Dietary Heavy Metal Exposure among Finnish Adults in 2007 and in 2012

For the non-smoking and non-occupationally exposed population in Europe, food is the main source of heavy metal exposure. The aim of the study was to estimate the dietary exposure of the Finnish adult population to cadmium, lead, inorganic arsenic, inorganic mercury and methyl mercury as well as nickel using governmental as well as industry data on heavy metal occurrence in foodstuffs and the data from two national food consumption surveys conducted in 2007 and 2012. The sources of heavy metal exposure were estimated for the working-age population (25 to 64 years) and for the elderly (65 to 74 years). Exposure differences between years and between population groups were compared statistically. The mean exposure of women aged 25 to 45 years to cadmium and lead was statistically significantly (p < 0.001) higher, and the methyl mercury exposure lower (p = 0.001) than that of women aged 46 to 64 years. For nickel and inorganic arsenic the differences were lower but still statistically significant (p < 0.05). Between genders, significant difference (p < 0.05) was only seen for lead and nickel. Mean cadmium exposure was significantly higher in 2012 than in 2007. For at least 95% of the adult population, the risk of health damage from mercury or nickel exposure is negligible, but the margin of exposure for lead and inorganic arsenic is small and shows a possible risk of cancer or neurotoxic effects.