Monitoring of Heavy Metals in Fruits in Korea

According to the Codex committee, the maximum allowable level for lead in fruits is 0.1 mg/kg. This survey was conducted as a surveillance program following the establishment of safety guideline for fruits in Korea. Concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) were measured in 927 samples using a ICP-MS and a mercury analyzer. The recoveries of microwave digestion method were 86.0-110.4% for Pb, 81.0-104.0% for Cd and 82.0-104.7% for As by standard addition method. The recovery of direct mercury analyzer was 106.5% for Hg. The average levels of Pb in ${\mu}g/kg$ were $10.0{\pm}12.8$ for apple, $8.8{\pm}10.9$ for pear, $4.1{\pm}4.4$ for persimmons, $14.9{\pm}12.3$ for mandarin, $7.1{\pm}6.5$ for orange, $3.1{\pm}3.3$ for banana, $8.8{\pm}8.9$ for kiwi, and $9.3{\pm}9.7$ for mango. The average levels of Cd in ${\mu}g/kg$ were $0.4{\pm}0.3$ for apple, $2.0{\pm}1.6$ for pear, $0.3{\pm}0.3$ for persimmon, $0.1{\pm}0.1$ for mandarin, $0.1{\pm}0.1$ for orange, $1.3{\pm}1.8$ for banana, $0.5{\pm}0.5$ for kiwi, and $0.7{\pm}0.6$ for mango. The average levels of As in ${\mu}g/kg$ were $2.0{\pm}2.1$ for apple, $1.2{\pm}1.3$ for pear, $1.5{\pm}1.2$ for persimmon, $0.8{\pm}0.3$ for mandarin, $1.5{\pm}0.5$ for orange, $1.8{\pm}1.2$ for banana, $1.6{\pm}1.5$ for kiwi, and $1.2{\pm}1.5$ for mango. The average levels of Hg in ${\mu}g/kg$ were $0.5{\pm}0.4$ for apple, $0.3{\pm}0.2$ for pear, $0.2{\pm}0.1$ for persimmon, $0.2{\pm}0.1$ for mandarin, $0.2{\pm}0.1$ for orange, $0.2{\pm}0.0$ for banana, $0.2{\pm}0.2$ for kiwi, and $0.6{\pm}0.2$ for mango. Based on the Korean public nutrition report 2005, these levels (or amounts) are calculated only at 0.17% for Pb, 0.013% for Cd and 0.006% for Hg of those presented in provisional tolerable weekly Intake (PTWI) which has been established by FAO/WHO. Therefore, the levels presented here are presumed to be adequately safe.

유통 중인 과일류의 중금속 모니터링

국내에는 과일류 중 중금속의 기준규격은 없으나, Codex에서는 과일류 중 납 함량 규격을 0.1 mg/kg으로 설정하여 관리하고 있다. 이에 따라 우리나라에서 유통 중인 과일류의 중금속 함량 규격을 설정하고자 일일 섭취량이 많은 과일 8종(오렌지, 사과, 바나나, 배, 감귤, 감, 망고, 키위), 927건을 수거하여 납, 카드뮴, 비소 및 수은 함량을 수은분석기 및 ICP-MS를 이용하여 분석하였다. 표준용액첨가법에 의한 회수율은 납 86.0-110.4%, 카드뮴 81.0-104.0%, 비소 82.0-104.7%를 얻었으며, 수은분석기를 이용한 수은의 회수율은 106.5%이었다. 조사결과 국내유통 중인 과일류의 중금속 평균함량은 납 8.3, 카드뮴 0.7 비소 1.4, 수은 $0.3{\mu}g/kg$으로 조사되었다. 중금속의 주간섭취량을 FAO/WHO에서 안전성 평가를 위해 설정한 PTWI와 비교한 결과, 납, 카드뮴, 수은이 각각 0.17, 0.013 및 0.006%로 그 수준이 매우 낮아 우리나라에서 유통되는 이들 과일로부터 섭취하는 중금은 매우 미미하여 안전한 수준으로 판단된다.