Means of Improving the Comparability of Intake Studies

Abstract

Several methods are available for estimating intake of contaminants of food and each of the methods has certain merits and limitations. At present, standardized or commonly accepted methods are developing. One of the most important steps in this process has been the preparation of “guidelines for the study of dietary intakes of chemical contaminants” by WHO in 1985 [1]. In fact, intake estimation is conducted by different methods and modifications in different countries. This is reasonable to some extent, since the risk management policies and legislation also vary from country to country. However, estimates from different countries are actually not comparable due to inconsistent methodology. The necessity for making the studies more comparable even in one country is demonstrated in the Tables 22.1 and 22.2. It is obvious, that methodological differences are responsible for the majority of the differences shown in these tables. At present, it may also be the case that methodological advances made in certain studies are not recognized and discussed by other groups working in food toxicology or risk assessment, because of the lack of a common conceptual and methodological basis.