Toxic heavy metals and other trace elements in foodstuffs from 12 different countries. An IAEA coordinated research program.

A research program related to the assessment of toxic heavy metals and essential trace elements in foodstuffs has been carried out in 12 countries under the auspices of the IAEA. The main purpose of this program was to obtain data on the elemental concentrations of potentially toxic elements in foodstuffs in various countries, and to compare them with the maximum permissible levels specified in national legislation and international guidelines. High-priority elements for this study were As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg, and Se. Also of interest, but of lower priority, were Sb, Cu, and Zn. Emphasis was placed on the use of nuclear and nuclear-related analytical techniques, complemented by conventional methods, and on quality assurance.