Roxarsone, inorganic arsenic, and other arsenic species in chicken: a U.S.-based market basket sample.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Inorganic arsenic (iAs) causes cancer and possibly other adverse health outcomes. Arsenic-based drugs are permitted in poultry production; however, the contribution of chicken consumption to iAs intake is unknown.

Objectives

We sought to characterize the arsenic species profile in chicken meat and estimate bladder and lung cancer risk associated with consuming chicken produced with arsenic-based drugs.

Methods

Conventional, antibiotic-free, and organic chicken samples were collected from grocery stores in 10 U.S. metropolitan areas from December 2010 through June 2011. We tested 116 raw and 142 cooked chicken samples for total arsenic, and we determined arsenic species in 65 raw and 78 cooked samples that contained total arsenic at ≥ 10 µg/kg dry weight.

SUBMITTER: Nachman KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3701911 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature