Variation of Total and Speciated Arsenic in Commonly Consumed Fish and Seafood

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article compiles available data and presents an approach for predicting human intakes of inorganic arsenic (Asi), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) from marine, estuarine, and freshwater seafood when only total arsenic (Astot) concentrations are reported. Twenty studies provided data on total arsenic (Astot) and Asi. Mean Asi concentrations were approximately 10 to 20 ng/g wet weight (ww) in freshwater, anadromous, and marine fish, whereas crustaceans and molluscs had mean Asi concentrations of 40 to 50 ng/g ww. Thirteen studies provided data for MMA and DMA. MMA was seldom detected, whereas DMA averaged 10 ng/g ww in freshwater fish, and 45 to 95 ng/g ww in anadromous fish, marine fish, crustaceans, and molluscs. There was little correlation between Astot concentrations and Asi concentrations; however, when only Astot data are available to assess health risks from arsenic in seafood, these data could support conservative, upper end estimates of the percent of Astot likely to be Asi. For marine and estuarine fish, and crustaceans and molluscs 2–3% of Astot was Asi at the 75th percentile of the dataset. For freshwater fish Asi was 10% of Astot at the 75th percentile. Due to the nonlinearity and low carcinogenic potency of DMA, the reported DMA concentrations should not contribute substantially to potential health risks from arsenic in seafood.