Aquatic Products Of Lead, Cadmium Health Hazard Risk Assessment

[Objective] To keep informed on the concentration of lead and cadmium in aquatic food, and the dietary consumption of aquatic food in Shanghai, to calculate the amount of lead and cadmium intake due to aquatic food and assess the risk of lead and cadmium in aquatic food. [Methods] Samples were collected according to stratified random sampling, and the samples were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Aquatic food consumption was investigated by food frequency questionnaire. Lead and cadmium point intakes were calculated by dietary intake assessment model. Lead and cadmium intakes probability distributions were assessed by Crystal Ball software and Monte Carlo simulation. [Results] The average concentrations of lead and cadmium in 428 aquatic food samples were 0.0985 mg/kg and 0.0383 mg/kg; the lead concentrations in 11 samples and the cadmium concentrations in 6 samples exceeded the national standard, unqualified rates were 2.57% and 1.40% respectively. The lead and cadmium concentrations in fish, crustacean and shellfish were different (χ2=60.58,127.33, P<0.01). The lead and cadmium concentrations in shellfish were much higher while the ones in fresh-water fish were lower. The means of lead in shellfish, marine fish, crustacean and fresh-water fish were 0.1751 mg/Kg,0.1038 mg/Kg,0.0729 mg/Kg and 0.0499 mg/Kg respectively, and the means of cadmium were 0.0910 mg/Kg,0.0168mg/Kg, 0.0469 mg/Kg and 0.0082 mg/Kg respectively. Crustacean and fresh-water fish consumption was higher in Shanghai residents, the means were 28.43g/d and 21.78g/d; the average consumptions of marine fish and shellfish were 10.85g/d and 3.81g/d, which was lower. Aquatic food consumption was not the same in different age group (χ2=36.91, P<0.01). The means of daily consumption in the youth and adults were 85.77g and 82.95g, which was higher than in minors and in the elderly while the means were 75.79g and 69.10g respectively; and the mean of daily consumption in the children with the age <3 was 29.13g. The mean, P90 and maximum of weekly lead intake due to aquatic food were 0.035mg,0.082mg and 0.202mg, at 2.31%, 5.47% and 13.46% of PTWI respectively, and the probability distribution of lead intake was log normal distribution with the median 0.04mg and 95% confidence interval 0.01mg～0.28mg. The mean, P90 and maximum of weekly cadmium intake due to aquatic food were 0.014mg, 0.033mg and 0.107mg, at 3.40%,7.89% and 25.44% of PTWI respectively, and the probability distribution of lead intake was log normal distribution with the median 0.02mg and 95% confidence interval 0.00mg～0.12mg. [Conclusion] Lead and cadmium intakes due to aquatic food consumption were high since 15.80% Shanghai residents were at risk of lead hazards and 4.80% Shanghai residents were at risk of cadmium hazards, especially the children and youth. The lead and cadmium concentrations in aquatic food should be monitored and the standards should be revised. The consumption of crustacean and shellfish should be noticed and the consumption of the food which is rich in Ca, Fe and Zn should be improved.