Abstract
The main purpose of this study is to evaluate dietary intake of heavy metals by Japanese based on the environmental monitoring data and to analyze their accumulation in human tissues. A compartment model was developed and heavy metals concentration in human tissues were used for evaluation of Japanese health risks.
The results obtained under the limits considered can be summarized as follows;
1) Rice and marine products are the largest dietary intake pathways of both Pb and Cd, and over 80% of those metals is supplied with domestic foods. No larger than 20% of those metals is supplied from foreign countries though Japanese depend about 70% foods on the abroads.
2) The compartment model was proposed and examined for evaluating metabolism of heavy metals in human body.
3) The present Pb concentration level in Japanese foods is enough low and no adverse health effects are expected on Japanese.
4) The Cd concentration level also causes no adverse health effects. However, Cd in kidney may reach the critical concentration to cause the renal dysfunction within 10 years, if people in high-risk zones continue to eat 1.0 ppm of rice produced there.
5) Continuous monitoring over 100 years is essential to evaluate human health risks caused by Pb and Cd.
