ABSTRACT
The problem of the presence of mineral components in food is complicated. Anthropogenic pollution of drinking water supplies and resources indispensable for food production has become a fact of life. The main route of introduction of metals to the human organism is through ingestion of food and drinking water, but the inhalation route can sometimes be significant. There is a need for continuous monitoring of the degree of pollution of food and potable and surface waters by inorganic (and organic) compounds from anthropogenic sources. The sampling and analysis of food should be carried out according to the standards published by the National Standard Committee, the International Standard Organization or the European Committee of Standardization. Determination of mercury in food products can be carried out using mercury specific atomic fluorescence spectrometry after mineralization of the samples and with or without pre concentration of mercury on a gold trap.
