ABSTRACT
In Canada, the primary source of exposure to arsenic is food, followed by drinking water, soil, and air. Measuring inorganic arsenic in urine provides a measure of internal dose integrating all sources and routes of exposure. Urine samples were collected through the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) in 2009 to 2011 from 2538 respondents and analyzed for various inorganic related arsenic species (arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, arsenocholine and arsenobetaine). The geometric mean of urinary dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) in the Canadian population was 3.5 (95% CI: 3.0–4.0) μg As L−1. Concentrations were significantly higher in children than in adults. Canadians who eat rice once or more per day have higher urinary concentrations. No association was found with sources of drinking water.
