title: μLC-ICP-MS determinations of unexposed UK urinary arsenic speciation reference values.
abstract: This study provides background levels for five arsenic species in urine, based on urinary data obtained from 95 nonoccupationally exposed volunteers based in the UK. Using a novel, sensitive, robust and reliable speciation methodology, five species of arsenic (arsenobetaine [AB], arsenite [As(3+)], arsenate [As(5+)], monomethylarsonic acid [MMA(5+)] and dimethylarsinic acid [DMA(5+)]) were determined in urine samples collected from 95 adults. The analytical instrumentation used to analyze the urine samples was a hyphenated micro liquid chromatography (μLC) system coupled to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Separation was achieved using an anion exchange micro-sized column. The results presented give the 95th percentile of concentrations, both uncorrected for creatinine (µg/L) and creatinine corrected (µmol/mol) in urine for the 95 volunteers. Statistical analysis was performed on the dataset using a Bayesian model to determine and quantify effects of gender, smoking and diet. The statistical results show that the consumption of fish, shellfish and red wine has a significant elevating effect on AB, DMA and MMA urinary concentrations; however, no significant effect was observed for smoking. The regression model results indicate that creatinine correction was effective for arsenic species As(3+), MMA, DMA and AB. The background levels established here can be used as reference values to help aid interpretation of arsenic speciation results and better assess exposure.
authors.affiliation: 1Health and Safety Laboratory, Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9JN, UK.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leese
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Philip H E
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.forename: Vikki A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Carolan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001149:Arsenates / Q000652:urine*; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000652:urine*; D018053:Arsenites / Q000652:urine*; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D008460:Meat; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012758:Shellfish; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001149:Arsenates; D001152:Arsenicals; D018053:Arsenites; C020300:monomethylarsonic acid; C015001:arsenite; C025657:arsenic acid; C038992:arsenobetaine