Dietary Intake of 210Pb

Abstract

The daily intake of 210Pb in the diet of the general population in the New York City area has been measured. The data indicate a dietary intake for an individual of 1.2 pCi of 210Pb per day. This is higher than the intake by inhalation, but dietary lead is considered to be less available for metabolism than airborne lead, and the blood levels derived from the two sources are about equal. The contributions of different food categories to lead-210, radium and stable lead intake in New York City diet are presented.