Survey of Lead, Cadmium, Fluoride, Nickel, and Cobalt in Food Composites and Estimation of Dietary Intakes of These Elements by Canadians in 1986–1988

Abstract

Abstract During the period 1986–1988, foods were purchased at the retail level in 5 Canadian cities and, for each city, prepared for consumption and combined into 113 composites and 39 composite subsets. Lead and cadmium were determined in all the samples; fluoride, in samples from Winnipeg; and cobalt and nickel, in samples from Montreal. Means and ranges of concentrations (ng/g) found in individual samples were lead, 23.2 (<0.4–523); cadmium, 9.96 (<0.02–167); fluoride, 325 (11–4970); nickel, 196 (<0.6–2521); and cobalt, 9.4 (<0.3–75.7). Estimated dietary intakes (μg/day) of the elements over all ages and sexes were lead, 24; cadmium, 13; fluoride, 1763; nickel, 286; and cobalt, 11. During the period 1985–1988, the average level of lead in canned foods decreased from 73.6 to 46 ng/g.