title: Nickel levels in convenience and fast foods: in vitro study of the dialyzable fraction.
abstract: Nickel presence was determined in 170 samples of 43 different convenience and fast foods widely consumed in Spain. Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry was used as analytical technique. Reliability of the procedure was checked. Ni levels ranged from 18.50 to 95.00 ng g(-1) (fresh weight of edible portion). The most elevated Ni concentrations were found in egg- and pork-based foods and in sauces but there is a high variability inside of each one of these foods. Ni content increases in products that contain spices and aromatic herbs, whole cereals, dry fruits, cheese and mushrooms. Mean Ni dialyzable fraction estimated by in vitro assays ranged from 4.50 to 7.75%. This study shows that the probability of exposure to health risks from these foods is overall small. However, the present findings are of potential use in food composition tables and to estimate the Ni dietary intake and tolerable intake levels in accordance with the current dietary habits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Bromatology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. carmenc@ugr.es
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cabrera-Vique
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mesías
authors.forename: Paula R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Bouzas
mesh_terms: D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D057140:Fast Foods / Q000032:analysis*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis*; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009532:Nickel