Survey on measurement of the concentrations of metals and other elements from the 2006 UK total diet study

The concentrations of 24 elements, including metals in the 2006 UK Total Diet Study (TDS) are reported. Composite samples for the 20 TDS food groups (including bread, fish, fruit) were collected from 24 UK towns and analysed for their levels of aluminium, antimony, arsenic, barium, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, copper, germanium, indium, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, selenium, strontium, thallium, tin and zinc. The results from this survey have been used to estimate dietary exposures to these elements for UK consumers and provide up to date information on their concentrations in foods. Through comparisons with previous TDSs, any trends in exposure to these elements in the typical UK diet have been established and the main dietary sources that contribute to these exposure levels have been identified.

The key findings of this survey are:

• The concentrations of each of the elements in the food groups were lower than or similar to those reported in the previous TDS, conducted in 2000, with the exception of aluminium, barium and manganese.
• Population exposures to the elements have generally declined over the course of the TDS programme, and exposures to most of these elements remain at these low levels.
• The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT), an independent advisory committee, evaluated the results of this survey. They did not identify specific concerns for the health of consumers, but noted a need for more information on aluminium and barium. The COT also stressed that efforts should continue to reduce dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic and to lead.