Total diet samples purchased at monthly intervals between March 1990 and December 1991 were analysed for different contaminants and nutrients. Each total diet sample included 91 food items which were combined after preparation and/or cooking into 16 groups of similar foods. The 'market basket' was based on a food survey which referred to the adult population (25-60 years) carried out in the Basque Country between 1988 and 1990. The dietary intakes (micrograms/day) of lead (43), cadmium (11), mercury (18), arsenic (291), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) (0.2), alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-HCH) ( < 0.1), beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH) (0.1), gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH) (2.9), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) (0.3), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene (DDE) (0.9), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD)(0.2), dieldrin (0.5), heptachlor epoxide ( < 0.1), alpha-endosulphan (0.1) and beta-endosulphan (0.1) were all well below the respective Acceptable Daily Intakes or Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes. However, arsenic intake was much higher than that estimated in other countries and gamma-HCH was detected in anomalously high levels in the bread group. Dietary intakes of delta-hexachlorocyclohexane (delta-HCH), aldrin, endrin, heptachlor and methoxychlor were not calculated because no residues were detected in any of the samples. Aflatoxin M1 intake was not estimated owing to the low levels detected. Finally, zinc intakes (11.6 mg/day) were below the recommended dietary allowances for Spain and the same was true for iron (11.3 mg/day), but only for females.
A total diet study has been initiated in the Basque country (Spain), the purpose of which is to provide estimates of the average intake of both food contaminants and certain nutrients. The types and quantities of foods that make up the average Basque 'Total Diet' are based on the results of surveys carried out between 1988 and 1990. These surveys have identified the major items in the national diet (91 categories of foods) which are combined for the total diet study, for analysis, into 16 groups of similar foods. Each group is being analysed for selected contaminants of concern which initially are: heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic), organochlorine pesticides (HCB, HCH (alpha, beta, gamma, delta), DDT (DDE, TDE), dieldrin, aldrin, endrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, endosulfan and methoxychlor) and selected trace element nutrients (zinc, selenium and iron). In the milk and dairy products groups an assessment of aflatoxin M1 contamination is also being carried out.
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