[Chinese total diet study in 2000--the dietary mercuric intakes].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the safety of dietary mercuric intakes in different areas in China.


METHODS
Using the Chinese total dietary study method, the analytical samples were obtained in different areas by food consumption survey, food aggregation, food sampling and preparation. The levels of dietary total mercury were determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. The dietary total mercuric intakes in different areas were obtained by timing the food consumption data and the mercuric content in different dietary samples. The safety of dietary mercury was evaluated in Chinese four regions and average adults by using the dietary mercuric PTWI recommended by WHO.


RESULTS
The results indicate that the dietary mercuric intakes are safe in different regions. Only a few samples in some areas exceed tolerance limits of China national standard. Dietary total mercuric intakes (of PTWI) in four different regions adults and mean were 8.86 microg (19.7%), 4.69 microg (10.4%), 7.01 microg (15.6%), 6.88 microg (15.3%), 6.86 microg (15.2%), respectively. Mainly sources of dietary mercuric intake were cereals, vegetables and sea foods.


CONCLUSIONS
The result shows that the total mercuric intakes in Chinese people are safe.
Li
Xiao-Wei
XW
National Institute for Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China.
Gao
Jun-Quan
JQ
Chen
Jun-Shi
JS
D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry
D008628:Mercury