Predicted intake of trace elements and minerals via household drinking water by 6-year-old children from Krakow (Poland). Part 5: Zinc

Henryk Barton

Zinc(Zn) exposure in preschool children via household drinking water collected by double sampling method (morning, evening) was evaluated in the sample of Polish population. Zn concentration was measured by the Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Rural and sub-urban Krakow sites were non-distinguishable in respect of Zn concentrations. Significantly lower Zn was found in urban as compared to non-urban sites, (geometric mean(95% confidence interval) 0.14 (0.01-1.95) mg L^-1 vs. 0.52 (0.03-10.2) mg L^-1, p<0.001. Zn levels in water standing overnight in pipelines were higher in all sites by 0.36 mg L^-1 on average, but observed contaminations were higher. The Zn limit based on taste and colour of for drinking water (3 mg L^-1), was exceeded in 1 and 10% of households from urban and non-urban sites, respectively. The Zn intake predictions for evening water samples for 6 years old children averaged by 2% and 9% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA, 10 mg day^-1) for urban and non-urban sites, respectively. Mean Zn intake prediction for the exceedance fraction was 64% of RDA. In conclusion, over-night contamination of drinking water from in-house pipelines was common, significant and of similar extent at all sites investigated. Secondly, drinking water can be a considered significant contributor to dietary Zn intake by children in non-urban sites and may shift the population borderline of deficiency.

Mots clés: Life Sciences

Henryk Barton. Predicted intake of trace elements and minerals via household drinking water by 6-year-old children from Krakow (Poland). Part 5: Zinc. Food Additives and Contaminants, 2010, 27 (03), pp.315-326. ⟨10.1080/02652030903214355⟩. ⟨hal-00573909⟩