Assessment and Proposed Regulation of Heavy Metal Contents of Commercial Beverages in Taiwan

• Main Authors: Hsin-Yi Lin, 林欣毅
• Other Authors: 游若篍
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/15801514938539355650

碩士 === 臺灣大學 === 食品科技研究所 === 98 === The beverages sanitation standard in Taiwan has set maximum levels for arsenic (As), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), tin (Sn), and antimony (Sb) at 0.2 ppm, 0.3 ppm, 5.0 ppm, 5.0 ppm, 250 ppm, 0.15 ppm respectively, and never revised since 1992. Besides, the definition of beverage was not well defined in sanitation standard. Therefore, it is necessary to re-evaluate whether the standard is applicable to the variety of beverage products or not. This study collects the beverage regulations among several countries, and analyzes As, Pb, Zn, Cu, Sn, and Sb contents in commercial beverages to do a risk assessment. Finally hold an expert panel and propose a draft sanitation standard. The contents of each heavy metal in beverages lay in a range of N.D.-0.13 ppm for As, N.D.-0.08 ppm for Pb, N.D.-14.17 ppm for Zn, N.D.-0.99 ppm for Cu, N.D.-4.111 ppm for Sn, N.D.-0.096 ppm for Sb. The highest Zn content was found in a functional drink which added additional Zn and was unqualified. The result of risk assessment indicated that the level of As, Pb, Zn, Cu, Sn, Sb intake from beverage was corresponding to 10.7%, 8.6%, 1.1%, 0.8%, 0.8%, 6.1% of provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) or tolerable daily intake (TDI) in male, and 8.3%, 6.6%, 0.9%, 0.6%, 0.6%, 4.7% in female. The percentage was relative high in those 6-12 yr old. Overall, there was no heavy metal contamination problem in commercial beverages, and heavy metal intake from beverages was less than PTWI or TDI. This study suggested that beverages in Taiwan can be defined as “non-alcoholic or beverages with less than 0.5% alcohol, including fermentative drinks which do not expect alcohol as target product such as fruit vinegar.” Furthermore, because of the international regulations and the result of risk assessment, we suggested that maximum levels for As, Pb, Sn could be decreased to protect children and toddlers. Zinc could be canceled in beverage sanitary standard.