Levels of infants' urinary arsenic metabolites related to formula feeding and weaning with rice products exceeding the EU inorganic arsenic standard.

Antonio J Signes-Pastor,Andrew A Meharg,Margaret R Karagas,Manus Carey,Jayne V Woodside,Paul Mcmullan,Karen Mullan,Jaymie Meliker

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0176923

Antonio J Signes-Pastor, Andrew A Meharg + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0176923

Copy DOI

Abstract

Early childhood inorganic arsenic (i-As) exposure is of particular concern since it may adversely impact on lifetime health outcomes. Infants’ urinary arsenic (As) metabolites were analysed in 79 infants by inductively coupled plasma—mass spectrometric detection (IC-ICP-MS) to evaluate i-As exposure pre- and post-weaning. Levels of i-As in rice-based weaning and infants’ foods were also determined to relate to urinary As levels. Higher As levels, especially of monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), were found in urine from formula fed infants compared to those breastfed. Urine from infants post-weaning consuming rice-products resulted in higher urinary MMA and DMA compared to the paired pre-weaning urine samples. The European Union (EU) has regulated i-As in rice since 1st January 2016. Comparing infants’ rice-based foods before and after this date, little change was found. Nearly ¾ of the rice-based products specifically marketed for infants and young children contained i-As over the 0.1 mg/kg EU limit. Efforts should be made to provide low i-As rice and rice-based products consumed by infants and young children that do not exceed the maximum i-As level to protect this vulnerable subpopulation.

Highlights

Early-life exposure to inorganic arsenic (i-As), even at relatively low concentrations, is of particular concern due to infants and young children’s specific vulnerability to the adverse health effects of this group I human carcinogen, which may impact health and disease development throughout their lifespan, including neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic outcomes [1,2,3,4,5]
Consistent trace levels of As close or below the limit of detection (LOD) were found in the blank samples squeezed from cotton pads soaked with ultrapure water, and no differences in the urinary arsenic species content were found in the urine blank samples squeezed from the cotton pads
All the urinary i-As, dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), AsB, and 87% of monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) concentrations were higher than the LOD in the pre-weaning samples (n = 79)

Summary

Introduction

Early-life exposure to i-As, even at relatively low concentrations, is of particular concern due to infants and young children’s specific vulnerability to the adverse health effects of this group I human carcinogen, which may impact health and disease development throughout their lifespan, including neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic outcomes [1,2,3,4,5]. Infants’ urinary As metabolites related to formula feeding and weaning with rice products design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Methods

Results

Conclusion