Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chemical Contaminants in Food

  • Chapter
Principles and Practice of Environmental Medicine

Abstract

Three categories of environmental contaminants generally occur in food: natural and synthetic organic compounds, traces of heavy metal, and certain natural and synthetic radioactive substances (51, 69). This chapter summarizes the sources, occurrence, extent of exposure, and regulation of selected substances belonging to the first two categories, i.e., contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), residues of certain pesticides, traces of toxic metals, components of packaging materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and traces of industrial chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Anonymous: FDA to propose ban on use of PVC for liquor use. Food Chem News, 14 May, pp 3–4, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Archibald SO, Winter CK: Pesticides in our food. In: Chemicals in the Human Food Chain, p 1, Winter CK, Seiber JN, Nuckton CF (eds.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Berck B: Retention of acrylonitrile and carbon tetrachloride by shelled walnuts fumigated with acrylon. J Agric Food Chem 8:128, 1960.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Committee on Diet, Nutrition and Cancer, National Research Council: Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer, National Academy Press, Washington, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Committee on Food Protection: Toxicants Occurring Naturally in Foods, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Committee on Medical and Biologic Effects of Environmental Pollutants: Arsenic. Medical and Biologic Effects of Environmental Pollutants, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Committee on Pyrene and Selected Analogues, National Research Council: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Evaluation of Sources and Effects, National Academy Press, Washington, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Committee on Scientific and Regulatory Issues Underlying Pesticide Use Patterns and Agricultural Innovation, National Research Council: Regulating Pesticides in Food: The Delaney Paradox, National Academy Press, Washington, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Cordle F, Corneliussen P, Jelinek C, et al: Human exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and polybro-minated biphenyls. Environ Health Perspect 24:157, 1978.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology: CAST Report No. 64: Application of Sewage Sludge to Cropland: Appraisal of Potential Hazards of the Heavy Metals to Plants and Animals, Office of Water Program Operations, US Environmental Protection Agency, EPA-430/9–76-013, Washington, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Daniel PM, Pratt OE, Prichard MM: Metabolism of labelled carcinogenic hydrocarbons in rats. Nature 215:1142, 1967.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Food and Drug Administration: Food and Drug Administration Pesticide Program, residues in foods, 1989. J Assoc Off Anal Chem 73:127A, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Frank A, Pettersson LR: Assessment of bioavailability of cadmium in the Swedish environment using the moose (Alces alces) as indicator. Z Anal Chem 317:652, 1984.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Friberg L, Vahter M: Assessment of exposure to lead and cadmium through biological monitoring: Results of a UNEP/WHO global study. Environ Res 30:95, 1983.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Friberg L, Piscator M, Nordberg GF, et al. (eds.): Cadmium in the Environment, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Gartrell MJ, Crann JC, Podrebarac DS, et al: Pesticides, selected elements, and other chemicals in adult total diet samples. October 1980-March 1982. J Assoc Off Anal Chem 69:146, 1986.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Gilbert J, Stratin JR: Determination of acrylonitrile monomer in food packaging materials and in foods. Food Chem 9:243, 1982.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Global Environment Monitoring System: Assessment of Chemical Contaminants in Food, Report on the Results of the UNEP/FAO/WHO Programme on Health-Related Environmental Monitoring, United Nations Environment Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, Geneva, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Gunderson EL: FDA total diet study, April 1982–1984, Dietary Intakes of pesticides, selected elements, and other chemicals. J Assoc Off Anal Chem 71:1200, 1988.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Higginson J: Etiological factors in gastrointestinal cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 37:527, 1966.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Interdepartmental Task Force on PCBs: Polychlori-nated Biphenyls and the Environment, Interdepartmental Task force on PCBs, Washington, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  22. International Agency for Research on Cancer: IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Man, Vol. 5, Some Organ-ochlorine Pesticides, p 241, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyons, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  23. International Agency for Research on Cancer: IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Humans, Vol. 20, Some Haloge-nated Hydrocarbons, p 609, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyons, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  24. International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies: Formation of mutagens—during cooking and heat processing of food. Environ Health Perspect 67:3, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Jelinek CF: Levels of lead in the United States food supply. J Assoc Off Anal Chem 65:942, 1982.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Jelinek CF, Corneliussen PE: Levels of PCBs in the US food supply. In: Proceedings of the National Conference on Polychlorinated Biphenyls, p 147, Office of Toxicological Substances, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Jelinek CF, Corneliussen PE: Levels of arsenic in the United States food supply. Environ Health Perspect 19:83, 1977.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Kutz FW: Chemical exposure monitoring. Residue Rev 85:227, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Kutz FW, Strassman SC: Residues of polychlorinated biphenyls in the general population of the US. In: US National Conference on Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Conference Proceedings, p. 139, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Lijinsky W, Ross AE: Production of polynuclear hydrocarbons in the cooking of foods. Food Cosmet Toxicol 5:343, 1967.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Little P, Fleming RG, Heard MJ: Uptake of lead by vegetable foodstuffs during cooking. Sci Total Environ 17:111, 1981.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Masuda Y, Mori K, Hirohata T, et al: Carcinogenesis in the esophagus. III. PAH and phenols in whiskey. Gann 57:549, 1966.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. McEwen FL, Stephenson GR: The Use and Significance of Pesticides in the Environment, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  34. McNally J: Polychlorinated biphenyls: Environmental contamination of food. In: Environmental Contaminants in Food, Vol. II Part A: Working Papers, pp CRS1-CRS131, Office of Technology Assessment, Washington, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food: Survey of Vinyl Chloride Content of Polyvinyl Chloride for Food Content and of Foods. The Second Report of the Steering Group on Food Surveillance, Paper No. 2, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Moore MR: Influence of acid rain upon water plum-bosolvency. Environ Health Perspect 63:121, 1985.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Murphy RS, Kutz FW, Strassmann SC: Selected pesticide residues or metabolites in blood and urine specimens from a general population survey. Environ Health Perspect 48:81, 1983.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. New York State Health Planning Commission: Report to the Ad Hoc Committee on the Health Implications of PCBs in Mother’s Milk, Health Advisory Council, Albany, NY, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Nordberg GF: Health hazards of environmental cadmium pollution. Ambio 3:55, 1974.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Nordberg GF, Goyer RA, Clarkson TW: Impact of effects of acid precipitation on toxicity of metals. Environ Health Perspect 63:169, 1985.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Obana H, Hori S, Kashimoto T, et al: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in human fat and liver. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 27:23, 1981.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Okinaka S, Yoshikawa M, Mozai T, et al: Encepha-lomyopathy due to an organic mercury compound. Neurology 14:69, 1964.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development: Mercury and the Environment. Studies of Mercury Use, Emission, Biological Impact and Control, OECD, Paris, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development: State of the Environment 1985, OECD, Paris, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Panalaks T: Determination and identification of PAH in smoked and charcoal broiled foods by high pressure liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. J Environ Sci Health Bull (B) 11:299, 1976.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Piscator M: Dietary exposure to cadmium and health effects: Impact of environmental changes. Environ Health Perspect 63:127, 1985.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Rabinowitz MB, Wetherill GW, Kopple JM: Kinetic analysis of lead metabolism in healthy humans. J Clin Invest 58:260, 1976.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Reed DV, Lombardo P, Wessel JR, et al: The FDA pesticides monitoring program. J Assoc Off Anal Chem 70:591, 1987.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Santodonato J, Howard P Basu D: Health and ecological assessment of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. J Environ Pathol Toxicol (special issue) 5:1–366, 1981.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Schaffner RM: Lead in canned foods. Food Technol 35:60, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Seiber J: Organic chemicals. In: Chemicals in the Human Food Chain, p 183, Winger CK, Seiber JN, Nuckton CF (eds.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Soos K: The occurrence of carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons in foodstuffs in Hungary. Arch Toxicol Suppl 4:446, 1980.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Steering Committee on Identification of Toxic and Potentially Toxic Chemicals for Consideration by the National Toxicology Program: Toxicity Testing Strategies to Determine Needs and Priorities, National Academy Press, Washington, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Stokes FM, Bailey RC, Groulx GR: Effects of acidification on metal availability to aquatic biota, with special reference to filamentous algae. Environ Health Per-spect 63:79, 1985.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Suess MJ: The environmental load and cycle of poly-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Sci Total Environ 6:329, 1976.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Tilgner DJ, Daun H: PAH (polynuclears) in smoked foods. Residue Rev 27:19, 1969.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. US Congress, Office of Technology Assessment: Environmental Contaminants in Food. OTA-F-103, US Government Printing Office, Washington, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  58. US Congress, Office of Technology Assessment: Pesticide Residues in Food: Technology for Detection, OTA-F-398, US Government Printing Office, Washington, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  59. US Environmental Protection Agency: Polychlorinated biphenyls. Fed Register 44(106):31514–31568, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  60. US Environmental Protection Agency: Toxic Substances Control Act, Chemical Substances Inventory, Cumulative Supplement H, US Government Printing Office, Washington, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  61. US Food and Drug Administration: Polychlorinated biphenyls: Notice of proposed rulemaking. Fed Register 37:5705–5706, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  62. US Food and Drug Adrninistration: Polychlorinated biphenyls: Contamination of animal feeds, foods and food packaging materials and availability of supplement to environmental statement of rulemaking. Fed Register 38:18096, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  63. US Food and Drug Administration: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): Reduction of tolerances. Fed Register 44(127):38330–38340, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  64. US Food and Drug Administration: Policy for regulating carcinogenic chemicals in food and color additives: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking. Fed Register 47:14464–14470, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Watkins D, Corbyons T, Bradshow J, et al: Determination of lead in confection wrappers by atomic spectrometry. Anal Chim Acta 85:403, 1976.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Webb M: Cadmium. Br Med Bull 31:246, 1975.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Wessel JR, Yess NJ: Pesticide residues in food imported into the United States. Rev Environ Contamin Toxicol 120:83, 1991.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. William DT, Miles WF: Gas-liquid chromatographic determination of vinyl chloride in alcoholic beverages, vegetable oils, and vinegars. J Assoc Off Anal Chem 58:272, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  69. Winter CK, Seiber NJ, Nuckton CF (eds.): Chemicals in the Human Food Chain, Van Nostrand Reinhold, Washington, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

Recommended Readings

  • Winter CK, Seiber NJ, Nuckton CF (eds.): Chemicals in the Human Food Chain, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • US Congress, Office of Technology Assessment: Pesticide Residues in Food: Technology for Detection, OTA-F-398, US Government Printing Office, Washington, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Sushma Palmer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kulbir S. Bakshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA

    Alyce Bezman Tarcher M.D.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Palmer, S., Bakshi, K.S. (1992). Chemical Contaminants in Food. In: Tarcher, A.B. (eds) Principles and Practice of Environmental Medicine. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2447-6_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2447-6_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-2449-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-2447-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation