Appendix 1 - Statement on the effects of lead on maternal health
In this guide
In this guideLead exposure from food in women of childbearing age
Table 1. Estimated exposure (in µg/kg bw/day) to lead from foods consumed by women of childbearing age (16-49 years) using data from the total diet study food groups (Bates et al., 2014, 2016; Roberts et al., 2018).
|
Food Groups |
Mean Exposure to lead LB to UB (µg/kg bw/day)* |
97.5th Percentile Exposure to lead LB to UB (µg/kg bw/day) * |
|
Bread |
0.0061 |
0.015 |
|
Miscellaneous Cereals |
0.0080 |
0.023 |
|
Carcase meat |
0-0.0014 |
0-0.0065 |
|
Offal |
0.00057 |
0.011 |
|
Meat products |
0.0022 |
0.010 |
|
Poultry |
0.0015 |
0.0055 |
|
Fish and seafood |
0.0015 |
0.0071 |
|
Fats and oils |
0-0.00034 |
0-0.0010 |
|
Eggs |
0-0.00052 |
0-0.0025 |
|
Sugars and confectionaries |
0.0020 |
0.0081 |
|
Green vegetables |
0.0088 |
0.034 |
|
Potatoes |
0-0.0045 |
0-0.013 |
|
Other vegetables |
0.0063 |
0.019 |
|
Canned vegetables |
0.0027 |
0.013 |
|
Fresh fruit |
0-0.0047 |
0- 0.018 |
|
Fruit products |
0.0041 |
0.024 |
|
Non-alcoholic beverages |
0-0.039 |
0-0.091 |
|
Milk |
0-0.0037 |
0-0.014 |
|
Dairy products |
0.0023 |
0.0087 |
|
Nuts and seeds |
0-0.00013 |
0-0.0011 |
|
Alcoholic drinks |
0.0053 |
0.037 |
|
Meat substitutes |
0.00020 |
0.0027 |
|
Snacks |
0.00055 |
0.0025 |
|
Desserts |
0.00062 |
0.0039 |
|
Condiments |
0.0045 |
0.016 |
|
Tap water |
0-0.0048 |
0-0.021 |
|
Bottled water |
0-0.0013 |
0-0.0093 |
|
Total |
0.057-0.12 |
0.12-0.23 |
*Values have been rounded to two significant figures. LB=lower bound; UB=upper bound. “Total” is sum of the values for individual items.
Lead exposures from water in women of childbearing age
Table 2. Concentration of lead in tap water sampled in the nations of the United Kingdom in 2019 (µg/l).
|
Region |
N |
LB mean |
LB SD |
UB mean |
UB SD |
|
England and Wales* |
10967 |
0.38 |
0.38 |
2.15 |
1.9 |
|
Scotland |
436 |
0.34 |
1.2 |
0.48 |
1.2 |
|
Northern Ireland |
122 |
0.24 |
0.79 |
1.1 |
0.75 |
*99th percentile concentration.
LB = lower bound: values below the limit of detection assumed to be zero.
UB = upper bound: values below the limit of detection assumed to be the same as the limit of detection.
References
Bates, B.; Lennox, A.; Prentice, A.; Bates, C.; Page, P.; Nicholson, S.; Swan, G. (2014) National Diet and Nutrition Survey Results from Years 1, 2, 3 and 4 (combined) of the Rolling Programme (2008/2009 – 2011/2012) Available at: Main heading (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Bates, B.; Cox, L.; Nicholson, S.; Page, P.; Prentice, A.; Steer, T.; Swan, G. (2016) National Diet and Nutrition Survey Results from Years 5 and 6 (combined) of the Rolling Programme (2012/2013 – 2013/2014): Main heading (publishing.service.gov.uk).
Roberts, C.; Steer, T.; Maplethorpe, N.; Cox, L.; Meadows, S.; Page, P.; Nicholson, S.; Swan, G. (2018) National Diet and Nutrition Survey Results from Years 7 and 8 (combined) of the Rolling Programme (2014/2015 – 2015/2016): National Diet and Nutrition Survey (publishing.service.gov.uk).