![Sample our Bioscience journals, sign in here to start your access, Latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5925/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Bioscience.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
Despite the health benefits of food supplements (FS) based on algae or cyanobacteria, the elevated arsenic (As) concentrations in these FS may raise a health concern. In the present study 33 FS containing algae or cyanobacteria were collected and As (species) were analysed to estimate consumer exposure. Based on hazard and exposure data, potential risks were evaluated using inorganic arsenic (Asi) and the potentially toxic As fraction (Astot minus arsenobetaine (AB)). Astot concentrations were in the range 0.053–57 mg/kg with highest concentrations in FS containing brown algae. Asi concentrations were in the range <0.02–4.7 mg kg−1. A large part of As in FS containing algae or cyanobacteria was identified as potentially toxic AsSugars species. Negligible amounts of AB were detected. According to a tentative risk evaluation, the intake of Asi related to all FS collected was of no health concern for the general population. In 8 out of 33 of the analysed FS, however, the Asi concentration was of concern for population groups with increased cancer risks. If all As species except the non-toxic AB were taken into consideration, only 26 out of 33 of the FS showed ‘no concern’ for the general population, while for the other 7 FS a potential health risk was identified. This study indicates the need to obtain more data on toxicity of AsSugars and to develop limits for As (species) in FS.
Graphical abstract
Abbreviations
| FS | = | Food supplement |
| AB | = | Arsenobetaine |
| AC | = | Arsenocholine |
| As | = | Arsenic |
| Asi | = | Inorganic arsenic |
| As(III) | = | Arsenite |
| AsLipids | = | Arsenolipids |
| AsSugars | = | Arsenosugars |
| Astot | = | Total As concentration |
| Astox | = | Potentially toxic As fraction |
| As(V) | = | Arsenate |
| BMDL | = | Benchmark dose lower confidence limit |
| DMA | = | Dimethylarsinate |
| DMAA(V) | = | Dimethylarsinoylacetic acid |
| DMAE(V) | = | Dimethylarsinoylethanol |
| HBGV | = | Health based guidance values |
| HPLC-ICP-MS | = | High performance liquid chromatography coupled to ICP-MS |
| ICP-MS | = | Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry |
| MA | = | Methylarsonate acid |
| MOE | = | Margin of exposure |
| MRL | = | Minimal risk level |
| Sug_328 | = | Glycerol-arsinoylriboside |
| Sug_392 | = | Sulfonate-arsinoylriboside |
| Sug_408 | = | Sulfate-arsinoylriboside |
| Sug_482 | = | Phosphate-arsinoylriboside |
| TETRA | = | Tetramethylarsonium |
| TMAO | = | Trimethylarsine oxide |
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Rony Hollanders, Ronny Machiels, Krissy Brouwers and Fréderic Van Steen for their skillful technical assistance.
Supplementary material
Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website.