Potential Intake of Lithium by the Inhabitants of Different Regions in Jordan

Abstract

Although it is alleged that lithium is not toxic to humans below an intake of 500 mg day ^-1, test animals have been affected at levels as low as 50 mg kg^-1 of feed. This study sought to establish whether fruits grown in the Jordan Valley could accumulate sufficient lithium for consumers to reach a target of 50 mg day^-1. The mean soil levels of extractable lithium were 13.1, 20.3 and 25.4 mg kg^-1 in three different growing regions of the Valley, while the highest levels in citrus fruits were 51.3 mg kg^-1 in clementines (Citrus mitis) and 49.4 mg kg^-1 in the lemon (Citrus limon). As the latter values were on a dry weight basis, the risk of lithium toxicity would appear to be minimal but, equally important, deficiency syndromes should not be manifest either.