Cadmium pollution status and health risk assessment in wheat in Shandong Province from 2020 to 2021

Abstract

ObjectiveTo understand the pollution status of cadmium in wheat in 16 cities of Shandong Province and evaluate its dietary exposure and health risks.MethodsInductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was performed to detect the cadmium content in wheat in 16 cities in Shandong Province from 2020 to 2021， and the dietary exposure to cadmium was calculated based on the wheat consumption of Shandong residents. The health risks caused by cadmium were evaluated using the margin of safety（MOS） and the health risk assessment model recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.ResultsThe median of cadmium in wheat was 0.020 2 mg/kg， and the detection rate was 97.5%. The cadmium pollution in wheat was higher in southern Shandong Province and Jiaodong Peninsula， and lower in northwestern Shandong Province. The average monthly intake of cadmium from wheat by Shandong residents was 1.80 µg/kg·BW， which was less than the reference value of PTMI（25 µg/kg·BW）. The MOS of cadmium in wheat was 13.9 and the risk was acceptable. The average annual personal cancer risk was 0.46 × 10-5 per year， which was less than the standard of the international commission on radiation protection.ConclusionThere are regional differences in wheat pollution in Shandong Province， and the health risk of residents ingesting cadmium through wheat is at an acceptable level.

Keywords

• wheat
• cadmium
• pollution status
• dietary exposure
• health risk assessment
• distribution