In big countries, nutrition profiles and foodstuffs chemical contamination may differ significantly between different regions and even between areas within a region. Thus one should assess toxic exposure through food ...In big countries, nutrition profiles and foodstuffs chemical contamination may differ significantly between different regions and even between areas within a region. Thus one should assess toxic exposure through food on not only national but also local level. We have developed and distributed a personal questionnaire for estimating average daily consumption of 44 types of foodstuffs, and for 12 of them-the percentage contribution of the main sources of supply. Depending on data analysis results, we choose the most important foodstuffs for determining their chemical contamination. We tested this approach in 7 industrial towns and found differences among them, as well as among children and adults, with regard to toxic exposure through food. People with a relatively high income consume more milk, cheese, meat, fish, poultry and fruit but less bread and potatoes than those with medium or low income. About 80% of consumed potatoes are grown locally and thus depend on each area's contamination. Although daily intakes of toxicants do not exceed WHO tolerable levels, their contribution to the total environmentally dependent dose is important. The approach developed by us can be used in epidemiological and risk assessment studies when they are performed on regional or local level.展开更多
文摘In big countries, nutrition profiles and foodstuffs chemical contamination may differ significantly between different regions and even between areas within a region. Thus one should assess toxic exposure through food on not only national but also local level. We have developed and distributed a personal questionnaire for estimating average daily consumption of 44 types of foodstuffs, and for 12 of them-the percentage contribution of the main sources of supply. Depending on data analysis results, we choose the most important foodstuffs for determining their chemical contamination. We tested this approach in 7 industrial towns and found differences among them, as well as among children and adults, with regard to toxic exposure through food. People with a relatively high income consume more milk, cheese, meat, fish, poultry and fruit but less bread and potatoes than those with medium or low income. About 80% of consumed potatoes are grown locally and thus depend on each area's contamination. Although daily intakes of toxicants do not exceed WHO tolerable levels, their contribution to the total environmentally dependent dose is important. The approach developed by us can be used in epidemiological and risk assessment studies when they are performed on regional or local level.