Assessment of the dietary exposure to arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury of the population of the EU Member States

Overview

This European Commission scientific-cooperation report assessed dietary exposure to arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in EU Member States. It compiles occurrence, consumption, and intake calculations submitted by Member States, with data completeness varying by country and food group. The report is useful as a regulatory context and broad occurrence/exposure anchor, but its own summary warns that limited occurrence data and differing analytical quality make many country estimates cautious rather than complete.

Key numbers

The Summary states that occurrence, consumption, and intake calculations for the mean adult population were submitted by BE, DK, FI, FR, DE, HE, IR, IT, NL, NO, PT, SE and UK. Denmark and the United Kingdom had sufficient data for a complete intake assessment; many other submissions had empty food groups.

For arsenic, nine Member States submitted occurrence and intake data for fish, described as the main food source of arsenic. Denmark and the United Kingdom indicated that fish and other seafood contributed more than 50% of dietary arsenic. The mean daily intake of arsenic from fish and other seafood was below 0.35 mg, total daily intake by the mean adult population was assumed to be below 1 mg, and consumers of fish and seafood could reach 1 mg/day from these foods alone. The report states that no data were available on inorganic arsenic species, so the inorganic/total arsenic ratio in foodstuffs was largely unknown.

For cadmium, thirteen Member States submitted occurrence and intake data for the mean adult population. Mean intake was less than 30% of the PTWI in the Member States except the Netherlands at 38%; the report gives the PTWI as 0.49 mg for a person weighing 70 kg. In the UK, intake by mean consumers was 22% of the PTWI and by high consumers 37%. Cereals and vegetables were identified as the main dietary cadmium sources, representing approximately 2/3 of mean cadmium intake. For children, the German 4-6 year-old cadmium dietary intake was estimated at 65% of the PTWI.

For lead, twelve Member States submitted occurrence and intake data for the mean adult population. In 11 Member States, average intake of lead via food was less than 25% of the PTWI; the report gives the PTWI as 0.025 mg/kg bodyweight/week, equal to 1.75 mg for a 70 kg person. Portugal was in the order of 50% of the PTWI, but the report attributes this to unusually high detection limits for some foods such as potatoes (<1 mg/kg) and warns that using half the limit could make intake appear erroneously high. The mean intake across Member States was 14% of the PTWI. In the UK, intake by the mean population was 11%, by mean consumers 24%, and by high-level consumers 43% of the PTWI.

For mercury, thirteen Member States submitted occurrence and intake data for fish. Fish was identified as the main dietary mercury source for the mean adult population. The mean intake for Member States was less than 30% of the PTWI for total mercury, corresponding to 0.35 mg for a 70 kg person; in the UK, mean consumers were at 6% and high consumers at 13% of the total-mercury PTWI. The report gives the 2003 methylmercury PTWI as 1.6 µg/kg bodyweight, corresponding to 0.112 mg/week for a 70 kg person, but states that submitted data were for total mercury. Assuming all fish and shellfish total mercury was methylmercury as an overestimate, mean methylmercury intake from fish and shellfish would be less than 30% of the methylmercury PTWI in Member States; UK mean consumers would be at 13% and high consumers at 41%, while Norway mean consumers would correspond to 78% and high consumers would exceed the methylmercury PTWI.

Methods (brief)

The report was produced under Council Directive 93/5/EEC scientific cooperation. Competent authorities in participating countries nominated experts and submitted occurrence, consumption, and intake data. Intake estimates were compiled by metal and food category for the mean adult population and selected child groups. The report emphasizes that data gaps, differing analytical quality, varying food categorisation, and differing age-group choices limit direct comparability among Member States.

Update history

The five most recent substantive edits to this page, classified major (evidence or structure moved), correction (a published value or statement was wrong and has been fixed), or minor (narrative rewritten without changing the underlying evidence). Each description is derived from what the edit did to this page; the linked commit is the authoritative record, routine regeneration passes are excluded, and the full version history lives in git.