Age Dependent Values of Dietary Intake for Assessing Human Exposures to Environmental Pollutants

Abstract

Detailed information concerning human food consumption patterns necessary for relating pollutant body burdens to environmental contamination levels was compiled to be used in lieu of site-specific data for calculating health impacts arising from the ingestion of food containing various levels of such pollutants as radionuclides, toxic heavy metals, insecticides and many others. Impact assessments for which food ingestion data is necessary may include pollutants from such diverse sources as mine tailings; construction and operation of power plants (coal, nuclear, gas, geothemol, etc.); recovery of uranium from phosphoric acid; decontamination and decommissioning of nuclear facilities; food additives; industrial and agricultural activities; and methods of disposal of various kinds of waste materials. This paper examines available data on human food consumption rates and estimates dietary intake rates by individuals of various ages. Ingestion parameters include intake rates of water and other beverages, milk, vegetables, fruits, meat, poultry, grain and fish. Information was analyzed from documented surveys of individuals within households and from interviews and personal communications. Although average intake rates are often the only data reported in the literature, ranges as well as averages are included in this paper whenever possible. Various results are tabulated including per capita food consumption in 1955 and 1965 and changes in per capita consumption as well as changes by urbanization. Details of milk consumption are presented by selected sex-age groups. Solid food intake is given by age group. Market basket quantities of foods consumed daily are also tabulated.