Total Diet Samples Research Articles

Influence of digestion methods on the determination of total Al in food samples by ICP-ES

To determine total Al in a variety of food and total diet samples using ICP-ES, HF pre-treatment, prior to wet digestion (HNO3/HClO4) seems to be necessary. Compared with results obtained after HF pre-treatment, the determination of Al using pressure microwave digestion with HNO3 or HNO3/HClO4 digestion recovered only between 25–50% Al for dried spinach and flour and 40–75% for total diet samples, respectively. In most cases the addition of 0.25 ml HF (40%) per gram dry mass resulted in maximum Al yield. The results are in acceptable agreement with those obtained by neutron activation analysis (NAA).

210Pb Ingestion in Akita City, Japan.

Ingestion of 210Pb in Akita City, northern Japan was studied with food category samples and total diet samples by means of a low energy photon spectrometry. Results for food category samples revealed that the contribution of marine products to total 210Pbingestion was the largest. Mean 210Pb ingestion of the two total diet samples was found to be 0.19 Bq d-1, and approximately 1/3 of a previous reported value which was cited in an UNSCEAR report as an example of high 210Pbingestion by marine foods consumption.

Tritium level in Japanese diet and human tissue

Tritium concentrations are reported for diet and human tissue samples collected in the Akita district of northern Japan. Sixteen separate food group samples and a total diet sample were collected for Akita City during April and May 1987. Six samples of heart and nine samples of kidney tissue were collected from 10 decreased individuals in Akita Prefecture from January to July 1986. Five serum and four blood samples were also obtained in Akita Prefecture from December 1985 to June 1986. Free water3H concentration as well as tissue-bound3H were determined separately. Specific activity ratios of tissue-bound3H to free water3H in the samples were almost between 1.0 and 2.0 and were similar to our previous results for food samples and other tissue samples. The specific activity ratio was also found to be lower than that reported in the U.S.A. and significantly lower than in Europe.

Radioactivity in food and total diet samples collected in selected settlements in the USSR

Within the framework of the International Chernobyl Project, radionuclides were studied in food and total diet samples collected in selected communities in the areas of the USSR which were contaminated to various degrees by fallout from the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station. Radioactivity levels in total diet were used to estimate internal doses; these range from <0·1 − 12 mSv/year. The most significant radionuclide was found to be 137Cs. The concentrations of 137Cs in food and diet are quite variable, as are therefore the estimated doses; the ranges in the estimated doses are similar to the ranges in doses estimated from independent whole-body measurements. Levels of 90Sr were lower and more uniform as well. Internal doses due to 90Sr in diet, which range from <0·01–0·08mSv/year, are lower than those estimated for 137Cs and they are much lower than the 137Cs doses for the most contaminated diets. Levels of artificial actinides in diets are very low and the estimated doses (<0·3 μSv/year) are trivial.

Microwave acid digestion and preconcentration neutron activation analysis of biological and diet samples for iodine

A simple preconcentration neutron activation analysis (PNAA) method has been developed for the determination of low levels of iodine in biological and nutritional materials. The method involves dissolution of the samples by microwave digestion in the presence of acids in closed Teflon bombs and preconcentration of total iodine, after reduction to iodide with hydrazine sulfate, by coprecipitation with bismuth sulfide. The effects of different factors such as acidity, time for complete precipitation, and concentrations of bismuth, sulfide, and diverse ions on the quantitative recovery of iodide have been studied. The absolute detection limit of the PNAA method is 5 ng of iodine. Precision of measurement, expressed in terms of relative standard deviation, is about 5% at 100 ppb and 10% at 20 ppb levels of iodine. The PNAA method has been applied to several biological reference materials and total diet samples.

Determination of thorium and uranium in total diet samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The Th and U contents in total diet samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The internal standardization method was adopted to compensate for non-spectral interferences arising from matrix elements in the sample solutions. Concentration levels of the order of pg ml–1 of Th and U in the total diet sample were determined easily and rapidly by using Bi as an internal standard. The mean concentrations and standard deviations of Th and U in the total diet samples were found to be 25 ± 12 and 44 ± 20 ng g–1 of ash, respectively (for n= 62).

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Dutch total diet samples (1984–1986)

Over a period of 2.5 yr, 221 different food items of a ‘market basket’ of 18-yr-old males were purchased every 3 months. In total, 10 market baskets were collected. The foodstuffs were prepared by normal methods and combined into 23 commodity groups. Homogenates were prepared from each commodity group, followed by analysis for 17 different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). All these compounds were detected. The most frequently occurring PAHs were benzo[ b]fluoranthene, fluoranthene and benzo[ k]fluoranthene, in 59, 48 and 46% of the samples, respectively. The highest concentration of a single PAH was 36 μg chrysene/kg in the commodity group ‘sugar and sweets’. On the basis of concentrations found in the total diet samples the possible daily intakes of the various PAHs were calculated. The mean daily intake of the total PAH fraction analysed was between 5 μg/day (low estimate) and 17 μg/day (high estimate). The intake of the carcinogenic PAH fraction was roughly half these amounts. The largest contribution to the daily PAH intake came from sugar and sweets, cereals, oils, fats and nuts.

Further study on fallout 3H ingestion in Akita, Japan.

To study fallout 3H ingestion in Japan, 16 separate food-group samples were collected from Akita City in northern Japan during early summer and late autumn in 1986. Furthermore, total diet samples which are duplicate composite food samples consumed by five or six persons for a period of 1 d were also obtained in Akita City. The 3H concentration in free water and that in a tissue-bound form were determined separately. Seasonal changes of 3H concentration in the food samples and the total diet samples were not found clearly. The average 3H concentration in the free water including tap water was 1.6 Bq L-1. The mean ratio of specific activity of tissue-bound 3H to that of 3H in free water was found to be 1.2. The average total 3H ingestion was estimated to be 4.0 Bq d-1, while the proportion of tissue-bound form 3H ingestion to total 3H ingestion was 11%. Cereal was the greatest contributing food group to ingestion of tissue-bound 3H. These findings were consistent with our previous results for food samples collected in 1985.

Radioactivity in total diet before and after the Chernobyl reactor accident. The situation in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Radioactivity in total diet samples (1-day rations of adults) has been determined in the Federal Republic of Germany since 1960. Average intake of cesium-137 was 8.9 Bq per day and per person (Bq/d.p) in 1964, 0.15 in 1985, 4.2 in 1986, 7.2 in 1987, and 2.0 in 1988. Cesium-134, not measureable in pre-Chernobyl fallout, averaged 2.0 Bq/d.p in 1986, 3.0 in 1987, and 0.6 in 1988. Intake of strontium-90 was in the same range as in the years preceding the Chernobyl accident. It is estimated that the total effective equivalent dose for adults due to ingestion of Chernobyl-released radionuclides, including iodine-131, will be 0.14 +/- 0.08 mSv.

Radionuclides in Domestic and Imported Foods in the United States, 1983—1986

Findings in the Food and Drug Administration's Radionuclides in Foods program are summarized for samples collected between October 1, 1982, and September 30, 1986. All radionuclide findings for Total Diet and reactor samples were either in Action Range I or low in Range II of the surveillance and control recommendations given by the Federal Radiation Council. The only long-range trend noted was a continuation of the general decline in dietary intake of 90Sr since 1961. Imported food samples were analyzed for contamination after the Chernobyl nuclear accident. The findings for imported foods indicate that the surveillance efforts successfully targeted contaminated foods, and that contamination levels were below levels of concern for all but one oregano and 3 cheese samples.

Minerals and trace elements in total diets in The Netherlands.

1. During a period of 2.5 years, every 3 months 221 different food items forming a 'market basket' were purchased, prepared and divided into twenty-three food-commodity groups. The 'market basket' was based on a study of the dietary intake of 18-year-old male, Dutch adolescents. In the (homogenized) food groups various minerals and trace elements were determined. 2. The mean daily amounts of cadmium (21 micrograms), mercury (0.7 micrograms), lead (32 micrograms), tin (0.65 mg), arsenic (38 micrograms) and bromine (8 mg) in the diet of adolescents, as calculated from the concentrations analysed in the food groups, were all (well) below the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization acceptable daily intake (ADI) value (Codex Alimentarius Commission, 1984). 3. The mean daily amounts of zinc (14 mg) and selenium (72 micrograms) seemed to be adequate compared with the Dutch recommendations, (Voedingsraad (Dutch Nutrition Council) 1986). The amounts of copper (mean value 1.5 mg/d) and iron (mean value 14 mg/d) in the total diet were marginal. Contents of calcium (1340 mg/d), magnesium (433 mg/d) and iodine (402 micrograms/d) were all well above the Dutch recommendations for male adolescents. Sodium intake, corresponding to 11 g sodium chloride/d, was higher than advised. 4. It is concluded that the amounts of As, Br and toxic heavy metals in Dutch total-diet samples of male adolescents are of little concern as regards health aspects. Among the essential trace elements, Fe and Cu contents seem to be marginal. Some concern regarding the salt content is indicated.

Insecticide residues in total diet samples in Punjab, India

Total diet samples, collected every 3 months during a period of 1 year, were analysed for DDT and BHC residues. The food items were purchased from retailers, prepared for eating according to local practices and divided into several food groups. The results show that average dietary exposure to DDT and BHC residues was, respectively, 239 (range: 124–288) and 125 (range: 68–268) μg person −1 day −1 for vegetarians, and 225 (range: 138–263) and 134 (range: 63–280) μg person −1 day −1 for non-vegetarians. These dietary intake values are much higher than those reported from developed countries. Fatty food groups (milk and milk products, oils and fats, meat and eggs or cheese) were responsible for ∼85% of the total DDT intake, while BHC residues were distributed more evenly in various food groups. The observed DDT intake is close to its acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 300 μg person −1 day −1 for a man weighing 60 kg. No ADI value for BHC residues is available.

Average daily intake of pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in total diet samples in Osaka, Japan.

Total diet studies (also referred to as Market Basket Programs) have been conducted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1964. In Japan, similar studies have been carried out since 1977 by the National Institute of Hygienic Sciences in combination with some Prefectural Institutes of Public Health. This study was done to obtain fundamental data concerning the safety of foods; (1) the chemical contaminants in the foods eaten in selected areas in Japan were analyzed and their content determined, and (2) the problems and trends in the intake of these chemical and the sources of unusual residues were identified. The authors carried out these studies seven times between the fiscal year 1977 and 1985 in Osaka Prefectural (relatively urbanized district in comparison with a rural area in Japan). Daily dietary intake of organic contaminants was obtained and the means of these were calculated from the data.

A survey of trialkyl and triaryl phosphates in United Kingdom total diet samples.

Composite total diet samples, representative of 15 different commodity types overall encompassing an average complete adult diet, from each of eight regions in the UK, were analysed for the presence of trialkyl- and triarylphosphates. The analytical method consisted of solvent extraction, size exclusion clean-up and determination of individual phosphates by gas chromatography using phosphorus specific detection (alkali flame or flame photometric detection). Of the food groups offal, other animal products and nuts consistently contained the highest levels of trialkyl/triaryl phosphates, but there was variation in the incidence of individual compounds between different groups. Total phosphate intake was estimated to be between 0.07 and 0.1 mg per person per day.

Daily intake of elements as estimated from analysis of total diet samples in relation to reference Japanese man.

Total diet samples were collected from two urban areas in Japan, Sapporo and Kyoto, during the period from 1967 to 1968. The samples, ashed by dry-ashing and acid-digestion, were analyzed for elements by atomic absorption spectroscopy with the flame and electrothermal atomization. Average daily intake found in the two cities was determined as follows: sodium 4.4 g, potassium 1.6 g, magnesium 0.19 g, iron 11 mg, zinc 7.2 mg, aluminium 4.4 mg, manganese 3.8 mg, rubidium 1.9 mg, copper 1.3 mg, nickel 0.25 mg and molybdenum 0.16 mg, per person per day. By comparison with the ICRP Reference Man data, a little higher values were observed for sodium, strontium and manganese. For some other elements e.g. calcium, nickel, molybdenum and copper, about half the level of corresponding daily intake selected by ICRP for the Western Europeans and North Americans was noticed.

Pesticides, Selected Elements, and Other Chemicals in Adult Total Diet Samples, October 1980-March 1982

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducts Total Diet Studies to determine the dietary intake of selected pesticides, industrial chemicals, and elements (including radionuclides). These studies involve the retail purchase and analysis of foods representative of the diets of infants, toddlers, and adults. The individual food items are separated into a number of food groups, each of which is analyzed as a composite. This report summarizes the results for adult Total Diet samples collected in 27 cities between October 1980 and March 1982. The average concentrations, range of concentrations, and calculated average daily intake of each chemical found are presented by food group. The average daily intakes of the chemicals are similar to those found in the several preceding years and are within acceptable limits. The results for samples collected during the same period that represent the diets of infants and toddlers are reported separately.

Pesticides, Selected Elements, and Other Chemicals in Infant and Toddler Total Diet Samples, October 1980-March 1982

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducts Total Diet Studies to determine the dietary intake of selected pesticides, industrial chemicals, and elements (including radionuclides). These studies involve the retail purchase and analysis of foods representative of the diets of infants, toddlers, and adults. The individual food items are separated into a number of food groups, each of which is analyzed as a composite. This report summarizes the results for infant and toddler Total Diet samples collected in 13 cities between October 1980 and March 1982. The average concentration, range of concentrations, and calculated average daily intake of each chemical found are presented by food group. The average daily intakes of the chemicals are similar to those found in the several preceding years and generally are within acceptable limits. The results for samples collected during the same period that represent the adult diet are reported separately.

Pesticides, Selected Elements, and Other Chemicals in Infant and Toddler Total Diet Samples, October 1979-September 1980

Abstract The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducts Total Diet Studies to determine the dietary intake of selected pesticides, industrial chemicals, and elements (including radionuclides). These studies involve the retail purchase and analysis of foods representative of the diets of infants, toddlers, and adults. The individual food items are separated into a number of food groups, each of which is analyzed as a composite. This report summarizes the results for infant and toddler Total Diet samples collected in 10 cities between October 1979 and September 1980. The average concentration, range of concentrations, and calculated average daily intake of each chemical found are presented by food group. The average daily intakes of the chemicals are similar to those found in the several preceding years and generally are within acceptable limits. The results for samples collected during the same period that represent the adult diet are reported separately.

Pesticides, Selected Elements, and Other Chemicals in Infant and Toddler Total Diet Samples, October 1979-September 1980

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducts Total Diet Studies to determine the dietary intake of selected pesticides, industrial chemicals, and elements (including radionuclides). These studies involve the retail purchase and analysis of foods representative of the diets of infants, toddlers, and adults. The individual food items are separated into a number of food groups, each of which is analyzed as a composite. This report summarizes the results for infant and toddler Total Diet samples collected in 10 cities between October 1979 and September 1980. The average concentration, range of concentrations, and calculated average daily intake of each chemical found are presented by food group. The average daily intakes of the chemicals are similar to those found in the several preceding years and generally are within acceptable limits. The results for samples collected during the same period that represent the adult diet are reported separately.

Simultaneous Multielement Analysis of Total Diet Samples by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the application of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) to the direct, multielement analysis of total diet samples for major, minor and trace elements. Sodium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium were first determined as major matrix elements in the ashed total diet sample using a polychromator with relatively high dispersion. These elements were determined within a relative error of 3 per cent. After performing the matrix matching between the sample and standard solutions with respect to acidity and the amount of major elements, thirteen minor and trace elements, i.e., iron, zinc, manganese, aluminium, strontium, copper, barium, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, cadmium, cobalt and yttrium, were measured. Of these, iron, zinc, manganese, aluminium, strontium, copper and barium were determined with a relative error of ca. 5 per cents, and chromium, nickel, molybdenum, cadmium and cobalt within 20 per cents. Recovery of the added standard was 100±5% for all the elements except cobalt and molybdenum.