Presence and distribution of arsenical species in beers

The total content of arsenic and of its inorganic (As(III) and As(V)) and o rganic (monomethylarsonic acid, MMAA, and dimethylarsinic acid DMAA) specie s were determined in a set of 21 alcoholic and alcohol-free beer samples us ing the technique of Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. For total arsenic analysis, beer samples were dried and then microwave digeste d with nitric acid in polytetrafluoroethylene containers. For the speciatio n? analysis, beers were previously subjected to ion exchange chromatography to elute the mentioned inorganic and organic arsenical species. Both micro wave digestion and chromatographic separation methods were validated from c ertified reference materials and prepared standard solutions, respectively. The results obtained are presented in terms of the distribution and occurr ence of arsenical species in the samples. The As levels of the beer samples were in the range of 1.5-12.4 mu g/l. The influence of the production proc ess for the alcohol-free beers in the speciation of arsenic is discussed. I n alcoholic beers MMAA was the most abundant species, and for non-alcoholic beers inorganic As(III) was similar to the organic species. An estimated i ntake of total As of 0.47 mu g/person/day and 11.4 mu g/person/day was obta ined for average consumers and for heavy drinkers, respectively.