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Exposure Levels and Contributing Factors of Various Arsenic Species and Their Health Effects on Korean Adults

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Abstract

Arsenic is a human carcinogen. Data on urinary arsenic species analyses of Koreans are limited. This study evaluated the arsenic exposure level, contributing factors, and health effects in Korean adults. Dietary intake information and urine samples were obtained from 2044 participants. Arsenic exposure was assessed based on urinary concentrations of arsenic species, such as inorganic arsenic, As(III) and As(V), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), and arsenobetaine (AsB), using high-performance liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, followed by determination of biomarkers, malondialdehyde and c-peptide. The geometric mean concentrations were 30.9 μg/L for the sum of inorganic arsenic and their metabolites, and 84.7 μg/L for the total sum of arsenic measured. Urinary concentrations of arsenic species were influenced by age, inhabitant area (inland or coastal), and seafood intake, which was positively correlated with inorganic arsenic, DMA, and AsB. Rice intake was positively correlated with inorganic arsenic and its metabolites but not with AsB. Additionally, malondialdehyde and c-peptide levels were significantly associated with urinary concentrations of various arsenic species. Seafood and rice are major sources of organic/inorganic arsenic exposure in Korean adults; however, it is necessary to evaluate whether their overconsumption could have a potentially detrimental effect on human health.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a Grant (14162MFDS654) from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2014.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 06974, Korea

    Seul-Gi Lee, Ingu Kang, Mi-Na Seo, Jung-Eum Lee, Byung-Sun Choi & Jung-Duck Park

  2. College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Korea

    Sang-Yong Eom & Heon Kim

  3. Food Risk Analysis Division, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Cheongju, 28159, Korea

    Myung-Sil Hwang

  4. Advanced Analysis Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Korea

    Kyung Su Park

  5. College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan, 16890, Korea

    Ho-Jang Kwon

  6. College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, 49201, Korea

    Young-Seoub Hong

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  1. Seul-Gi Lee
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Contributions

Seul-Gi Lee wrote the original draft and carried out the investigation. Ingu Kang conducted the investigation and methodology. Mi-Na Seo performed the investigation and resources. Jung-Eum Lee and Myung-Sil Hwang carried out formal analysis and data curation. Sang-Yong Eom was involved in resources, formal analysis and software. Kyung Su Park took part in methodology and validation. Byung-Sun Choi participated in methodology, resources, formal analysis, and data curation. Ho-Jang Kwon contributed to conceptualization, resources, and data curation. Young-Seoub Hong was involved in resources and methodology. Heon Kim contributed to conceptualization, resources, writing, reviewing, and editing. Jung-Duck Park participated in conceptualization, writing the original draft, reviewing, and editing, and supervision.

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Correspondence to Jung-Duck Park.

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Lee, SG., Kang, I., Seo, MN. et al. Exposure Levels and Contributing Factors of Various Arsenic Species and Their Health Effects on Korean Adults. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 82, 391–402 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-022-00913-y

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