Arsenic Exposure within the Korean Community (United States) Based on Dietary Behavior and Arsenic Levels in Hair, Urine, Air, and Water

Abstract

BackgroundDetermining arsenic exposure in groups based on geographic location, dietary behaviors, or lifestyles is important, as even moderate exposures may lead to health concerns.Objectives/MethodsThe Korean community in Washington State, represents a group warranting investigation, as they consume foods (e.g., shellfish, rice, finfish, and seaweed) known to contain arsenic. As part of the Arsenic Mercury Intake Biometric Study, we examined the arsenic levels in hair and urine along with the diets of 108 women of childbearing age from within this community. Arsenic levels in indoor air and drinking water were also investigated, and shellfish commonly consumed were collected and analyzed for total and speciated arsenic.ResultsThe six shellfish species analyzed (n = 667) contain total arsenic (range, 1–5 μg/g) but are a small source of inorganic arsenic (range, 0.01–0.12 μg/g). Six percent of the individuals may have elevated urinary inorganic arsenic levels (> 10 μg/L) due to diet. Seaweed, rice, shellfish, and finfish are principal sources for total arsenic intake/excretion based on mass balance estimates. Rice consumption (163 g/person/day) may be a significant source of inorganic arsenic. Air and water are not significant sources of exposure. Hair is a poor biometric for examining arsenic levels at low to moderate exposures.ConclusionsWe conclude that a portion of this community may have dietary inorganic arsenic exposure resulting in urine levels exceeding 10 μg/L. Although their exposure is below that associated with populations exposed to high levels of arsenic from drinking water (> 100 μg/L), their exposure may be among the highest in the United States.

Rice consumption contributes to arsenic exposure in US women

“…category consumed the largest average amount of rice (2.2 cups/d) (23). In a 2009 study of a US Korean community, the mean cooked rice intake was 2.9 cups/d (29), and the median total urinary arsenic concentration (iAs + MMA + DMA) was more than three times the national median (21.6 μg/L vs. 6.0 μg/L) (26). Additionally, ∼3 million Americans (30) with celiac disease, an autoimmune disease triggered by gluten ingestion, may also have high levels of arsenic exposure via rice.…”

Elevated risk of hypertension induced by arsenic exposure in Taiwanese rural residents: possible effects of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) genes

“…The majority of As and Pb absorbed by humans appears to be eliminated relatively quickly and primarily via urine. Thus, the concentrations of these metals in urine samples are important biomarkers of short-term exposure and have been used in numerous epidemiologic studies (Cleland et al 2009;McElroy et al 2008). In the present study, we found a significant relationship between urinary As levels and risk of hypertension in Taiwanese rural residents.…”

Groundwater Arsenic Adsorption on Granular TiO2: Integrating Atomic Structure, Filtration, and Health Impact

“…The background urinary As levels are 10 μg/L in European countries and in the United States, 46 and 9.1 μg/L in the control adult group in Inner Mongolia, China. 47 The urinary As concentrations in our present study at the end of the experimental cycle still exceeded the background levels after people drank the As-free groundwater.…”