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Arsenic in Canadians

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Organization: Health Canada

Date published: 2021-12-14

Information on human biomonitoring of arsenic in Canada with results from the Canadian Health Measures Survey.

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Background

What is arsenic?

Arsenic (CASRN 7440-38-2) is a naturally occurring element. It exists in inorganic and organic forms, and it enters the environment through both natural and industrial processes.

Where is arsenic found?

Arsenic is present in the environment, including in soils and groundwater. It is used in manufacturing processes and can be found in textiles, paper, ceramics and explosives. It can also be found in foods, beverages and house dust.

How are people exposed to arsenic?

People are exposed to arsenic mainly by eating foods containing arsenic, such as seafood and rice. Other potential sources of exposure include drinking water, soil and air. Exposure to arsenic may be higher in people who live near a source of arsenic.

How is arsenic measured in people?

Inorganic and organic arsenic enter the bloodstream after being ingested or inhaled. Measurements of total and speciated arsenic in urine are reliable indicators of recent exposure. Arsenic species include the inorganic compounds arsenite (III) and arsenate (V). They also include the organic compounds monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), arsenobetaine and arsenocholine.

What are the potential health impacts of arsenic?

Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic has been associated with decreased lung function, non-cancer skin effects and cardiovascular effects. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds as carcinogenic to humans. It has also classified DMA and MMA as possibly carcinogenic to humans. It has determined that other organic arsenic compounds (such as arsenobetaine) cannot be classified in terms of their carcinogenicity to humans.

What is the Government of Canada doing to lower human exposures to arsenic?

Arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds are identified as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Risk management strategies have been developed to control releases of arsenic from smelting, mining and manufacturing processes. Arsenic and its compounds are on the List of Ingredients that are Prohibited for Use in Cosmetic Products. The Food and Drug Regulations prohibit the sale of drugs containing arsenic for human use. Leachable arsenic content in a variety of consumer products is regulated under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. The sale and use of pesticides containing arsenic are regulated through the Pest Control Products Act. The Government of Canada continues to monitor and assess arsenic.

Data sources

Table 1. Biomonitoring initiatives and their target populations
Initiative Target population
Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) General Canadian population living in the 10 provinces
First Nations Biomonitoring Initiative (FNBI) First Nations people living on-reserve south of the 60° parallel
Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) study Pregnant women and their infants recruited from obstetric and prenatal clinics in 10 cities across Canada
U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) General U.S. population

This fact sheet presents nationally representative data from the CHMS. These data are compared with data from the FNBI, the MIREC study and the U.S. NHANES.

Table 2. Biomonitoring initiatives and their collection periods, participant age ranges, matrices sampled and biomarkers measured
Collection period Age range (years) Matrix Biomarkers
CHMS
2009–2011 3 to 79 Urine Total arsenic, arsenite, arsenate, MMA, DMA
2012–2013 3 to 79 Urine Arsenite, arsenate, MMA, DMA
2014–2015 3 to 79 Urine Arsenite, arsenate, MMA, DMA
2016–2017 3 to 79 Urine Arsenite, arsenate, MMA, DMA
2018–2019 3 to 79 Urine Arsenite, arsenate, MMA, DMA
FNBI
2011 20+ Urine Total arsenic
MIREC study
2008–2011 18+ Urine Arsenite, arsenate, MMA, DMA
U.S. NHANES
2009–2010 6+ Urine Arsenite, arsenate, MMA, DMA
2011–2012 6+ Urine Arsenite, arsenate, MMA, DMA
2013–2014 6+ Urine Arsenite, arsenate, MMA, DMA
2015–2016 3+ Urine Arsenite, arsenate, MMA, DMA

Results

Canadian population

Figure 1. Inorganic arsenic concentrations in the Canadian population aged 3 to 79.

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of inorganic arsenic in the Canadian population from the CHMS (2009–2019). Inorganic arsenic was calculated as the sum of 4 metabolites (arsenite, arsenate, MMA and DMA). Each metabolite was measured in urine (µg arsenic/L).

Figure 1: Text description
Collection period Geometric mean
2009–2011 5.3
2012–2013 5.4
2014–2015 5.4
2016–2017 5.1
2018–2019 5.5

Concentrations of inorganic arsenic were relatively unchanged in the Canadian population from 2009–2019. There was no statistically significant change over time (P = 0.927).

Canadian population, by age group

Figure 2. Inorganic arsenic concentrations in the Canadian population, by age group.

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of inorganic arsenic in the Canadian population by age group from the CHMS (2009–2019). Inorganic arsenic was calculated as the sum of 4 metabolites (arsenite, arsenate, MMA and DMA). Each metabolite was measured in urine (µg arsenic/L).

Figure 2: Text description
Collection period Age group (years) Geometric mean
2009–2011 3 to 5 5.2
2009–2011 6 to 11 5.6
2009–2011 12 to 19 5.5
2009–2011 20 to 39 5.6
2009–2011 40 to 59 4.9
2009–2011 60 to 79 5.4
2012–2013 3 to 5 5.0
2012–2013 6 to 11 5.2
2012–2013 12 to 19 5.4
2012–2013 20 to 39 5.8
2012–2013 40 to 59 5.3
2012–2013 60 to 79 5.3
2014–2015 3 to 5 5.1
2014–2015 6 to 11 5.6
2014–2015 12 to 19 5.5
2014–2015 20 to 39 5.5
2014–2015 40 to 59 5.1
2014–2015 60 to 79 5.4
2016–2017 3 to 5 5.3
2016–2017 6 to 11 5.1
2016–2017 12 to 19 5.1
2016–2017 20 to 39 5.2
2016–2017 40 to 59 5.3
2016–2017 60 to 79 4.6
2018–2019 3 to 5 5.7
2018–2019 6 to 11 6.4
2018–2019 12 to 19 6.0
2018–2019 20 to 39 6.2
2018–2019 40 to 59 4.9
2018–2019 60 to 79 5.0

Concentrations of inorganic arsenic were similar across age groups in the Canadian population.

Canadian population, by sex

Figure 3. Inorganic arsenic concentrations in the Canadian population aged 3 to 79, by sex.

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of inorganic arsenic in the Canadian population by sex from the CHMS (2009–2019). Inorganic arsenic was calculated as the sum of 4 metabolites (arsenite, arsenate, MMA and DMA). Each metabolite was measured in urine (µg arsenic/L).

Figure 3: Text description
Collection period Sex Geometric mean
2009–2011 Females 5.1
2009–2011 Males 5.5
2012–2013 Females 5.2
2012–2013 Males 5.6
2014–2015 Females 5.1
2014–2015 Males 5.6
2016–2017 Females 5.2
2016–2017 Males 5.0
2018–2019 Females 5.0
2018–2019 Males 6.1

Concentrations of inorganic arsenic were similar between females and males in the Canadian population.

Comparison of the general population and First Nations on-reserve population in Canada

Figure 4. Total arsenic concentrations in the general population and First Nations on-reserve population in Canada.

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of total arsenic in urine (µg/L) in the general population aged 20 to 79 from the CHMS (2009–2011) and in the First Nations on-reserve population aged 20 and older from the FNBI (2011).

Figure 4: Text description
Biomonitoring initiative Geometric mean
CHMS 9.7
FNBI 4.5

Concentrations of total arsenic were higher in the general population than in the First Nations on-reserve population in Canada.

Comparison of women of child-bearing age and pregnant women in Canada

Figure 5. DMA concentrations in women of child-bearing age and women in the first trimester of pregnancy in Canada.

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of DMA in urine (µg arsenic/L) for women of child-bearing age (18 to 49) in the general population from the CHMS (2009–2011) and for women in the first trimester of pregnancy from the MIREC study (2008–2011).

Figure 5: Text description
Biomonitoring initiative Geometric mean
CHMS 3.5
MIREC study 2.3

Concentrations of DMA were higher in women of child-bearing age in the general population than in women in the first trimester of pregnancy in cities across Canada.

Comparison of the Canadian and U.S. populations

Figure 6. Inorganic arsenic concentrations in the Canadian and U.S. populations.

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of inorganic arsenic in the Canadian population from the CHMS (2009–2019) and in the U.S. population from the NHANES (2009–2016). Inorganic arsenic was calculated as the sum of 4 metabolites (arsenite, arsenate, MMA and DMA). Each metabolite was measured in urine (µg arsenic/L). Note that there are slight differences between the surveys in sampling (such as the age ranges of participants) and analysis (such as the limits of detection).

Figure 6: Text description
Biomonitoring initiative Collection period Geometric mean
CHMS 2009–2011 5.3
CHMS 2012–2013 5.4
CHMS 2014–2015 5.4
CHMS 2016–2017 5.1
CHMS 2018–2019 5.5
NHANES 2009–2010 6.6
NHANES 2011–2012 5.6
NHANES 2013–2014 4.8
NHANES 2015–2016 4.4

Concentrations of inorganic arsenic were similar between the Canadian and U.S. populations.

Suggested citation

Health Canada. 2021. Arsenic in Canadians. Ottawa, ON. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/environmental-contaminants/human-biomonitoring-resources/arsenic-canadians.html

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