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National Biomonitoring Program |
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National Center for Environmental Health |
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National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey |
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Metals
Reference
Caldwell KL, Jones RL, Verdon CP, Jarrett JM, Caudill SP, Osterloh JD. Levels of urinary total and speciated arsenic in the U.S. population: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. doi:10.1038/jes.2008.32 available at http://www.nature.com/jes/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/
jes200832a.html [Online 4 June 2008]
Abstract
Objective: To provide levels of total and speciated urinary arsenic in a representative sample of the U.S. population.
Methods: For the first time, total arsenic and seven inorganic and organic arsenic species were measured in the urine of participants (n=2557) for the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Data were compiled as geometric means and selected percentiles of urinary arsenic concentrations (µg/l) and creatinine-corrected urinary arsenic (µg/g creatinine) for total arsenic, dimethylarsinic acid, arsenobetaine, and a sum of the inorganic related species.
Results: Arsenic acid, arsenous acid, arsenocholine, and trimethylarsine oxide were detected in 7.6%, 4.6%, 1.8%, and 0.3% of the participants, respectively (the limits of detection of 0.6-1.2 µg/l). Monomethylarsonic acid was detected in 35% of the overall population. For all participants aged ≥6 years, dimethylarsinic acid (geometric mean of 3.71 µg/l) and arsenobetaine (geometric mean of 1.55 µg/l) had the greatest contribution to the total urinary arsenic levels. A relatively greater percentage contribution from arsenobetaine is seen at higher total urinary arsenic levels and from dimethylarsinic acid at lower total urinary arsenic levels. For all participants aged ≥6 years, the 95th percentiles for total urinary arsenic and the sum of inorganic-related arsenic (arsenic acid, arsenous acid, dimethylarsinic acid, and monomethylarsonic acid) were 65.4 and 18.9 µg/l, respectively. For total arsenic and dimethylarsinic acid, covariate-adjusted geometric means demonstrated several slight differences due to age, gender, and race/ethnicity.
Conclusions: The data reflect relative background contributions of inorganic and seafood-related arsenic exposures in the U.S. population. Arsenobetaine and dimethylarsinic acid are the major arsenic species present with arsenobetaine, accounting for a greater proportion of total arsenic as total arsenic levels increase.
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