What is arsenic and should you be worried about it in your groceries? Experts explain
Walmart recalled nearly 10,000 cases of apple juice sold in over 25 states across the U.S. due to concerns of high levels of inorganic arsenic, according to an Aug. 15 recall notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But this isn’t the first time potentially harmful levels of the element have been found in groceries.
It’s also not the first time apple juice has been an issue.
A University of California Berkeley study, published in July, found arsenic and other toxic metals in tampons from several brands. Previously, high inorganic arsenic levels have shown up in rice and other grains often used in baby foods.
But arsenic was first put on the FDA’s radar because of concerns with apple juice, Director of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Jason White told McClatchy News.
According to the World Health Organization, long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic has been associated with various cancers, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In uterine and early childhood exposure, it’s been linked to negative impacts on cognitive development.
What is arsenic?
Arsenic is a natural, semi metallic element distributed in the earth’s crust and found in water, air and soil, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
There are two forms of the metal: organic arsenic and inorganic arsenic. While all arsenic is toxic to humans, research suggests the latter is more toxic and has more severe health risks.
Mary Lou Guerinot, a professor of biological sciences at Dartmouth College, told McClatchy News that unlike mercury, arsenic does not bio accumulate, or build up. So if exposure is stopped, the body will eventually clear itself.
But inorganic arsenic is hard to avoid — especially in food — and the constant exposure of it has led to increased risk of cancer, Guerinot said.
How does arsenic get into food?
Because arsenic is found in the natural environment, water and foods grown in soils that contain arsenic may be contaminated. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the U.S. is one of 50 countries where people are exposed to water containing high levels of arsenic.
Guerinot said plants often can’t tell the difference between inorganic arsenic and nutrients they need, like phosphate and silicate. She said that some crops, like rice, accumulate more arsenic because they naturally take up more silica than others.
But contamination also comes from a legacy of arsenic-containing pesticides, according to White.
“One-hundred or so years ago, one of the most common pesticides was lead arsenate, and for example, it was fairly commonly used in apple orchards, which is one of the reasons why apple juice becomes problematic,” White said.
Should you be worried?
According to the FDA’s website, the agency monitors and regulates levels of arsenic in groceries like foods, dietary supplements and cosmetics. In recent years, White said, the FDA has started a new initiative called ”Closer to Zero” to try to minimize exposure of toxic elements.
When determining if the level of arsenic in food is a potential health concern, the FDA considers the level of arsenic measured in food, the estimated consumption of it and risks to vulnerable people, like children, according to the agency’s website.
If the FDA finds the level of arsenic to be unsafe, it will take actions with the manufacturer to stop the product from going out on shelves or pull the product if it’s already out, according to the website.
“One of the issues with things like arsenic and lead and cadmium is that you actually see relatively high toxicity at very low concentrations,” White said. “So that’s kind of the worst case scenario.”
Still, “arsenic poisoning affects at least 140 million people worldwide,” according to Cleveland Clinic. Experts say people can show signs of arsenic poisoning within 30 minutes of high levels of exposure, but symptoms of long-term exposure take years to develop and are typically more severe.
If you suspect arsenic poisoning, seek medical care right away.
