[The Chinese total diet study in 1992--chemical contaminants. (II) Different age-sex groups]

The total diet study on various age-sex groups and the comparison of two seasons (spring and autumn) in adult male were conducted in the second Chinese Total Diet Study in 1992-1993. The dietary pattern, dietary intake of heavy metals and other harmful elements and radionuclides were studied in 4 age-sex groups in 4 provinces and cities, i.e. Hebei, Shanxi, Hubei and Shanghai. The contamination of lead in diet was the most outstanding finding. The intake of lead in 2-7 years old exceeded 18.9% of the ADI. The contamination of cadmium and mercury in diet were low, and the dietary intake were 24% and 35% of the ADI respectively. The dietary intakes of aluminium in the two young groups exceeded about 8% of the ADI. The intake of dietary fluoride in the two young groups were a little too low, and it was adequate in the adult groups. The overall dietary intake of radionuclides in the 4 age-sex groups was only 36% of ALI. The intakes of man-made radionuclides, 90Sr and 137Cs were all below 1% of ALI. The comparisons of two seasons (spring and autumn) showed that the overall intakes of radionuclides were higher in autumn than in spring. The intake of 210Pb was 3-4 times in autumn than in spring.