Large variations exist in peoples' ability to eliminate arsenic from body

Washington, Aug 27 (ANI): A new study has shown that large variations exist in peoples' ability to eliminate potentially toxic substance arsenic from the body.

In the study, Kevin Francesconi and colleagues found that some people eliminate more than 90 percent of the arsenic consumed in the diet while others store arsenic in their bodies, where it can have harmful effects.

Health effects from chronic arsenic exposure include skin and internal cancers, cardiovascular disease, and possibly diabetes.

Researchers say that drinking water in many parts of the world, including some regions of the United States, contain amounts of arsenic that exceed the World Health Organization's maximum acceptable levels.

The study also found that consumption of seafood is another major source of arsenic contamination.

The scientists describe monitoring arsenic excretion in the urine of human volunteers.

They found that ability to eliminate arsenic from the body varied greatly, with some participants excreting up to 95 percent of the ingested arsenic but others eliminating as little as four percent.

"This observed individual variability in handling [arsenic] exposure has considerable implications for the risk assessment of arsenic ingestion," the study states.

It adds that further study is needed to assess potential risks to humans consuming seafood products.

"The data presented here suggest that the long held view that seafood arsenic is harmless because it is present mainly as organoarsenic compounds needs to be reassessed," the study states.

The research is scheduled for the Sept. 21 issue of ACS's Chemical Research in Toxicology, a monthly journal. (ANI)