Diet and toenail arsenic concentrations in a New Hampshire population with arsenic-containing water.
BACKGROUND
Limited data exist on the contribution of dietary sources of arsenic to an individual's total exposure, particularly in populations with exposure via drinking water. Here, the association between diet and toenail arsenic concentrations (a long-term biomarker of exposure) was evaluated for individuals with measured household tap water arsenic. Foods known to be high in arsenic, including rice and seafood, were of particular interest.


METHODS
Associations between toenail arsenic and consumption of 120 individual diet items were quantified using general linear models that also accounted for household tap water arsenic and potentially confounding factors (e.g., age, caloric intake, sex, smoking) (n = 852). As part of the analysis, we assessed whether associations between log-transformed toenail arsenic and each diet item differed between subjects with household drinking water arsenic concentrations <1 μg/L versus ≥1 μg/L.


RESULTS
As expected, toenail arsenic concentrations increased with household water arsenic concentrations. Among the foods known to be high in arsenic, no clear relationship between toenail arsenic and rice consumption was detected, but there was a positive association with consumption of dark meat fish, a category that includes tuna steaks, mackerel, salmon, sardines, bluefish, and swordfish. Positive associations between toenail arsenic and consumption of white wine, beer, and Brussels sprouts were also observed; these and most other associations were not modified by exposure via water. However, consumption of two foods cooked in water, beans/lentils and cooked oatmeal, was more strongly related to toenail arsenic among those with arsenic-containing drinking water (≥1 μg/L).


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that diet can be an important contributor to total arsenic exposure in U.S. populations regardless of arsenic concentrations in drinking water. Thus, dietary exposure to arsenic in the US warrants consideration as a potential health risk.
Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA. Kathryn.Cottingham@dartmouth.edu.
Kathryn L
KL
Cottingham
Roxanne
R
Karimi
Joann F
JF
Gruber
M Scot
MS
Zens
Vicki
V
Sayarath
Carol L
CL
Folt
Tracy
T
Punshon
J Steven
JS
Morris
Margaret R
MR
Karagas
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001151:Arsenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D009262:Nails / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D009513:New Hampshire; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism; D014034:Toes; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D060766:Drinking Water; D001151:Arsenic