Lead and cadmium contents in pork, beef and chicken, and in pig and cow liver in Finland during 1991.

Nationally representative samples of pork, beef, chicken, and pig's and cow's liver were collected from slaughterhouses and pooled to represent the collection area of each slaughterhouse. The lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) contents of the freeze-dried samples were analysed after wet digestion in concentrated HNO3 using ETAAS (Varian Spectra AA 400), Zeeman background correction and (NH4)H2PO4 as the matrix modifier. A strict analytical quality control programme including reference materials and recovery tests was employed. The average Pb content of beef (tenderloin) was 10 micrograms/kg, ground beef 8 micrograms/kg, cow's liver 37 micrograms/kg, pork (regular loin) 9 micrograms/kg, pig's liver 11 micrograms/kg and chicken 6 micrograms/kg. The mean Cd contents of beef, pork and chicken were lower than the limit of detection of the method employed. The mean Cd content of cow's liver was 66 micrograms/kg (cow) and 36 micrograms/kg (heifer) and that of pig's liver 21 micrograms/kg. The contents of lead and cadmium were low in all samples studied, approximately the same level or lower than those found in earlier Finnish studies. These results are in good agreement with the earlier Finnish Market Basket Study in which very low average lead and cadmium intakes were found.