[Chinese total diet study in 2000--the dietary mercuric intakes]

To assess the safety of dietary mercuric intakes in different areas in China.

Using the Chinese total dietary study method, the analytical samples were obtained in different areas by food consumption survey, food aggregation, food sampling and preparation. The levels of dietary total mercury were determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. The dietary total mercuric intakes in different areas were obtained by timing the food consumption data and the mercuric content in different dietary samples. The safety of dietary mercury was evaluated in Chinese four regions and average adults by using the dietary mercuric PTWI recommended by WHO.

The results indicate that the dietary mercuric intakes are safe in different regions. Only a few samples in some areas exceed tolerance limits of China national standard. Dietary total mercuric intakes (of PTWI) in four different regions adults and mean were 8.86 microg (19.7%), 4.69 microg (10.4%), 7.01 microg (15.6%), 6.88 microg (15.3%), 6.86 microg (15.2%), respectively. Mainly sources of dietary mercuric intake were cereals, vegetables and sea foods.

The result shows that the total mercuric intakes in Chinese people are safe.