Use of food-intake surveys to estimate exposures to nonnutrients

Several steps must be taken in estimating intake of (or exposure to) dietary nonnutrients such as additives, drug residues, pesticide residues, toxicants, and natural nontoxicant chemicals. The first step involves consideration of relevant characteristics of the nonnutrient, including biological activity, physical/geographical sources, distribution in the food supply, typical concentrations, and the desirability of intake. After reviewing chemical characteristics, appropriate food-consumption data to use in the exposure assessment must be identified and obtained. Survey methodology must be reviewed carefully to determine compatibility with the characteristics of the chemical. The best available nonnutrient concentration data must be identified and obtained and the exposure models must be chosen. Available models include average exposure, simple distribution, joint distribution, and commodity contribution.