OBJECTIVETo assess the safety of dietary lead and cadmium intake in 3 areas of Zhejiang province.

METHODSUsing the total dietary study method, the study was conducted in 3 regions which represented coastal, city and rural areas in Zhejiang province from 2009 to 2010. The dietary survey was conducted on the residents (512 subjects) and the categories and volume of food consumption were obtained. The analytical food samples were obtained by food consumption survey, food aggregation, food sampling and preparation. The food samples were detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The safety of dietary lead and cadmium intake was evaluated.

RESULTSThe median dietary lead intake (P₅₀) in Zhejiang province was 37.8 µg/d. The 97.5% dietary lead intake (P₉₇.₅) was 72.3 µg/d. The P₅₀ dietary lead intakes of different age and gender groups ranged from 23.2 to 44.2 µg/d. The P₉₇.₅ dietary lead intakes of different age and gender groups ranged from 34.2 to 88.1 µg/d. The P₅₀ dietary cadmium intake in Zhejiang province was 9.6 µg/d. The P₉₇.₅ dietary cadmium intake was 15.7 µg/d. The P₅₀ dietary cadmium intakes of different age and gender groups ranged from 6.4 to 11.4 µg/d, accounting 15.6% - 42.6% of PTMI (provisional tolerable monthly intake, 25 µg/kg). The P₉₇.₅ dietary cadmium intakes of different age and gender groups ranged from 10.5 to 21.4 µg/d, accounting 27.5% - 77.6% of PTMI. Vegetable (11.3 µg), cereal (11.0 µg) and meat (9.8 µg) were the first three food sources which accounted for 84.9% of dietary lead (P₅₀: 37.8 µg/d). Cereal (3.6 µg), vegetable (2.1 µg) and legume (0.9 µg) were the first three food sources which accounted for 68.8% of dietary cadmium (P₅₀: 9.6 µg/d).

CONCLUSIONDietary lead and cadmium intakes of most residents in 3 areas of Zhejiang province as well as the average level are safe.