[2000 Chinese total dietary study--the dietary arsenic intakes].

Objective: To assess the safety of dietary arsenic intakes in different areas in China.

Methods: Using the total dietary study method, the analytical samples were obtained in different areas by food consumption survey, food aggregation, food sampling and preparation. The levels of dietary total and inorganic arsenic were determined by the hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry and atomic fluorospectrophotometry. The dietary total and inorganic arsenic intakes in different areas were obtained by timing the food consumption data and the arsenic content in different dietary samples. The safety of dietary arsenic was evaluated in Chinese four regions and average adults by using the dietary inorganic arsenic PTWI recommended by WHO.

Results: The results indicate that the dietary arsenic intake is safety in different regions. Only a few samples in some areas exceed tolerance limits of China national standard. Dietary total and inorganic arsenic (of PTWI) intakes in four different regions (north1, north2, south1, south2 and average adults) were 0.220 mg and 0.094 mg (69.3%), 0.254 mg and 0.098 mg (72.2%), 0.296 mg and 0.048 mg (35.6%), 0.335 mg and 0.077 mg (57.3%), 0.276 mg and 0.079 mg (58.6%) respectively. Mainly sources of dietary arsenic intake were cereals, vegetables and beverage and water.

Conclusion: It is the first time that the dietary total arsenic and inorganic arsenic intakes of the adult were investigated in Chinese total diet study. The result shows that the total and inorganic arsenic intakes in Chinese people are safe.