RISK ASSESMENT OF NITRITE INTAKE TO HEALTH
The aim of this study was to estimate dietary intake of nitrite in meat products. The content of nitrite in various categories of meat products that are on the market of Tuzla Canton. Data on concentrations of nitrite are associated with individual data on food consumption. The study included 200 respondents, aged 19 years and over. Dietary intake of nitrite was estimated by semi-quantitative questionnaire that included questions about the frequency and quantity consumed of certain types of meat products. To estimate the intake, combined data on the average concentration of nitrite in meat products and information on individual consumption. The average concentrations of nitrite in meat products analyzed samples was 7.44 mg/kg (range 0.6 to 23.59 mg/kg). Respondents consume certain types of meat products by an average 52 days/year, and the average daily amount of all types of meat products consumed was 168.92 g per day (per individual categories of meat products is between 15.29 to 22.27 g). Determined the average daily intake of nitrite from meat products is low and amounts to 13.41% compared to the acceptable daily intake (ADI) (for certain categories of meat products ranged from 0.02 to 0.9% of the ADI). The results suggest that a daily intake of nitrite in meat products by the population of the limits of acceptable daily intake, and exposure to nitrites in meat products in the study population does not represent a risk to health.