[Duplicate study on the dietary intake of some metals/metalloids by children in Germany. I. Arsenic and mercury].

The dietary intake of arsenic and mercury by 47 children (aged 5-8 years) living in West-Germany (Duisburg) is reported. Duplicate portions of all food and beverages were obtained on 2 days. Arsenic and mercury were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry under careful quality control. Results of are shown in the following table. [table: see text] Fish was consumed at 3 of 94 sampling days only. The arsenic and mercury intake on days with fish consumption was much higher compared with the other days (median, range): arsenic 8821; 4431-11954; mercury 123.7; 80, 0-167.5 ng/kg b.w. and day. The dietary arsenic and mercury intake was much lower than the FAO/WHO PTWI. For mercury the median intake amounted to 1.7% on days without and to 16.6% on days with fish consumption, for arsenic on days without fish consumption to 5.2% PTWI (only for inorganic arsenic compounds established) and on days with fish consumption (in fish mainly organic arsenic occur) 411% of PTWI. Based on the PTWI our data indicate no health risks for German 5-8-year-old children due to arsenic and mercury dietary intake.