to the Jordanian standard of the allowed concentration of the element in water) of Se in nine cases. The average concentrations of Se in the lower, middle, and upper aquifers of the basin were 3.41, 32.99, and 9.19 μg/L, respectively. Based on the correlation with geologic formations and the statistical analysis of major/minor constituents and Piper tri-linear diagrams, we suggest that carbonate/phosphate dissolution, oxidation–reduction processes, and fertilizers/irrigation return flow are, together, the primary factors affecting the chemistry of the groundwater. Factor analysis helped to define the relative role of limestone-dolomitic dissolution in the aquifers (calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate), agricultural activities (sulfate, nitrates, phosphorus, and potassium), oxidation–reduction factor (Eh, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Se), and anthropogenic (industrial) factor (EC, Fe, Cr, Co, Zn, and As). The high variability in Se concentrations might be related to the possibility of a multi-source origin of Se in the area.     

Element levels in cultured and wild sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) from the Adriatic Sea and potential risk assessment

In this study, the role of aquaculture activity as a source of selected metals was analyzed. Significant differences in element content between cultured (Dicentrarchus labrax, Sparus aurata) and wild fishes as well as between fish muscle and their feed were detected. Higher concentrations of trace elements (i.e., As, Cu, Hg, Se) in wild fish tissues in comparison with cultured ones indicate additional sources of metals beside fish feed as natural and/or anthropogenic sources. Generally, mean Cd, Cu, Pb, Se, and Zn concentrations in cultured (0.016, 1.79, 0.14, 0.87, and 34.32 μg/g, respectively) and wild (0.011, 1.97, 0.10, 1.78, and 23,54 μg/g, respectively) fish samples were below the permissible levels, while mean As (2.57 μg/g in cultured, 4.77 μg/g in wild) and Cr (5.25 μg/g in cultured, 2.92 μg/g in wild) values exceeded those limits. Hg values were lower in cultured (0.17 μg/g) and higher in wild (1.04 μg/g) fish specimens. The highest elemental concentrations were observed in almost all fish samples from Kor?ula sampling site. The smallest cultured sea basses showed As (4.01 μg/g), Cr (49.10 μg/g), Pb (0.65 μg/g), and Zn (136 μg/g) concentrations above the recommended limits; however, values decreased as fish size increased. Therefore, the majority of metal concentrations in commercial fishes showed no problems for human consumption. Also calculated Se:Hg molar ratios (all >1) and selenium health benefit values (Se-HBVs) (all positive) showed that consumption of all observed fishes in human nutrition is not risk.     

Arsenic levels in rice grain and assessment of daily dietary intake of arsenic from rice in arsenic-contaminated regions of Bangladesh—implications to groundwater irrigation

Chronic exposure to arsenic (As) causes significant human health effects, including various cancers and skin disorders. Naturally elevated concentrations of As have been detected in the groundwater of Bangladesh. Dietary intake and drinking water are the major routes of As exposure for humans. The objectives of this study were to measure As concentrations in rice grain collected from households in As-affected villages of Bangladesh where groundwater is used for agricultural irrigation and to estimate the daily intake of As consumed by the villagers from rice. The median and mean total As contents in 214 rice grain samples were 131 and 143 μg/kg, respectively, with a range of 2–557 μg/kg (dry weight, dw). Arsenic concentrations in control rice samples imported from Pakistan and India and on sale in Australian supermarkets were significantly lower (p < 0.001) than in rice from contaminated areas. Daily dietary intake of As from rice was 56.4 μg for adults (males and females) while the total daily intake of As from rice and from drinking water was 888.4 and 706.4 μg for adult males and adult females, respectively. From our study, it appears that the villagers are consuming a significant amount of As from rice and drinking water. The results suggest that the communities in the villages studied are potentially at risk of suffering from arsenic-related diseases.     

上海市公园绿地常见落叶树木叶片汞浓度时空特征及环境意义

植物叶片汞浓度与大气气态单质汞(GEM/Hg0)浓度的线性关系表明叶片汞浓度大小可用于指示植物生长区内GEM浓度的高低水平.通过分析上海市绿地公园(25座)中常见落叶树木樱花、水杉、法桐叶片汞浓度的时空变化特征,探究区域内GEM含量水平及分布特征.2017年5-10月对7座公园中这3种树木叶汞浓度进行连续监测,结果显示...     

低剂量三氯生和三氯卡班对嗜热四膜虫的毒性研究

研究了环境相关浓度水平(μg.L-1)的三氯生(TCS)和三氯卡班(TCC)暴露对嗜热四膜虫的生长抑制效应,并尝试探索这两种新生污染物对四膜虫细胞活性的影响.结果表明,μg.L-1水平的TCS和TCC对四膜虫的生长存在明显抑制作用,24 h-EC50分别为141μg.L-1、728μg.L-1;最低无效应浓度(NOEC)分别为2μg.L-1、30μg.L-1;最低效应浓度(LOEC)分别为4μg.L-1、61μg.L-1.其中,TCC在1—10μg.L-1水平表现出促进作用,可能是hormesis效应的体现.另外,在TCS和TCC浓度达到1000μg.L-1时均对四膜虫细胞膜产生明显损伤;TCS和TCC也影响其溶酶体活性,1μg.L-1暴露2 h时,荧光值(RFU)百分比分别降低至对照样品的88.62%、95.75%.本研究结果有助于进一步从亚细胞和分子水平认识环境污染水平TCS和TCC的生态毒性,也为这两种新生污染物在环境中的生态风险评价提供重要参考依据.     

施硒肥方式对强筋小麦产量、硒累积分配及籽粒营养品质的影响

采用二因素裂区设计,设置8个处理,研究有机富硒肥施硒量与施硒方式对强筋小麦生长、产量、硒在小麦不同器官中富集状况以及籽粒营养品质的影响.结果显示:与不施有机富硒肥比较,播种前土施有机富硒肥使强筋小麦总生物量、籽粒产量、各器官(根、茎+叶、颖壳+穗轴、籽粒)干物质量分别提高1.0％-14.7％、2.4％-42.4％、1....     

Study of Fishes in the Chung-Kung Stream: Species Distribution and Organochlorine Pesticide Residues

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the potential for reductive dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP), and pentachlorophenol (PCP) by municipal sewage sludge adapted to 2,4-DCP at different concentrations. 2,4-DCP was completely dechlorinated within 4 weeks. After 18 weeks' incubation, 2,4,6-TCP was also completely dechlorinated and the residue of PCP was 0, 44.46, 51.96% at 0.5, 5, and 50 μg ml¹ respectively. the 2,4-DCP adapted communities initially removed the ortho-chlorine from PCP of 5.0, 50 μg ml¹, following an ortho < para < meta order of chlorine removal. Intermediate products were 3,4,5-TCP, 3,5-DCP, 3-CP (3-chlorophenol), phenol, benzoate and hexanoic acids, whereas PCP (0.5 μg ml¹) indicated a preference for meta-chlorine removal. the intermediate product of 2,4,6-TCP at three concentrations were 2,4-DCP, phenol, benzoate and hexanoic acid. These products were identified by GC-MASS spectrometry. the effects of supplements, including sodium citrate (0.08 mM), sodium pyruvate (0.18 mM), sodium sulphate (0.14 mM) had a direct stimulatory effect on the dechlorination of 2,4,6-TCP and PCP after treatment for 4 weeks, but dechlorination was inhibited after 8 weeks.     

Determination and occurrence of endocrine disrupting compounds,pharmaceuticals and personal care products in fish (Morone saxatilis)

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have attracted much attention due to widespread contamination in aquatic environment. In this study, we determined 13 EDCs and PPCPs in fish blood, bile and muscle by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The limits of quantitation (LOQ) were in the ranges of 0.23–2.54, 0.22–2.36 ng·mL⁻¹, and 0.24–2.57 ng·g⁻¹ dry weight (dw) for fish blood, bile and muscle, respectively. Recoveries of target compounds spiked into sample matrices and passed through the entire analytical procedure ranged from 65% to 95%, from 60% to 92% and from 62% to 91% for blood, bile and muscle, respectively. The methods were applied to the analysis of fish from a lake in California. Target compounds were relatively low in bile, and only bisphenol A (BPA) and diclofenac were measurable near the LOQ. Seven of 13 compounds were detected in blood, with total concentrations up to 39 ng·mL⁻¹. Only BPA was frequently found in muscle, with mean concentration of 7.26 ng·g⁻¹ dw. The estimated daily intake of BPA through fish consumption for U.S. resident was significantly lower than the tolerable daily intake recommended by the European Food Safety Authority. This study showed that the exposure to the bisphenol A from fish diet is unlikely to pose a health risk.     

Characteristics of typical dissolved black carbons and their influence on the formation of disinfection by-products in chlor(am)ination

● The physicochemical and structural properties of DBC were characterized. ● The effects of DBC on DBPs and DBPFP generation during disinfection were evaluated. ● The DBPs and DBPFP generation during chlor(am)ination were compared. Dissolved black carbon (DBC) released from biochar can be one of the potential disinfection by-products (DBPs) precursors in the dissolved organic matter pool. However, the physiochemical and structural properties of DBC and the effects on the development of DBPs and DBP formation potential (DBPFP) during the disinfection process remain unclear. In this study, the characteristics of two kinds of DBC, namely, animal-derived DBC (poultry litter DBC, PL-DBC) and plant-derived DBC (wheat straw DBC, WS-DBC), were investigated. The effects of different kinds of DBC on the evolution of DBPs and DBPFP in chlorine and chloramine disinfection processes were compared with natural organic matter (NOM). The results showed that the total DBPs concentrations derived from PL-DBC, WS-DBC and NOM were similar during chlorination (i.e., 61.23 μg/L, 64.59 μg/L and 64.66 μg/L, respectively) and chloramination (i.e., 44.63 μg/L, 44.42 μg/L and 45.58 μg/L, respectively). The lower total DBPs and DBPFP concentrations in chloramination could be attributed to the fact that the introduction of ammonia in chloramine inhibited the breaking of the bond between the disinfectant and the active group of the precursor. Additionally, DBC presented much lower total DBPFP concentrations than NOM in both chlorination and chloramination. However, both kinds of DBC tended to form more monochloroacetic acids and haloacetamides than NOM, which could result from the higher organic strength, higher protein matter, and nitrogen-rich soluble microbial products of DBC.     

Selenium and arsenic content of agricultural soils from Bangladesh and Nepal

Arsenic (As) contamination of the available domestic drinking water from shallow aquifers to villagers in Bangladesh often exceeds the newest WHO standard of <10 µg As L^?1 and the older Bangladeshi standard of <50 µg As L^?1. An estimated 9.2 million shallow tube wells in Bangladesh deliver water to 97% of the rural population, placing an estimated 57 million people at risk for arsenicosis. The contamination of drinking water by As extends to W. Bengal, India and Nepal. The same shallow aquifers used for domestic water are also used to irrigate food crops, particularly rice. Irrigation adds As to soils and increases exposure of the population to additional As via foods consumed. Selenium (Se), an essential trace mineral found in soils, is absorbed by plants, entering the human food chain. It was suggested that a low dietary intake of Se may be contributing to the problem of human arsenicosis in Bangladesh. Dietary Se acts as a natural antidote to As by (1) accelerating As excretion, (2) sequestering As by complexation and (3) as an antioxidant component of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase that may counteract the prooxidant effects of As that contribute to arsenicosis and cancer. Analysis of 70 agricultural soil samples from Bangladesh by fluorimetry, ICP-AES and Neutron Activation Analysis showed the soils analyzed to be high in As (～33 µg g^?1) and biologically low in soluble Se (～0.02 µg g^?1). A low dietary intake of Se related to low soil content and this mineral in foods may be contributing to human arsenicosis in the Ganges–Brahmaputra delta.     

桂林市土壤和蔬菜镉含量调查及食用安全性评估

对桂林市蔬菜和菜地土壤镉含量进行调查,评价其累积状况,并评估人体经食用蔬菜摄入镉的安全性。结果显示,桂林市菜地土壤镉含量空间变异较大,呈现西北部和西南部低、东北部和东南部高的分布特点;与背景样点相比,菜地土壤镉累积效应显著,土壤镉含量范围、中值、算术均值和几何均值分别为0.056～17.35、0.624、1.193和0.696 mg.kg-1,超标率为85.5%。蔬菜镉含量范围、中值和几何均值分别为0.09～663.2、29.4和29.2μg.kg-1(以鲜质量计),综合超标率为4.95%;叶菜类蔬菜镉含量显著高于根茎类和瓜果类,花菜、韭菜、大白菜、大葱、芋头、豆苗、萝卜、菠菜、大蒜和蕃茄的镉富集系数较低,抗镉污染能力较强。桂林市居民人均通过食用蔬菜的镉摄入量为9.08μg.d-1,对普通人群不存在明显的食用安全风险。     

Risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in soil and wild Libyan jird Meriones libycus in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

This study was undertaken to document the impact of heavy metal pollution on the Libyan jird, Meriones libycus and to contribute to an environmental impact statement for the rapidly growing City of Riyadh. All metal concentrations in surface soil of a polluted site (within Riyadh City) were higherthan those from a reference site (outside the city).Although Pb declined versus earlier reports on Riyadh soil, Cd (0.97 microg g(-1)) and Hg (0.28 microg g(-1)) were above some of the most stringent quality guidelines (0.07-0.62 microg g(-1) for Cd and 0.14-0.18 microg g(-1) for Hg). Metal distribution in M. libycus proved site-related and organ-specific, recognizing a higher affinity of most tested metals towards the kidneys, liver and brain than the lung and heart. The comparatively lower site-specific accumulation of Pb in soft tissues was attributed primarily to its major hypothetical accumulation in bones, whereas, the transition rate of Hg from the liver was suggested to be lower to the brain than to the kidneys. Although a non hazardous status was assumed for Cu (11.27-13.16 microg g(-1)) and Hg (up to 0.207 microg g(-1)) in tissues of M. libycus, a potential risk was imposed by mean tissue concentrations of Cd (up to 3.29 microg g(01)), Ni (up to 1.48 microg g(-1)) and Pb (up to 1.94 microg g(-1)). On the grounds of the significantly higher metal levels in polluted soft tissues versus reference subjects, Libyan jirds possess high exposure potential and can be useful biomonitors of environmental metal contamination.     

Pb,Cd, Zn and cu intakes of Taiwanese subjects ‐ a duplicate portion study

Thirty diet samples from three different social groups were collected both in summer and in winter seasons using duplicate portion technique with three collection days. Toxic element concentrations, including Pb, Cd, as well as some essential elements were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The average dietary intakes of Taiwanese were estimated as follows (means ± S.D., n = 30): Mg, 175 ± 77 mg/day; Zn, 9.5 ± 11.4 mg/day; Mn, 2.8 ± 1.3 mg/day; Cu, 1.6±1.7mg/day; Ni, 0.13 ± 0.14 mg/day; Cd, 58 ± 62 μg/day, and Pb, 31 ±26 μg/day. The obtained elemental concentrations were scattered due to different dietary habits and cooking methods. In addition, a strong correlation arose between the trace element concentrations in agricultural products and in the diet of regional areas of Taiwan. Analysis results indicated that average intakes are consistently below current US Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) for Mg and Zn, within the recommended safe and adequate RDA for Mn, and below the FAO/WHO Provisional Tolerable Daily Intakes (PTDIs) for Pb. The average daily intakes of Cd by regional area of Taiwan markedly exceeded those of other countries and the PTI value during the summer.