Abstract
A mathematical model is proposed for estimating daily contaminant intake by multiplying three variables related to consumption, from three independent consumption surveys. With lead as an example, the product of the three variables typified the mean and increasing intakes among infants 0–5 months, children 6–23 months and children 2–5 yr of age. Limitations implicit to the approach and the variables were discussed. Daily mean lead intake increased between the three respective age groups, 15, 59, and 82 μg lead. When intake was expressed on a body weight basis (μg lead/kg BW), the rate of daily lead exposure for children 6 to 23 months (6.1) and 2 to 5 yr (5.6) of age was similar but both were higher than the rate for the 0–5 month infant (2.7 μg kg-1 BW). The 90th percentile daily dietary lead intake for 0–5 month infants was double their mean intake and for children 6 months to 5 yr was one and a half times their corresponding mean intakes. Food sources which contributed to the daily lead intake of the infant differed from those for the two groups of older children.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abrams, I. J.: 1977a, ‘Report on Ingredient Use in Final Foods-Menu Census IV of July 1, 1972–June 30, 1973’, Unpublished data obtained under U.S. FDA contract 223-77-2005 Market Research Corporation of America, Chicago.
Abrams, I. J.: 1977b, ‘Access to Menu Census VI data from July 1, 1977–June 30, 1978’, Unpublished data obtained under U.S. FDA contract 223-77-2046. Market Research Corporation of America, Chicago.
Abrams, I. J.: 1979, ‘Specialized Food Consumption Data File Reports on Lead Intake-Menu Census VI’, Unpublished data obtained under U.S. FDA contract 223-79-2243. Market Research Corporation of America, Chicago.
Capar, S. G.: 1978, ‘Changes in Lead Concentrations of Fods Stored in Their Opened Cans’, Jour. of Food Safety 1, 241–245.
Committee on GRAS List Survey Phase III: 1976, ‘Estimating Distribution of Daily Intakes of Certain GRAS Substances’, Food and Nutrition Board, National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council, Washington, D.C.
Committee on GRAS List Survey (Phase III), FNB, NAS-NRC: 1979a, ‘Description of the Survey’, The 1977 Survey of Industry on the Use of Food Additives 1, 1–23.
Committee on GRAS List Survey (Phase III), FNB, NAS-NRC: 1979b, ‘Estimates of Daily Intake, Summary’, The 1977 Survey of Industry on the Use of Food Additives 3, 1758–1759. National Technical Information Service Report PB 80-113418, Springfield, Va.
Committee on GRAS List Survey (Phase III), FNB, NAS-NRC: 1979c, ‘Estimates of Daily Intake, Introduction and Interpretation’, The 1977 Survey of Industry on the Use of Food Additives 3, 1760–1775. National Technical Information Service Report PB 80-113418, Springfield, Va.
Committee on GRAS List Survey (Phase III), FNB, NAS-NRC: 1979d, ‘Appendix B, Estimated Mean Consumption of Foods in Grams per Eating Occasion’, The 1977 Survey of Industry on the Use of Food Additives 3, 2123–2135. National Technical Information Service Report PB 80-113418, Springfield, Va.
Filer, L. J.: 1976, ‘Patterns of Consumption of Food Additives’, Food Tech. 30, 62–70.
Fulton, K. R.: 1981, ‘Surveys of Industry on the Use of Food Additives’, Food Tech. 35, 80–83.
Mahaffey, K. R.: 1978, ‘Environmental Exposure to Lead’, in J., Nriagu (ed.), The Biogeochemistry of Lead in the Environment 11, Elsevier/North Holland Biomedical Press, Amsterdam, pp. 19–20.
Mitchell, D. G. and Aldous, K. M.: 1974, ‘Lead Content of Foodstuffs.’ Enviro. Health Perspectives 5, 59–64.
National Family Opinion, Inc.: 1979, ‘Metal Can Usage Survey’, Glass Packaging Institute, Washington, D.C. [Note: Report submitted to FDA: In the matter of lead in food; Advance Notice of Proposed Rule Making Docket No. 79N-0200].
Scientific Committee: 1980, Proposed System for Food Safety Assessment, Food Safety Council, Washington, D.C.
Subcommittee on Review of the GRAS List (Phase II), Food Protection Committee, NAS-NRC: 1973, ‘A Comprehensive Survey of Industry on the Use of Food Chemicals Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)’. National Technical Information Service Report PB-221-949, Springfield, Va.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Consumer and Food Economics Institute: 1965, ‘One-Day Intakes Among Men, Women and Children, Spring, 1965’, Computer magnetic tapes reproduced by National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Va.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Consumer and Food Economics Research Division: 1972, ‘Food Consumption of Households in the United States, Seasons and Year 1965–1966’, Government Printing Office Report No. 0100-2428, Washington, D.C.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Beloian, A. Use of a food consumption model to estimate human contaminant intake. Environ Monit Assess 2, 115–127 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00399160
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00399160