Опасен ли мышьяк в креветках? | Продукты и напитки | Кухня

Роскачество обнаружило мышьяк и следы антибиотиков в креветках при их повторном исследовании. Эксперты обратили внимание на варено-мороженые неразделанные креветки, которые ранее исследовали в 2018 году. Это товары семи торговых марок: «Бухта изобилия», «Каждый день», «Vici Приорити», Agama, Fine Life, Fish House, Polar premium.

В каких креветках нашли мышьяк и как он туда попал?

Как показала повторная проверка, мышьяк в количестве, превышающем допустимые концентрации, был обнаружен в составе креветок Polar premium и «Каждый день».

Дело в том, что дикие креветки обитают в морях и океанах и способны накапливать в своем организме мышьяк, тяжелые металлы (свинец, ртуть, кадмий), а также полихлорированные бифенилы (ПХБ) и опасные для здоровья микроорганизмы. Их наличие и концентрация зависит от загрязненности воды и места вылова ракообразных.

Опасен ли мышьяк в креветках?

Согласно последним исследованиям зарубежных ученых, мышьяк, содержащийся в морепродуктах, может быть неопасным для людей, отмечают в Роскачестве. Норма по условно переносимому недельному поступлению неорганического мышьяка для человека, установленная Продовольственной и сельскохозяйственной организацией ООН (ФАО) и Всемирной организацией здравоохранения (ВОЗ), составляет 0,015 мг/кг массы тела в неделю.

В России допустимый уровень содержания мышьяка в рыбе и морепродуктах регламентируется Техническим регламентом Таможенного союза 021/2011 «О безопасности пищевой продукции». Норма составляет 1 мг/кг, но она касается общего содержания мышьяка: суммарного содержания неорганически и органически связанных форм.

«В настоящее время проводится научное обоснование вопроса с гармонизацией требований по нормированию неорганического мышьяка для беспозвоночных, водорослей, морской рыбы, что позволит дифференцированно подходить к реализации продукции как на внутреннем рынке, так и для внешних потребителей», — рассказала Любовь Абрамова, заместитель руководителя департамента по вопросам качества пищевой рыбной продукции ФГБНУ «Всероссийский научно-исследовательский институт рыбного хозяйства и океанографии».

В США также определена норма лишь для общего содержания мышьяка в ракообразных — 76 мг/кг. В Китае действует норма только к неорганической форме мышьяка в количестве 0,1 мг/кг. При этом «Кодекс Алиментариус» (международное законодательство) в странах ЕС, Японии и Республике Корея не устанавливает нормы по содержанию мышьяка в водных биологических ресурсах . 

Откуда следы антибиотиков в креветках?

Следы антибиотиков были обнаружены в креветках «Каждый день». 

Некоторые производители используют антибиотики при выращивании креветок в условиях аквакультуры. Однако эти ракообразные не вакцинируются, так как их организм не располагает адаптивной иммунной системой, отмечают в Роскачестве.

Согласно Техническому регламенту Таможенного союза 021/2011, содержание тетрациклинов в пищевых продуктах, в том числе для рыбы садкового содержания, должно быть меньше 0,01 мг/кг. При этом минимально допустимый уровень стандартов Комиссии «Кодекс Алиментариус» — от <0,1 до <1,2 мг/кг в зависимости от продукции, а Европейского Союза — от <0,1 до <0,6 мг/кг. Во многих странах госстандарты, регламентирующие содержание антибиотиков в аквакультуре, отсутствуют.

Что еще показало повторное исследование креветок?

Эксперты Роскачества установили, что продукция четырех торговых марок изменилась к лучшему. При первоначальном исследовании фактическая масса нетто креветок «Бухта изобилия» и Agama отличалась от заявленной, производители устранили этот недостаток. Также во время первой проверки в креветках «Бухта изобилия» было зафиксировано много влаги, а в креветках Fine Life — мало, спустя два года в продукции обеих торговых марок присутствует нормальная влажность. В 2018 году у креветок «Vici Приорити» эксперты обнаружили несоответствие опережающему стандарту по содержанию глазури и внешнему виду, на этот раз этого недостатка у продукции не было.

При повторном исследовании два нарушения было выявлено у креветок Fish House. В этой продукции оказалось много влаги, а содержание белка не соответствует маркировке.

Новое исследование показало, что ни в одном из семи исследованных образцов креветок нет превышений по содержанию тяжелых металлов и радионуклидов (стронция и цезия). В них также не нашли красителей и консервантов, в том числе солей бензойной и сорбиновой кислот. Микробиологические показатели всех торговых марок соответствуют установленным требованиям.

Стоит ли бояться мышьяка в продуктах питания?

Мышьяк – любимый яд убийц в детективных историях,.содержится и в таких привычных продуктах, как рис. Насколько это опасно? И есть ли риск отравиться?

Что такое мышьяк?

Мышьяк – это химический элемент в таблице Менделеева. Такой же как натрий, калий, углерод, кислород или золото. В почве, воде, растениях, животных и даже в воздухе (из вулканических газов) присутствует мышьяк. В периодической таблице он находится на позиции № 33 и сокращен до As.

Этот элемент важен для животных. Если в корме крыс, коз или цыплят нет мышьяка, они плохо растут и недолго живут. Вероятно, люди тоже нуждаются в мышьяке. Возможно, вы даже обнаружите мышьяк на обратной стороне упаковки витаминов, но в очень маленьких количествах. Считается, что нам нужно 12 мкг/день или, возможно, немного больше. Однако по оценкам экспертов, мы получаем около 30 мкг/день мышьяка из пищи и воды, а верхний безопасный предел составляет 140-250 мкг/день.

Читайте также: МЫШЬЯК В РИСЕ: КАК СДЕЛАТЬ КРУПУ БЕЗОПАСНОЙ

Безопасный уровень мышьяка в рационе

При очень низком уровне мышьяк в пище безопасен, так как наш организм может выводить его. Он отфильтровывается почками и выходит вместе с мочой или накапливается в волосах и ногтях. При избыточном потреблении мышьяка в течение длительного периода времени, что в основном происходит, когда в воде много мышьяка, увеличивается риск возникновения некоторых видов рака. С другой стороны, потребление около 1/8 чайной ложки неорганического мышьяка убьет вас, как описывается в книгах.

Мышьяк часто соединяется вместе с другими элементами. Если соединение включает углерод, это называют органическим мышьяком. Было обнаружено, что органический мышьяк является вполне безопасным. Он легко фильтруется нашими почками и выходит вместе с мочой, не причиняя вреда даже в более высоких дозах. Мышьяк в рыбе, моллюсках и других продуктах животного происхождения является органическим мышьяком, поэтому не представляет угрозы здоровью.

Читайте также: В ЯБЛОЧНОМ СОКЕ НАШЛИ МЫШЬЯК

Мышьяк в детском питании

Беспокойство о содержании мышьяка в пище в основном связано с младенцами, организм которых еще не может выводить элемент. Кроме того, рисовая каша часто становится первой твердой пищей детей, а это означает, что с ранних лет мышьяк ежедневно поступает в организм ребенка. Высокие уровни мышьяка связаны с раковыми заболеваниями кожи, печени, мочевого пузыря и легких. Более новые исследования связывают долгосрочные низкоуровневые поступления мышьяка с когнитивными и поведенческими проблемами у детей — хотя большинство детей, которые в настоящее время едят рисовые злаки и рисовые продукты, не проявляют побочных эффектов.

Управление по контролю за продуктами и лекарствами (FDA) предложило ограничения на количество неорганического мышьяка, разрешенного для детского питания, но агентство еще не разработало правила. Агентство по охране окружающей среды (EPA) ограничивает неорганический мышьяк в общественной питьевой воде, а федеральное правительство также устанавливает максимально допустимые уровни для яиц и некоторых продуктов из курицы, индейки и свинины.

Альянс Healthy Babies Bright Futures поручил Brooks Applied Labs протестировать более 100 образцов детских злаков, в том числе 45 уникальных продуктов девяти различных компаний. В докладе было обнаружено, что в целом, овсяная мука, ячмень, гречка, киноа и пшеница содержат гораздо меньшее количество неорганического мышьяка, чем рис.

В новом докладе отмечается, что производители злаков добились прогресса в сокращении уровня неорганического мышьяка в детском питании в последние годы. Согласно докладу, средний уровень мышьяка в зерновых культурах риса в последнее время составлял 85 частей на миллиард, по сравнению с средним уровнем в 103 части на миллиард, обнаруженным FDA во время тестирования детских злаков в 2013 и 2014 годах.

Некоторые производители заявили, что они предприняли шаги по поиску источников риса с низким содержанием мышьяка, в то время как другие компании заявили, что они прекратили поставки, которые не соответствовали предложенным FDA стандартам безопасности.

Одно из исследований показало, что на долю риса приходится 55 процентов общего количества мышьяка, поступающего в организм ребенка, поэтому некоторые эксперты рекомендуют полностью отказаться от этого продукта. Маргарет Карагас, эпидемиолог Медицинской школы Гейзеля в Дартмуте, уже много лет занимается изучением мышьяка и утверждает, что не существует безопасного уровня этого элемента.

Это не существенное питательное вещество, такое как цинк или селен, который вам нужен, но может быть токсичным, если вы употребите его слишком много. Нет никакой пользы от воздействия мышьяка.

Как снизить количество мышьяка в рисе?

Люди озабочены содержанием мышьяка в рисе, потому что рис растет в затопленных полях. Вода выщелачивает мышьяк из-под земли, а рис легко поглощает и хранит его в своем ядре. Уровни мышьяка в рисе становятся высокими, если элемент в изобилии присутствует в почве или использовались пестициды, даже если распыление произошло несколько десятилетий назад. Когда рис полируется, мышьяк удаляется вместе с отрубями. Вот почему в белом рисе содержится меньше мышьяка, чем в коричневом. Промывание риса перед приготовлением не снижает содержание мышьяка, но если его готовить, как макароны, в большом количестве воды, а затем слить воду, содержание мышьяка может сократится наполовину.

Рекомендации общественного здравоохранения

Новые рекомендации по кормлению детей заключаются в использовании разнообразных злаков при введении твердой пищи для снижения содержания мышьяка в рационе. Производители детского питания также сейчас тестируют и сокращают содержание этого элемента в своих продуктах.

Взрослым также рекомендуется есть разнообразные зерновые, и готовить рис в большом количестве воды. Один стакан коричневого риса может содержать до 12 мкг мышьяка или половину ежедневной нормы потребления для среднего человека. Такое количество не представляет серьезной опасности, но потреблять его все же нежелательно. Риски появляются тогда, когда в рационе слишком много продуктов из риса, например, рисовое молоко, мука или коричневый рисовый сироп в качестве подсластителя.

Взрослые, которые едят коричневый рис из-за высокого содержания в нем клетчатки, стоит обратить внимание на другие зерновые с высоким содержанием клетчатки, такие как ячмень и овсянка.

Мышьяк содержится не только в рисе. Фруктовые соки, особенно грушевые, виноградные и яблочные, также отличаются высоким содержанием этого элемента. Это обусловлено почвой, в которой растут деревья и виноградные лозы, а также водой, используемой при переработке сока. На самом деле, многие люди даже не догадываются, сколько мышьяка они употребляют, поэтому важно, чтобы пища была разнообразной. Это ограничит воздействие потенциальных ядов, а также оптимизирует питательные вещества в рационе.

Читайте также:

90000 Where Arsenic Comes From — Arsenic 90001 90002 Where Arsenic Comes From 90003 90004 Natural sources: 90005 90006 90007 Rock / soil: Earth’s crust contains (on average) 2-5 ppm arsenic, though some kinds of minerals have much higher concentrations of arsenic. Some examples of arsenic minerals are arsenopyrite, realgar, orpiment, arsenolite. Weathering of these minerals will result in some arsenic getting into water and air. 90008 90007 Volcanic activity can release large amounts of arsenic to the environment 90008 90007 Every year, natural sources contribute about 1/3 of the total annual release of arsenic to the atmosphere.Most of this comes from volcanoes. 90008 90007 Groundwater in contact with rocks that are high in arsenic MAY contain high concentrations of arsenic — this is a natural source of arsenic. Many of the world’s most troublesome problem spots are due to naturally high in arsenic in groundwater. 90008 90007 In the oceans, some animals and plants make organic arsenic compounds. These can become quite concentrated in an organism, but they are generally of low toxicity even though they contain arsenic.90008 90017 90004 Anthropogenic (caused by human activities) sources: 90005 90006 90007 Mining / smelting of copper, gold, lead and zinc ores. Arsenic is a by-product since most of these ores are relatively rich in As. Some of the arsenic is purified for other uses (see below) and some remains in the waste rock. Arsenic in waste rock is not a problem on its own, but bacteria can produce acid and start wearing away the rock. That causes arsenic to be released into the water. Smelting, which is metal purification at very high temperatures, can also release a large amount of arsenic to the atmosphere.This and burning of fuels that contain arsenic are the largest industrial contributors of arsenic to air, water and soil. 90008 90007 Wood preservation (greenish CCA pressure treated wood is treated with chromated copper arsenate, an arsenic and chromium containing preservative, to prevent deterioration from fungal attack. Eventually the metals in the preservative may leach out of the wood). This accounts for about 70% of global arsenic use and may be a large source of arsenic to the environment.Due to potential toxicity and leaching, CCA treated lumber is no longer used for home construction in the USA. 90008 90007 Agricultural (many older pesticides against insects and rodents, herbicides and fungicides contained arsenic — lead arsenate was a particularly bad one, since both lead and arsenic are toxic! These were widely used before organic pesticides were developed. Where I live in Maine, arsenical pesticides were used in blueberry, potato and apple cultivation. Organic compounds containing arsenic are still used on cotton crops and are added to chicken feed to promote growth, so their poop will also be high in arsenic).Agricultural uses account for about 22% of global arsenic use 90008 90007 Burning materials with arsenic in them (coal can be high in As, and so can diesel fuel. When the fuel is burned, arsenic is released into the air, and may come back to earth in rain or attached to particles) 90008 90007 Glass industry (As is used to decolorize glass) 90008 90007 Electronics industry (in semiconductors and lasers). Semiconductors are used in computer chips, so there are probably arsenic-containing semi-conductors in the computer you are using now! 90008 90007 Also used in smaller quantities in: 90008 90007 Pigments (for paints, papers, ceramics, etc.) 90008 90007 Bullets (improves the sphericity and structure of bullets) and other munitions, fireworks 90008 90007 Medical use of arsenic — some pharmaceuticals contain arsenic. Now arsenic-containing drugs may be used to treat leukemia. They were used more widely before antibiotics were discovered and produced, and before the toxic effects of arsenic at lower than lethal doses were known. For a while, Fowler’s solution (which contains arsenic) was used to treat everything from skin problems to arthritis to bacterial infections.90008 90017 90004 Wastewater from any of these industries can contribute to arsenic contamination in the environment. The effect should be restricted to an area near the source, however, so these are usually indentifiable and can be avoided as sources of drinking water. 90005 90004 People who work in industries that use a lot of arsenic may be occupationally exposed to higher than normal levels of arsenic. This may cause health effects (some of which gave supporting evidence of the chronic or long-term effects of arsenic).90005 90004 90005 .90000 Arsenic in Rice: Should You Be Concerned? 90001 90002 Arsenic is one of the world’s most toxic elements. 90003 90002 Throughout history, it has been infiltrating the food chain and finding its way into our foods. 90003 90002 However, this problem is now getting worse, as widespread pollution is raising the levels of arsenic in foods, posing a serious health risk. 90003 90002 Recently, studies have detected high levels of arsenic in rice. This is a major concern, since rice is a staple food for a large part of the world’s population.90003 90002 Should you be worried? Let’s have a look. 90003 90002 Arsenic is a toxic trace element, denoted by the symbol As. 90003 90002 It is not usually found on its own. Rather, it is bound with other elements in chemical compounds. 90003 90002 These compounds can be divided into two broad categories (1): 90003 90018 90019 90020 Organic arsenic: 90021 mainly found in plant and animal tissues. 90022 90019 90020 Inorganic arsenic: 90021 found in rocks and soil or dissolved in water.This is the more toxic form. 90022 90027 90002 Both forms are naturally present in the environment, but their levels have been increasing due to pollution. 90003 90002 For a number of reasons, rice may accumulate a significant amount of inorganic arsenic (the more toxic form) from the environment. 90003 90032 90020 Bottom Line: 90021 Arsenic is a toxic element naturally present in our environment. It is divided into two groups, organic and inorganic arsenic, with inorganic arsenic being more toxic.90035 90002 Arsenic is found in nearly all foods and drinks, but is usually only found in small amounts. 90003 90002 In contrast, relatively high levels are found in: 90003 90040 90019 90020 Contaminated drinking water: 90021 Millions of people around the world are exposed to drinking water that contains high amounts of inorganic arsenic. This is most common in South America and Asia (2, 3). 90022 90019 90020 Seafood: 90021 Fish, shrimp, shellfish and other seafood may contain significant amounts of organic arsenic, the less toxic form.However, mussels and certain types of seaweed may contain inorganic arsenic as well (4, 5, 6). 90022 90019 90020 Rice and rice-based foods: 90021 Rice accumulates more arsenic than other food crops. In fact, it is the single biggest food source of inorganic arsenic, which is the more toxic form (7, 8, 9, 10). 90022 90053 90002 High levels of inorganic arsenic have been detected in many rice-based products, such as: 90003 90040 90019 Rice milk (11). 90022 90019 Rice bran (12, 13). 90022 90019 Rice-based breakfast cereals (13).90022 90019 Rice cereal (baby rice) (14, 15). 90022 90019 Rice crackers (13). 90022 90019 Brown rice syrup (16). 90022 90019 Cereal bars containing rice and / or brown rice syrup. 90022 90053 90032 90020 Bottom Line: 90021 Seafood contains arsenic, but mostly the organic form. Rice and rice-based products may contain high levels of the inorganic (more toxic) form. 90035 90002 Arsenic naturally occurs in water, soil and rocks, but its levels may be higher in some areas than others. 90003 90002 It readily enters the food chain and may accumulate in significant amounts in both animals and plants, some of which are eaten by humans.90003 90002 As a result of human activities, arsenic pollution has been rising. 90003 90002 The main sources of arsenic pollution include certain pesticides and herbicides, wood preservatives, phosphate fertilizers, industrial waste, mining activities, coal burning and smelting (17, 18, 19). 90003 90002 Arsenic often drains into groundwater, which is heavily polluted in certain parts of the world (20, 21). 90003 90002 From groundwater, arsenic finds its way into wells and other water supplies that may be used for crop irrigation and cooking (22).90003 90002 Paddy rice is particularly susceptible to arsenic contamination, for three reasons: 90003 90018 90019 It is grown in flooded fields (paddy fields) that require high quantities of irrigation water. In many areas, this irrigation water is contaminated with arsenic (22). 90022 90019 Arsenic may accumulate in the soil of paddy fields, worsening the problem (23). 90022 90019 Rice absorbs more arsenic from water and soil compared to other common food crops (8). 90022 90027 90002 Using contaminated water for cooking is another concern, because rice grains easily absorb arsenic from cooking water when they are boiled (24, 25).90003 90032 90020 Bottom Line: 90021 Rice efficiently absorbs arsenic from irrigation water, soil and even cooking water. Some of that arsenic is of natural origin, but pollution is often responsible for higher levels. 90035 90002 High doses of arsenic are acutely toxic, causing various adverse symptoms and even death (26, 27). 90003 90002 Dietary arsenic is generally present in low amounts, and does not cause any immediate symptoms of poisoning. 90003 90002 However, long-term ingestion of inorganic arsenic may cause various health problems and increase the risk of chronic diseases.These include: 90003 90040 90019 Various types of cancer (28, 29, 30, 31). 90022 90019 Narrowing or blockage of blood vessels (vascular disease). 90022 90019 High blood pressure (hypertension) (32). 90022 90019 Heart disease (33, 34). 90022 90019 Type 2 diabetes (35). 90022 90053 90002 In addition, arsenic is toxic to nerve cells and may affect brain function (36, 37). In children and teenagers, arsenic exposure has been associated with: 90003 90040 90019 Impaired concentration, learning and memory (38, 39).90022 90019 Reduced intelligence and social competence (40, 41, 42). 90022 90053 90002 Some of these impairments may have taken place before birth. Several studies indicate that high arsenic intake among pregnant women has adverse effects on the fetus, increasing the risk of birth defects and hindering development (43). 90003 90032 90020 Bottom Line: 90021 The toxic symptoms of dietary arsenic usually take a long time to develop. Long-term ingestion may increase the risk of various health problems, including cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and decreased intelligence.90035 90002 Yes. There is no doubt about it, arsenic in rice is a problem. 90003 90002 This may pose a health risk to those who eat rice every day in considerable amounts. 90003 90002 This mainly applies to people in Asia or people with Asian-based diets. 90003 90002 Other groups who may eat a lot of rice products include young children and those on a milk-free or gluten-free diet. Rice-based infant formulas, rice crackers, pudding and rice milk sometimes make up a large portion of these diets.90003 90002 Young children are especially vulnerable because of their small body size. Therefore, feeding them rice cereals every day may not be such a good idea (14, 15). 90003 90002 Of additional concern is brown rice syrup, a rice-derived sweetener that may be high in arsenic. It is often used in baby formulas (16, 44). 90003 90002 Of course, not all rice contains high arsenic levels, but determining the arsenic content of a particular rice product may be difficult (or impossible) without actually measuring it in a lab.90003 90032 90020 Bottom Line: 90021 Arsenic contamination is a serious concern for the millions of people who rely on rice as their staple food. Young children are also at risk if rice-based products make up a large part of their diet. 90035 90002 The arsenic content of rice can be reduced by washing and cooking the rice with clean water that is low in arsenic. 90003 90002 This is effective for both white and brown rice, potentially reducing the arsenic content by up to 57% (45, 46, 47). 90003 90002 However, if the cooking water is high in arsenic, it may have the opposite effect and raise the arsenic content significantly (24, 45, 48).90003 90002 The following tips should help reduce the arsenic content of your rice: 90003 90040 90019 Use plenty of water when cooking. 90022 90019 Wash the rice before cooking. This method may remove 10-28% of the arsenic (45, 47). 90022 90019 Brown rice contains higher amounts of arsenic than white rice. If you eat large amounts of rice, the white variety may be a better choice (12, 49, 50). 90022 90019 Choose aromatic rice, such as basmati or jasmine (51). 90022 90019 Choose rice from the Himalayan region, including North India, North Pakistan and Nepal (7).90022 90019 If possible, avoid rice that is grown during the dry season. The use of arsenic-contaminated water is more common during that time (7, 23). 90022 90053 90002 The last and most important piece of advice concerns your diet as a whole. Make sure to diversify your diet by eating many different foods. Your diet should never be dominated by one type of food. 90003 90002 Not only does this ensure that you are getting all the nutrients you need, it also prevents you from getting too much of one thing.90003 90032 90020 Bottom Line: 90021 You can follow a few simple cooking methods tips to reduce the arsenic content of rice. Also keep in mind that some types of rice, such as basmati and jasmine, are lower in arsenic. 90035 90002 Arsenic in rice is a serious concern for many people. 90003 90002 A huge percentage of the world’s population relies on rice as a main food source, and millions of people may be at risk of developing arsenic-related health problems. 90003 90002 That being said, if you eat rice in moderation as a part of a varied diet, you should be totally fine.90003 90002 However, if rice happens to be a large part of your diet, make sure that it was grown in a non-polluted area. 90003.90000 2. Where does environmental arsenic come from? 90001 90002 2. Where does environmental arsenic come from? 90003 90004 90005 2.1 What are the natural sources of environmental arsenic? 90006 90005 2.2 What are the man-made sources of environmental arsenic? 90006 90005 2.3 How is arsenic transported and distributed in the environment? 90006 90011 90002 2.1 What are the natural sources of environmental arsenic? 90003 90014 The Earth’s crust is an abundant natural source of arsenic.It is present in more than 200 different minerals, the most common of which is called arsenopyrite. 90015 90014 About one-third of the arsenic in the Earth’s atmosphere is of natural origin. Volcanic action is the most important natural source. The next most important source is arsenic-containing vapor that is generated from solid or liquid forms of arsenic salts at low temperatures. 90015 90014 Inorganic arsenic of geological origin is found in groundwater used as drinking water in several parts of the world, for example Bangladesh, India and Taiwan.90015 90014 Organic arsenic compounds, that is, those containing carbon, are mainly found in sea-living organisms, although some of these compounds have also been found in species living on land. 90015 90014 As seen in questions 5 to 8, inorganic arsenic poses more problems than organic arsenic. More … 90015 90002 2.2 What are the man-made sources of environmental arsenic? 90003 90014 Elemental arsenic is produced commercially from arsenic trioxide. Arsenic trioxide is a by-product of metal smelting operations.About 70% of the world production of arsenic is used in timber treatment, 22% in agricultural chemicals, and the remainder in glass, pharmaceuticals and metallic alloys. 90015 90014 Mining, metal smelting and burning of fossil fuels are the major industrial processes that contribute to arsenic contamination of air, water and soil. The use of arsenic-containing pesticides in the past has left large areas of agricultural land contaminated. The use of arsenic in the preservation of timber has also led to contamination of the environment.More … 90015 90002 2.3 How is arsenic transported and distributed in the environment? 90003 90014 The transport and distribution of arsenic in the environment is complex, due to the many chemical forms in which it may be present and because there is continuous cycling of different forms of arsenic through air, soil and water. 90015 90014 Much of the arsenic in the atmosphere comes from high-temperature processes such as coal-fired power plants, burning vegetation and volcanic activity.The arsenic is released into the atmosphere primarily as arsenic trioxide where it adheres readily onto the surface of particles. These particles are dispersed by the wind and eventually fall back to the earth due to their weight or during rain. 90015 90014 Natural, low-temperature biological reactions involving microbes also release arsenic into the atmosphere. Microbes acting on arsenic in soils and sediments generate arsine gas or other volatile arsenic compounds. Arsine reacts with oxygen in the air and is converted back to non-volatile forms of arsenic, which settle back to the ground.90015 90014 Arsenic dissolved in water can be present in several different forms. In well-oxygenated water and sediments, nearly all arsenic is present in the stable form of arsenate. Some arsenite and arsenate forms are less stable and are interchangeable, depending on the chemical and biological conditions. Some chemical forms of arsenic adhere strongly to clay and organic matter and this can affect how they behave in the environment. There is potential for arsenic to be released from water and sediments, again depending on the chemical and biological conditions.90015 90014 Lastly, weathered rock and soil containing arsenic may be transported by wind or water erosion. Since many arsenic compounds tend to adhere strongly to soils, water percolating down does not usually move arsenic through more than a short distance in soil. More … 90015.90000 Arsenic 90001 90002 Sources of exposure 90003 90004 Arsenic is a natural component of the earth’s crust and is widely distributed throughout the environment in the air, water and land. It is highly toxic in its inorganic form. 90005 90004 People are exposed to elevated levels of inorganic arsenic through drinking contaminated water, using contaminated water in food preparation and irrigation of food crops, industrial processes, eating contaminated food and smoking tobacco. 90005 90004 Long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic, mainly through drinking-water and food, can lead to chronic arsenic poisoning.Skin lesions and skin cancer are the most characteristic effects. 90005 90010 Drinking-water and food 90011 90004 The greatest threat to public health from arsenic originates from contaminated groundwater. Inorganic arsenic is naturally present at high levels in the groundwater of a number of countries, including Argentina, Bangladesh, Chile, China, India, Mexico, and the United States of America. Drinking-water, crops irrigated with contaminated water and food prepared with contaminated water are the sources of exposure.90005 90004 Fish, shellfish, meat, poultry, dairy products and cereals can also be dietary sources of arsenic, although exposure from these foods is generally much lower compared to exposure through contaminated groundwater. In seafood, arsenic is mainly found in its less toxic organic form. 90005 90010 Industrial processes 90011 90004 Arsenic is used industrially as an alloying agent, as well as in the processing of glass, pigments, textiles, paper, metal adhesives, wood preservatives and ammunition.Arsenic is also used in the hide tanning process and, to a limited extent, in pesticides, feed additives and pharmaceuticals. 90005 90010 Tobacco 90011 90004 People who smoke tobacco can also be exposed to the natural inorganic arsenic content of tobacco because tobacco plants can take up arsenic naturally present in the soil. Also, in the past, the potential for elevated arsenic exposure was much greater when tobacco plants used to be treated with lead arsenate insecticide. 90005 90002 Health effects 90003 90004 Inorganic arsenic is a confirmed carcinogen and is the most significant chemical contaminant in drinking-water globally.Arsenic can also occur in an organic form. Inorganic arsenic compounds (such as those found in water) are highly toxic while organic arsenic compounds (such as those found in seafood) are less harmful to health. 90005 90010 Acute effects 90011 90004 The immediate symptoms of acute arsenic poisoning include vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. These are followed by numbness and tingling of the extremities, muscle cramping and death, in extreme cases. 90005 90010 Long-term effects 90011 90004 The first symptoms of long-term exposure to high levels of inorganic arsenic (for example, through drinking-water and food) are usually observed in the skin, and include pigmentation changes, skin lesions and hard patches on the palms and soles of the feet (hyperkeratosis).These occur after a minimum exposure of approximately five years and may be a precursor to skin cancer. 90005 90004 In addition to skin cancer, long-term exposure to arsenic may also cause cancers of the bladder and lungs. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified arsenic and arsenic compounds as carcinogenic to humans, and has also stated that arsenic in drinking-water is carcinogenic to humans. 90005 90004 Other adverse health effects that may be associated with long-term ingestion of inorganic arsenic include developmental effects, diabetes, pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disease.Arsenic-induced myocardial infarction, in particular, can be a significant cause of excess mortality. In China (Province of Taiwan), arsenic exposure has been linked to «Blackfoot disease», which is a severe disease of blood vessels leading to gangrene. This disease has not been observed in other parts of the world however, and it is possible that malnutrition contributes to its development. 90005 90004 Arsenic is also associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and infant mortality, with impacts on child health 90041 (1) 90042, and exposure in utero and in early childhood has been linked to increases in mortality in young adults due to multiple cancers, lung disease, heart attacks, and kidney failure 90041 (2) 90042.Numerous studies have demonstrated negative impacts of arsenic exposure on cognitive development, intelligence, and memory 90041 (3) 90042. 90005 90002 Magnitude of the problem 90003 90004 Arsenic contamination of groundwater is widespread and there are a number of regions where arsenic contamination of drinking-water is significant. It is now recognized that at least 140 million people in 50 countries have been drinking water containing arsenic at levels above the WHO provisional guideline value of 10 μg / L 90041 (4) 90042.90005 90004 Arsenic in Bangladesh has attracted much attention since recognition in the 1990s of its wide occurrence in well-water in that country. Since this time, significant progress has since been made and the number of people exposed to arsenic exceeding the Bangladesh drinking-water quality standard has decreased by approximately 40%. Despite these efforts, it was estimated that in 2012 about 19 million and 39 million people in Bangladesh were still exposed to arsenic concentrations above the national standard of 50 μg / L and the WHO provisional guideline value of 10 μg / L respectively 90041 (5) 90042.In a highly affected area of ​​Bangladesh, 21.4% of all deaths in the area were attributed to arsenic levels above 10 μg / L in drinking-water 90041 (6) 90042. A similar dose-response function has been found in other parts of Bangladesh, and these these results have been combined with national survey data to estimate an annual death toll of nearly 43 000 90041 (7) 90042. The US National Research Council has noted that as many as 1 in 100 additional cancer deaths could be expected from a lifetime exposure to drinking-water containing 50 μg / L 90041 (8) 90042.90005 90004 The symptoms and signs caused by long-term elevated exposure to inorganic arsenic differ between individuals, population groups and geographical areas. Thus, there is no universal definition of the disease caused by arsenic. This complicates the assessment of the burden on health of arsenic. 90005 90004 Similarly, there is no method to distinguish cases of cancer caused by arsenic from cancers induced by other factors. As a result, there is no reliable estimate of the magnitude of the problem worldwide.90005 90004 In 2010 the Joint FAO / WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) re-evaluated the effects of arsenic on human health, taking new data into account. JECFA concluded that for certain regions of the world where concentrations of inorganic arsenic in drinking-water exceed 50-100 μg / L, there is some evidence of adverse effects. In other areas, where arsenic concentrations in water are elevated (10-50 μg / L), JECFA concluded that while there is a possibility of adverse effects, these would be at a low incidence that would be difficult to detect in epidemiological studies.90005 90002 Prevention and control 90003 90004 The most important action in affected communities is the prevention of further exposure to arsenic by the provision of a safe water supply for drinking, food preparation and irrigation of food crops. There are a number of options to reduce levels of arsenic in drinking-water. 90005 90074 90075 Substitute high-arsenic sources, such as groundwater, with low-arsenic, microbiologically safe sources such as rain water and treated surface water.Low-arsenic water can be used for drinking, cooking and irrigation purposes, whereas high-arsenic water can be used for other purposes such as bathing and washing clothes. 90076 90075 Discriminate between high-arsenic and low-arsenic sources. For example, test water for arsenic levels and paint tube wells or hand pumps different colours. This can be an effective and low-cost means to rapidly reduce exposure to arsenic when accompanied by effective education. 90076 90075 Blend low-arsenic water with higher-arsenic water to achieve an acceptable arsenic concentration level.90076 90075 Install arsenic removal systems — either centralized or domestic — and ensure the appropriate disposal of the removed arsenic. Technologies for arsenic removal include oxidation, coagulation-precipitation, absorption, ion exchange, and membrane techniques. There is an increasing number of effective and low-cost options for removing arsenic from small or household supplies, though there is still limited evidence about the extent to which such systems are used effectively over sustained periods of time.90076 90083 90004 Long-term actions are also required to reduce occupational exposure from industrial processes. 90005 90004 Education and community engagement are key factors for ensuring successful interventions. There is a need for community members to understand the risks of high arsenic exposure and the sources of arsenic exposure, including the intake of arsenic by crops (e.g. rice) from irrigation water and the intake of arsenic into food from cooking water. 90005 90004 High-risk populations should also be monitored for early signs of arsenic poisoning — usually skin problems.90005 90002 WHO response 90003 90004 Arsenic is one of WHO’s 10 chemicals of major public health concern. WHO’s work to reduce arsenic exposure includes setting guideline values, reviewing evidence, and providing risk management recommendations. WHO publishes a guideline value for arsenic in its 90041 Guidelines for drinking-water quality 90042. The Guidelines are intended for use as the basis for regulation and standard setting worldwide. 90005 90004 The current recommended limit of arsenic in drinking-water is 10 μg / L, although this guideline value is designated as provisional because of practical difficulties in removing arsenic from drinking-water.Every effort should therefore be made to keep concentrations as low as reasonably possible and below the guideline value when resources are available. 90005 90004 However, millions of people around the world are exposed to arsenic at concentrations much higher than the guideline value (100 μg / L or greater), and therefore the public health priority should be to reduce exposure for these people. Where it is difficult to achieve the guideline value, Member States may set higher limits or interim values ​​as part of an overall strategy to progressively reduce risks, while taking into account local circumstances, available resources, and risks from low arsenic sources that are contaminated microbiologically .90005 90004 The WHO / UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene monitors progress towards global targets on drinking water. Under the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the indicator of «safely managed drinking water services» calls for tracking the population accessing drinking water which is free of faecal contamination and priority chemical contaminants, including arsenic. 90005 90102 90004 90041 (1) 90042 Association of arsenic with adverse pregnancy outcomes / infant mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.90106 Quansah R, Armah FA, Essumang DK, Luginaah I, Clarke E, Marfoh K, et al. Environ Health Perspect. 2015; 123 (5): 412-21. 90005 90004 90041 (2) 90042 In utero and early life arsenic exposure in relation to long-term health and disease. 90106 Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. Farzan SF, Karagas MR, Chen Y. 2013; 272 (2): 384-90. 90005 90004 90041 (3) 90042 The developmental neurotoxicity of arsenic: cognitive and behavioral consequences of early life exposure. 90106 Tolins M, Ruchirawat M, Landrigan P.Ann Glob Health. 2014; 80 (4): 303-14. 90005 90004 90041 (4) 90042 Arsenic Pollution: A Global Synthesis. 90106 Ravenscroft P, Brammer H, Richards K. Wiley-Blackwell; 2009. 90005 90004 90041 (5) 90042 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2012-13: Final Report. 90106 BBS / UNICEF. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics / UNICEF, 2015. 90005 90004 90041 (6) 90042 Arsenic exposure from drinking water, and all-cause and chronic-disease mortalities in Bangladesh (HEALS): a prospective cohort study.90106 Argos M, Kalra T, Rathouz PJ, Chen Y, Pierce B, Parvez F, et al. The Lancet. 2010 року; 376 (9737): 252-8. 90005 90004 90041 (7) 90042 Arsenic in tube well water in Bangladesh: health and economic impacts and implications for arsenic mitigation. 90106 Flanagan SV, Johnston RB, Zheng Y. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2012; 90: 839-46. 90005 90004 90041 (8) 90042 Arsenic in Drinking Water. 90106 NRC. Washington: National Research Council, 1999. ISBN-0-309-06333-7 90005 90004 90005.