title: High exposure to inorganic arsenic by food: the need for risk reduction.
abstract: Arsenic is a human carcinogen that occurs ubiquitously in soil and water. Based on epidemiological studies, a benchmark dose (lower/higher bound estimate) between 0.3 and 8 μg/kg bw/day was estimated to cause a 1 % increased risk of lung, skin and bladder cancer. A recently published study by EFSA on dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic in the European population reported 95th percentiles (lower bound min to upper bound max) for different age groups in the same range as the benchmark dose. For toddlers, a highly exposed group, the highest values ranged between 0.61 and 2.09 µg arsenic/kg bw/day. For all other age classes, the margin of exposure is also small. This scenario calls for regulatory action to reduce arsenic exposure. One priority measure should be to reduce arsenic in food categories that contribute most to exposure. In the EFSA study the food categories 'milk and dairy products,' 'drinking water' and 'food for infants' represent major sources of inorganic arsenic for infants and also rice is an important source. Long-term strategies are required to reduce inorganic arsenic in these food groups. The reduced consumption of rice and rice products which has been recommended may be helpful for a minority of individuals consuming unusually high amounts of rice. However, it is only of limited value for the general European population, because the food categories 'grain-based processed products (non rice-based)' or 'milk and dairy products' contribute more to the exposure with inorganic arsenic than the food category 'rice.' A balanced regulatory activity focusing on the most relevant food categories is required. In conclusion, exposure to inorganic arsenic represents a risk to the health of the European population, particularly to young children. Regulatory measures to reduce exposure are urgently required.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. ursula.gundert-remy@charite.de.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gundert-Remy
authors.affiliation: Department for General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Campus Virchow Clinic, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Damm
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Toxicology, University of Halle, Halle/Saale, Germany.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Foth
authors.affiliation: Global Early Development - Toxicology, Bayer Pharma AG, Wuppertal, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexius
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Freyberger
authors.affiliation: Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Dortmund, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gebel
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human, Factors (IfADo), University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Golka
authors.affiliation: Institute for Toxicology und Pharmacology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Röhl
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Science, Muenster, Steinfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schupp
authors.affiliation: Lower Saxony Governmental Institute of Public Health, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus-Michael
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Wollin
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human, Factors (IfADo), University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany. Graf@ifado.de.
authors.forename: Jan Georg
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hengstler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003611:Dairy Products / Q000032:analysis; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Arsenic; Drinking water; Human exposure; Regulatory toxicology; Rice; Risk assessment; Risk management; Threshold values