title: Cadmium intake of moose hunters in Finland from consumption of moose meat, liver and kidney.
abstract: Although the average cadmium intake in Finland is about 10 microg day(-1), some risk groups can be identified. This study assessed cadmium intake from the consumption of moose meat, liver and kidneys by moose hunters. Consumption data from a postal questionnaire were combined with a representative database on moose cadmium concentrations. Cadmium intakes were calculated as point estimates for all respondents (n = 711), for those consuming moose meat, liver and/or kidneys, and for the highest decile of those. Probabilistic modelling using the Monte Carlo technique was used to simulate the distribution of dietary cadmium exposure. Of the respondents, 69% consumed moose liver and only 23% moose kidneys. The consumption of moose liver or kidneys significantly increased cadmium intake, whereas moose meat (median consumption 17 kg year(-1) person(-1)) contributed only slightly (0.16 microg day(-1) person(-1)) to the daily total cadmium intake. In the simulation, 10% of the moose hunters had an intake of > 8.76 microg day(-1) (14.6% of PTWI for a 60-kg person) from moose. Point estimates provided only a partial understanding of the potential exposure. Simulated distributions of intake were more useful in characterizing exposure. The study revealed that heavy users of moose organs have a relatively narrow safety margin from the levels of cadmium probably causing adverse health effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Risk Assessment, National Veterinary and Food Research Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vahteristo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lyytikäinen
authors.forename: E-R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Venäläinen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eskola
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lindfors
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pohjanvirta
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maijala
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D003670:Deer / Q000378:metabolism*; D004032:Diet; D005387:Finland; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium