Urinary arsenic excretion as a biomarker of arsenic exposure in children

Urinary arsenic concentration has been used generally for the determination of exposure, but much concern has been raised over the most appropriate expression for urinary arsenic levels. In this study, we examined the influence of various adjustments of expressing urinary arsenic data. All children who were less than 72 mo of age and who were potty trained were invited to participate in the present study. Urine, soil, and dust samples were collected, and arsenic measurements were made. The geometric mean of speciated urinary arsenic among children who provided first-voided urine samples on 2 consecutive mornings was 8.6 microg/l (geometric standard deviation = 1.7, n = 289). Speciated urinary arsenic was related significantly to soil arsenic in bare areas (p < .0005). Use of a single urine sample versus the average of two first-voided urine samples collected on 2 consecutive mornings did not significantly alter the relationship between environmental arsenic and urinary arsenic levels. Furthermore, none of the adjustments to urinary concentration improved the strength of correlation between urinary arsenic and soil arsenic levels. Concentration adjustments may not be necessary for urinary arsenic levels obtained from young children who provide first-void samples in the morning.