Review article

Arsenic and arsenic speciation in foods, with an accent on inorganic arsenic

Marija Sedak orcid.org/0000-0001-6861-0436 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Bruno Čalopek ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Maja Đokić orcid.org/0000-0002-3071-6208 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Nina Bilandžić orcid.org/0000-0002-0009-5367 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

Metal speciation is important in the study of element toxicity and bioavailability when information on the total concentration of the element is lacking. The highest total arsenic levels have been measured in the following foods: fish and seafood, products or supplements based on algae (especially hijiki, Hizikia fusiformis) and cereals and cereal products, with particularly high concentrations in rice grains, rice-based products, bran and germ. Not all arsenic compounds found in foods are equally toxic, and therefore measuring the total amount of arsenic in food does not necessarily imply a possible health risk. Seafood (fish and shellfish) containing high concentrations of total arsenic (up to 6 mg/kg of wet weight) may contain almost undetectable concentrations (less than 0.001 mg/kg of wet weight) of inorganic arsenic. In such cases, all arsenic compounds presented as arsenobetaine and arsenocholine forms are considered non- toxic. The main techniques used for the determination of arsenic in biological samples are graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GF-AAS), inductively coupled optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-MS) and hydride technique of atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS). The combined technique of high performance liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC- ICP-MS) is the most powerful technique for the determination of arsenic speciation, and hasadetectionlimitof0.5μg/L.In1989,the toxic effects of inorganic arsenic forms led the Joint Commission of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) to set a provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) for inorganic arsenic of 15 μg/kg of body weight per day. In 2014, EFSA evaluated the dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic in the European population. It concluded that for all age groups except infants and toddlers, the main contributor to dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic is the food group of grain-based processed products (non-rice-based). Other food groups that were important contributors to inorganic arsenic exposure were rice, milk, and dairy products (the main contributor in infants and toddlers), and drinking water.

Keywords

arsenic; inorganic arsenic; speciation; bioavailability; toxicity

Hrčak ID:

223202

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/223202

Publication date:

9.10.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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