Diet monitoring for assessment of human exposure to environmental pollutants

Daily intake of lead, cadmium, aluminium, radiocaesium, DDT and metabolites, and lindane in the whole-day food rations collected in hospital canteens in Krakow, Lodz, Olsztyn and Poznan in winters of 1993-1994, 1995 and 1996 were determined. The diets contained almost 40 mug of cadmium, corresponding to 70% of PTWI, and compared to the levels recognised as safe (ADI or PTWI) small amounts of the other contaminants. The highest content of Pb, Cd, Al and lindane was determined in the diets collected in Krakow, that of radiocaesium in Lodz, and DDT level was the highest in Poznan. The whole-day food rations from Olsztyn, situated in a region called "green lungs of Poland", were not statistically less contaminated than the diets from the other towns. The Pb and radiocaesium levels decreased significantly with time. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.