본 연구는 우리나라 식품공전의 다류제품 중 중금속 함량을 파악하여 우리나라 및 외국의 모니터링, 기준과 비교함으로써 안전성을 평가하고자 하였다. 총 200건의 다류제품에 대하여 ICP, AAS 및 Mercury analyzer를 이용하여 측정한 납 등 중금속 평균함량은 Hg: 0.003 mg/kg, Pb: 0.03 mg/kg, Cd: 0.007 mg/kg, As: 0.006 mg/kg, Cu: 2.73 mg/kg, Mn: 66.91 mg/kg, Zn: 4.54 mg/kg, A1: 85.53 mg/kg으로 외국에서 보고된 결과와 유사하거나 낮은 수준이었다. 또한 우리나라 국민이 다류를 통해 섭취하는 납, 카드뮴, 수은 등 유해중금속의 섭취량은 FAO/WHO에서 설정한 PTWI의 $0.1{sim}0.2%$ 이하로 매우 낮았다.
This study was conducted to estimate the contents of heavy metals in tea products (n=200) and to provide a scientific basis for standardization of heavy metals in the Korea Food Code. The contents of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and aluminium (Al) were determined using a mercury analyzer, an AAS (atomic absorption spectrophotometer), and ICP (inductively coupled plasma spectrometer). The values of heavy metals in tea products were [minimum-maximum (mean), mg/kg] Hg: $N.D.{sim}0.02$ (0.003), Pb: $N.D.{sim}0.35$ (0.03), Cd: $N.D.{sim}0.07$ (0.007), As: $N.D.{sim}0.19$ (0.006), Cu: $N.D.{sim}24.41$ (2.73), Mn: $N.D.{sim}767.88$ (66.91), Zn: $N.D.{sim}18.60$ (4.54), Al: $N.D.{sim}1304.30$ (85.53). These results showed that metal contents in tea products in our markets were similar to those reported in other countries. The average weekly intakes of lead, cadmium, and mercury from tea products were $0.1{sim}0.2%$ of PTWI (Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake) that the JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) has set to evaluate their safeties.
