Exposure to cadmium, lead and mercury in the adult population from Eastern Poland, 1990-2002

The aim was to estimate the adult exposure to cadmium, lead and mercury from daily household diets in Eastern Poland (Lublin city and province). A duplicate diet approach was used to top collect diet samples in 1990, 1993, 1998 and 2002. Cadmium and lead contents were measured by flame atomic absorption and the mercury content was measured by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. The intake of the three elements was calculated using FOOD computer software. The exposure to cadmium taken with daily diets was from 16.4-34.5 mug/person/day (27-58% PTWI). The lead exposure was 66.5-106 mug/person/day (31-49% PTWI), which posed a smaller risk, and the exposure risk to mercury of 4.08-6.65 mug/person/day (10-16% PTWI) was even lower.