Cumulative risk assessment of the dietary heavy metal and aluminum exposure of Finnish adults

While directly comparable toxicological data are unavailable, this pilot study used published toxicological endpoints for neurological damage to weigh the relative importance of cadmium, lead, arsenic, mercury, nickel, and aluminum in the mixture Finnish adults receive from their daily diet. In addition, the effects of a selection of these chemicals on cognition, kidney tubular damage, and fertility were assessed using the toxicological endpoints available in the Chemical Mixture Calculator developed by the Technical University of Denmark. Consumption data from the FinDiet 2012 national survey of 25 to 74-year-olds and occurrence data mainly obtained in national monitoring were used to estimate the cumulative dietary exposure, which was found to be so high that the possibility of neurological damage or kidney effects cannot be ruled out for most of the population, particularly fertile age women. For Finns below the age of 65 years, the main sources of cumulative exposure were bread and other cereals, non-alcoholic drinks, and vegetables. When mean exposure was statistically compared between age groups and genders, women aged 25 to 45 years had a statistically significantly higher exposure than men of the same age (P < 0.05) and women aged 46 to 64 years (P < 0.001).

Automated summary

This pilot study used published toxicological endpoints to evaluate the importance of cadmium, lead, arsenic, mercury, nickel, and aluminum in the mixture of Finnish adults' daily diet. The study found that the cumulative dietary exposure to these chemicals was alarmingly high, posing the risk of neurological damage and kidney effects, especially for fertile age women. The main sources of exposure for Finns below the age of 65 were bread and cereals, non-alcoholic drinks, and vegetables. Women aged 25 to 45 had significantly higher exposure compared to men of the same age and women aged 46 to 64.