Lead content of dietary calcium supplements available in Brazil

Food Addit Contam. 2006 Feb;23(2):133-9. doi: 10.1080/02652030500316959.

Abstract

The lead and calcium content of calcium supplements available in Brazil were determined by graphite furnace and flame atomic absorption spectrometry, respectively. Samples were microwave-digested in concentrated HNO(3). Citric acid was used as a chemical modifier in the lead analysis. Supplements were classified into six categories: oyster industrialized (OI, n=4), oyster prepared in pharmacy (OP, n=3), refined industrialized (RI, n=6), refined prepared in pharmacy (RP, n=3), bone meal (B, n=3), and dolomite (D, n=4). Lead levels (microg g(-1) of measured calcium) were higher in D products (2.33), followed by OI, RP, OP, and RI products (1.46, 1.32, 1.29, 0.75), while B products had levels lower than the limit of quantification (0.02 microg g(-1) unit weight). Daily lead intake of eight supplements exceeded the limit of California, USA (1.5 microg g(-1) calcium), but none exceeded the federal limit of USA (7.5 microg g(-1) calcium) or the provisional tolerable lead intake by FAO/WHO (25 microg kg(-1) per week).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Products
  • Brazil
  • Calcium Carbonate / analysis
  • Calcium, Dietary / analysis*
  • Dietary Supplements / analysis*
  • Food Contamination
  • Humans
  • Lead / administration & dosage
  • Lead / analysis*
  • Magnesium / analysis
  • Minerals / analysis
  • Ostreidae
  • Spectrophotometry, Atomic / methods

Substances

  • Biological Products
  • Calcium, Dietary
  • Minerals
  • Lead
  • Calcium Carbonate
  • Magnesium
  • bone meal
  • calcium magnesium carbonate