Lead in Women’s and Children’s Vitamins

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2008-08, Vol.56 (16), p.6892-6896
• Main Authors: Mindak, William R, Cheng, John, Canas, Benjamin J, Bolger, P. Michael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; age; Analytical Methods; Biological and medical sciences; Child; child nutrition; Child, Preschool; children; cryogenic grinding; Dietary supplements; Dietary Supplements - analysis; Drug Contamination; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; food contamination; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; human nutrition; Humans; ICP-MS; Infant; Infant, Newborn; lactating women; Lactation; lead; Lead - analysis; Mass Spectrometry; Maximum Allowable Concentration; microwave digestion; Pregnancy; pregnant women; surveys; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; vitamin-mineral supplements; vitamins; Vitamins - analysis; women
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf801236w

A survey was conducted to determine the extent of lead (Pb) contamination in vitamins labeled for use by women and children. The Pb content of 324 multivitamin−mineral products was determined using microwave assisted nitric acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Cryogenic grinding was used to composite soft samples such as oil filled capsules and candy-like products such as gummies and jelly beans. Estimates of Pb exposures from consumption of these products were derived for four population groups: young children (0−6 yrs), older children (7+ yrs), pregnant or lactating women, and adult women. The estimated median and maximum Pb exposures were 0.123 and 2.88 μg/day for young children, 0.356 and 1.78 μg/day for older children, 0.845 and 8.97 μg/day for pregnant and lactating women, and 0.842 and 4.92 μg/day for adult women. The overall median value for Pb exposure was 0.576 μg/day. Five samples would have provided exposures that exceeded 4 μg/day. Estimates of exposures were assessed with respect to safe/tolerable exposure levels that have been developed for the specific age and sex groups. These safe/tolerable levels are referred to as the provisional total tolerable intake levels (PTTI) and are 6, 15, 25, and 75 μg Pb/day for young children, older children, pregnant or lactating women, and adult women, respectively. Estimates of Pb exposures were below the PTTI levels for the four population groups. Median and maximum values were used instead of the mean and standard deviation because of the skewed distribution of results toward lower mass fraction and exposure.