A dietary risk assessment for indigenous consumption of natural salt deposits in the Darhad Valley, Northern Mongolia

Barber, LM; Peterson, RKD; Montagne, C; Inskeep, WP; Schleier, JJ, III

HERO ID

451286

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2009

Language

English

HERO ID 451286
In Press No
Year 2009
Title A dietary risk assessment for indigenous consumption of natural salt deposits in the Darhad Valley, Northern Mongolia
Authors Barber, LM; Peterson, RKD; Montagne, C; Inskeep, WP; Schleier, JJ, III
Journal Human and Ecological Risk Assessment
Volume 15
Issue 5
Page Numbers 907-922
Abstract The nomadic herding population of the Darhad Valley, in northern Mongolia, collects and utilizes a salt precipitate, called hujir, which develops at the saline system, Tohi. This culturally important indigenous dietary supplement is consumed daily as an ingredient in a salty milk-tea and because of its essential micro- and macronutrients it is a beneficial and necessary part of their daily diet. Despite its benefits, there are increasing health concerns among the Darhad people as a result of consuming hujir. Therefore, we conducted a dietary risk assessment. Consumption rates were obtained from interviews with nomadic herders of the valley and a chronic exposure assessment was completed using chemical analyses on hujir samples. A combination of chronic toxicity threshold values, dietary reference intake recommendations, and drinking water guidelines were used to estimate dietary risks related to hujir consumption. Exposures to arsenic, fluoride, and nitrate were as high as 33, 1.2, and 1.3 times the chronic oral reference dose, respectively. Exposures to antimony, arsenic, and lead were 1.7, 19, and 14 times the drinking water guidelines, respectively. Given these results, additional studies are needed to better understand possible health effects associated with hujir consumption in the Darhad population, especially for arsenic.
Doi 10.1080/10807030903153253
Wosid WOS:000271231700005
Url http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10807030903153253
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments WOS:000271231700005|WOS:000271231700005
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword arsenic exposure; indigenous salt source; nomadic population; Mongolia; dietary risk assessment; cancer risk; metabolism
Is Qa No