Internet Education for Environmental Contaminations and Health Risk--- a Case Study of Heavy Metals and Aquatic Products

• Main Authors: Shih, Ling-Ying, 施伶穎
• Other Authors: Han, Bor-Cheng
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2001
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/32982989801592082009

碩士 === 台北醫學院 === 公共衛生學研究所 === 89 === Accompanied with global industrial development, environmental pollutions have seriously endangered the living status of human being. Environmental contaminants will enter human body through inhalations, ingestions (drinking water and foods) and directly contact with skin. Among the past studies, one of the main pathways of human exposure to toxic chemicals is ingestion of contaminated aquatic products. Therefore, contaminants of aquatic products have been a highlight of environmental study. We first investigated the consuming behavior of three groups of people: general population, aquatic products-liking population and fishermen using inquiring form. Second, we detected metal concentrations in aquatic products sampled from different markets. We calculated acceptable daily intakes using health risk assessments of carcinogens and non-carcinogens according to the ingesting amounts (from the inquiring form) and metal concentrations (from the data we analyzed). Furthermore, we set up a pioneer environmental contaminations and health risk website, and wish to provide a professional opinions on healthy living styles through Internet education. Among the metals detected, Zn has the highest concentration from fish, shrimp and shellfish, which are 5.20, 14.16 and 14.04 ppm respectively. Assuming inorganic arsenic accounts is 10% of total arsenic, the lifetime cancer risks for inorganic arsenic are all above the acceptable risk (10-5) from 3 different groups being investigated. The Target Hazard Quotients (THQs) of non-carcinogens (Cd, Zn, Cu, Sn and Se) are all below 1, which is safe. However, THQ for arsenic is above the safety baseline. According to the arsenic concentration shown in this study, we suggest the daily intake of fish, shrimp and shellfish are 14.75, 3.65 and 2.80 g/day respectively. We not only compiling the related references about aquatic consumption and health but set up an on-line inquiring forms. The public is able to reach the professional suggestion for their daily intake of aquatic products through Internet. Keywords: aquatic products, ingestion, exposure, health, website