The European Commission has asked EFSA to update the assessment of inorganic arsenic taking into account new studies on its toxic effects.
EFSA consulted external stakeholders on its draft opinion and took into account the numerous comments received in the final draft of the opinion.
Which foods contain inorganic arsenic
Arsenic is a widely spread contaminant, both in nature and as a result of human activities. It comes in various forms, depending on its chemical structure.
This EFSA opinion focuses on inorganic arsenic .
Food is the main source of exposure for the European population in general.
The main foods causing exposure are rice and products based on it, cereals and products based on them. Drinking water also contributes to exposure, although arsenic levels are generally low in Europe.
Health risks
Prolonged intake of inorganic arsenic has been associated with a number of adverse health effects , including some forms of cancer.
For the evaluation, EFSA considered the increase in the incidence of skin cancers associated with exposure to inorganic arsenic to be the most relevant harmful effect. Experts have concluded that protecting yourself from skin cancer can also prevent other potentially harmful effects.
To evaluate genotoxic and carcinogenic substances accidentally present in the food chain, EFSA applies the calculation of the so-called margin of exposure (MOE) for consumers, i.e. the ratio between two factors: the quantity at which a small but nevertheless harmful effect is observed measurable and the level of exposure of a given population to the test substance.
A low MOE corresponds to a greater risk than a high MOE.
Based on data from human studies, an MOE of 1 or less would correspond to a level of exposure to inorganic arsenic that could be linked to an increased risk of skin cancer.
In adults, MOEs stand at low values: they vary between 2 and 0.4 for medium consumers and between 0.9 and 0.2 for heavy consumers. Experts have therefore concluded that this poses a health problem.
Next steps
EFSA is also assessing the potential risks related to exposure to organic arsenic in food.
At the end of this evaluation it will proceed to evaluate the possible risks deriving from joint exposure to both organic and inorganic arsenic present in foods. (Source: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/ )