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

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 19, pages 59–68 (2009)Cite this article

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 (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 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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Acknowledgements

We thank the many additional laboratory staff involved in the analysis of total urine arsenic and additional statistical analysis at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Dana Henahan and Lee-Yang Wong are from Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, CDC (Atlanta, GA, USA); Jennifer Hartel, Gulchekhra Shakirova and, Ge Xiao are from Battelle Memorial Institute (Atlanta, GA, USA)) and for the analysis of speciated arsenic (Christopher Freedman, Mark Fresquez, and Cynthia Ward are from Battelle Memorial Institute (Atlanta, GA, USA)). We also thank the staff at the National Center for Health Statistics and Westat who were responsible for planning and conducting the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

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

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  1. Kathleen L Caldwell
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  2. Robert L Jones
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  4. Jeffery M Jarrett
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Correspondence to Kathleen L Caldwell.

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The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Caldwell, K., Jones, R., Verdon, C. et al. Levels of urinary total and speciated arsenic in the US population: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003–2004. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 19, 59–68 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2008.32

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