Abstract
BackgroundArsenic is an ubiquitous element linked to carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity, as well as adverse respiratory, gastrointestinal, hepatic, and dermal health effects.ObjectiveIdentify dietary sources of speciated arsenic: monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA).MethodsAge-stratified, sample-weighted regression of NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) 2003–2010 data (∼8,300 participants ≥6 years old) characterized the association between urinary arsenic species and the additional mass consumed of USDA-standardized food groups (24-hour dietary recall data), controlling for potential confounders.ResultsFor all arsenic species, the rank-order of age strata for median urinary molar concentration was children 6–11 years > adults 20–84 years > adolescents 12–19 years, and for all age strata, the rank-order was DMA > MMA. Median urinary molar concentrations of methylated arsenic species ranged from 0.56 to 3.52 µmol/mol creatinine. Statistically significant increases in urinary arsenic species were associated with increased consumption of: fish (DMA); fruits (DMA, MMA); grain products (DMA, MMA); legumes, nuts, seeds (DMA); meat, poultry (DMA); rice (DMA, MMA); rice cakes/crackers (DMA, MMA); and sugars, sweets, beverages (MMA). And, for adults, rice beverage/milk (DMA, MMA). In addition, based on US (United States) median and 90th percentile consumption rates of each food group, exposure from the following food groups was highlighted: fish; fruits; grain products; legumes, nuts, seeds; meat, poultry; and sugars, sweets, beverages.ConclusionsIn a nationally representative sample of the US civilian, noninstitutionalized population, fish (adults), rice (children), and rice cakes/crackers (adolescents) had the largest associations with urinary DMA. For MMA, rice beverage/milk (adults) and rice cakes/crackers (children, adolescents) had the largest associations.
Highlights
Arsenic is an ubiquitous metalloid element present in the environment as inorganic species with different oxidation states, or as part of organic compounds
The proportion of participants with measurements greater than the limits of detection (LOD) differed by age stratum and arsenic species: As(III) (2.8–5.3 percent depending on age stratum); As(V) (3.0–4.9 percent); dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) (84.2–87.4 percent); and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) (29.2–42.4 percent)
The median molar concentration was highest for DMA in children at 3.52 mmol/mol Cre and lowest for MMA in adolescents at 0.56 mmol/mol Cre
Summary
Arsenic is an ubiquitous metalloid element present in the environment as inorganic species with different oxidation states, or as part of organic compounds. Inorganic arsenic species of greatest environmental health concern have oxidation states of +3 (As(III) or arsenite) or +5 (As(V) or arsenate), and are classified as human carcinogens [1,2]. People with chronic exposure to high levels of inorganic arsenic species in drinking water have manifested neurotoxicity, skin lesions, gastrointestinal and liver dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease [3,4,5,6]. The methylated arsenic species dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) have both been detected in soils, fresh and marine waters, and fish and shellfish. Human metabolic biotransformation of inorganic arsenic involves reduction from As(V) to As(III), followed by oxidative methylation to monomethyarsinic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) [5,9]. Arsenic is an ubiquitous element linked to carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity, as well as adverse respiratory, gastrointestinal, hepatic, and dermal health effects
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