Lead and cadmium in some cereal products on the Finnish market 1990-91

Lead and cadmium contents were determined in representatively collected (commercial mills, wholesalers) samples of rye flour, breakfast cereals, porridge flakes, muesli cereals and pasta products. The samples were digested by heating them overnight in concentrated HNO3. Lead and cadmium concentrations were determined by GFAAS using a platform and (NH4)H2PO4 as a matrix modifier. ARC/CL coded wheat flour and other reference materials (NBS 1567a, BCR no. 189, BCR no. 191) were employed for the analytical quality control. Lead and cadmium contents found in the above samples were generally much lower than the present tolerance limits in Finland (300 micrograms/kg and 100 micrograms/kg respectively). The mean cadmium and lead contents of rye flours studied were very low, being 9 micrograms/kg and 16 micrograms/kg respectively. The mean contents of lead and cadmium in wheat-based breakfast cereals were 22 and 42, in rye products 19 and 26, in oats 17 and 2, in maize products 11 and 18 and in rice products 31 and 10 micrograms/kg, respectively. The mean contents of lead and cadmium in muesli cereals were 34 and 27 micrograms/kg. Remarkably high cadmium contents were found in some pastas made from imported durum wheat. The mean cadmium content of all past products was 79 micrograms/kg with a range of 26-182 micrograms/kg. Lead contents were low, with a mean of 18 micrograms/kg, and a range of 8 to 66 micrograms/kg. Cereals contribute about 59% of the average total dietary cadmium intake in Finland. Nearly 60% of the total cereal consumption is wheat and 27% rye. Since rye has a lower cadmium content than wheat, rye is preferable to wheat. About 15% of lead is derived from cereals. As the total intake of heavy metals is very low in Finland, there is no need to alter cereal consumption.