Safety Assessment of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Products of Korea

우리 나라에서 생산된 농산물의 중금속 안전성 평가

This study was conducted to compare and evaluate the heavy metal contents of agricultural products in Korea and to compare with relevant international criteria such as the Average Daily Intake(ADI) and the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake(PTWI) proposed by the joint FAO/WHO Codex Committee on additives and contaminant. Contents of heavy metal in cereals, pulses, potatoes, vegetables and fruits were in the range of $0.010{\sim}0.073$ for Cd, $0.40{\sim}6.45$ for Cu, $0.083{\sim}0.698$ for Pb, $2.45{\sim}16.30$ for Zn, $0.171{\sim}1.378$ for Ni, $0.023{\sim}0.233$ for Cr and $0.026{\sim}0.070$ mg/kg(F.W.) for As. Heavy metal contents of cereals, pulses, potatoes, vegetables and fruits were with natural content levels proposed by FAO/WHO and were similar to value monitored in other countries. Also, average intake of heavy metal from agricultural products was lower than the ADI and PTWI by the joint FAO/WHO Codex Committee on Additives and Contaminants. Therefore, none of the cereals, pulses, potatoes, vegetables and fruits evaluated showed accumulation of such heavy metal high enough to cause health problems to human.

우리 나라에서 생산된 농산물의 중금속 함량을 조사하고 이를 국내외의 분석치 및 FAO/WHO에서 설정한 일일섭취허용량 및 잠정주간섭취허용량과 비교 ${\cdot}$ 검토한 결과는 다음과 같다. 곡류, 두류, 서류, 채소류 및 과실류 생체중의 중금속 평균함량 범위는 각각 Cd $0.010{\sim}0.073$, Cu $0.40{\sim}6.45$, Pb $0.083{\sim}0.698$, Zn $2.45{\sim}16.30$, Ni $0.171{\sim}1.378$, Cr $0.023{\sim}0.233$, As $0.026{\sim}0.070$ mg/kg이였으며, 이는 외국에서 조사한 결과와 유사한 수준이었다. 또한 농산물에 의해 섭취되는 중금속의 양도 FAO/WHO에서 설정한 1일 섭취허용량 및 잠정 주간 섭취허용량과 비교하면 허용기준보다 낮게 나타났다. 따라서 섭취되는 중금속 양으로 볼 때 우리나라에서 생산된 농산물은 중금속 안전성 측면에서 문제가 없을 것으로 생각된다.