Dietary exposure estimates of trace elements in selected agricultural products grown in greenhouse and associated health risks in Korean population

Won-Il Kim, Ji-Ho Lee, Anitha Kunhikrishnan, Doo-Ho Kim

Department of Agro-Food Safety, National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS), Rural Development Administration (RDA), Suwon, Republic of Korea.

DOI: 10.4236/jacen.2013.23006                

Abstract

This study focuses on the dietary exposure of trace elements (TEs) through the intake of various agricultural products grown in greenhouse, and its corresponding health risks at different age categories in Korean population. It was observed that the mean contents of TEs found in selected agricultural products were well below their guidelines. Mean and 95th percentile intake estimates of TEs were ranged from 0.02 to <1.00 μg/kg/day in Korean population of all age categories, which were well below their reference dose and provisional tolerable daily intake values. Although the mean intakes of Cd at ages 1 - 2 were the highest with 0.72, it was still below the guideline value of 1.0 μg/kg b.w./day. The target hazard quotient values for respective TEs were less than 1.0 inall age categories, indicating that health risks of TEs through intake of single agricultural product were absent. However, the hazard index value of Cd for ages 1 - 2, based on 95th percentile estimates through intake of agricultural products was 1.88, which may cause some adverse health effects. Although, the health risks of TEs through the intake of selected agricultural products were not significant in Korean population of all age categories, this study cautions
that considerable attention should be paid to the potential health risks of TEs through intake of various foodstuffs and other exposure pathways.

Keywords

Agricultural Products; Dietary Exposure; Greenhouse; Health Risks; Trace Elements

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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