Arsenic species excretion in a group of persons in northern Germany - contribution to the evaluation of reference values

Reference values for four arsenic species (inorganic As(III); inorganic As( V); dimethylarsinic acid DMA; monomethylarsonic acid MMA) in urine were eva luated for 101 male persons in northern Germany (46.9 +/- 10.5 y) applying anion exchange chromatographic species separation with on-line hydride-tech nique atomic absorption spectrometry (between-days imprecision 6.8-10.1 %; 11.0-50.0 mug/l; n = 30; detection limits d. 1. 1; 10; 2; 2 mug/l). DMA was found in 88.1 % of the persons (x +/- s = 7.21 +/- 9.64 mug/g creatinine; median 4.02 mug/g; 95 % < 22.5 <mu>g/g) followed by As(III) (11.3 %; median < d.l; 95 % < 0.54 mug/g) whereas no MMA and As(V) could be found. Seafood consumption within the last 2 days led to higher DNIA levels compared to h aving seafood more than 6 days ago (n = 43 vs. n = 42; 10.04 +/- 11.58 vs. 3.47 +/- 3.55 mug/g; p < 0.01).