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. 2009 Jan;19(1):59-68.
doi: 10.1038/jes.2008.32. Epub 2008 Jun 4.

Levels of urinary total and speciated arsenic in the US population: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004

Kathleen L Caldwell  1 , Robert L Jones, Carl P Verdon, Jeffery M Jarrett, Samuel P Caudill, John D Osterloh
Affiliations

Levels of urinary total and speciated arsenic in the US population: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004

Kathleen L Caldwell et al. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2009 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: To provide levels of total and speciated urinary arsenic in a representative sample of the US 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 (microg/l) and creatinine-corrected urinary arsenic (microg/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 microg/l). Monomethylarsonic acid was detected in 35% of the overall population. For all participants aged > or =6 years, dimethylarsinic acid (geometric mean of 3.71 microg/l) and arsenobetaine (geometric mean of 1.55 microg/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 > or =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 microg/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 US 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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