Measurement / residue studyindependent cross-checkabstract checked I-CHK-127 standard review

Arsenic feed additives raised arsenic in Chinese market chicken

Public Health Risk of Arsenic Species in Chicken Tissues from Live Poultry Markets of Guangdong Province, China.

Overview

Hu Y et al.. Environ Sci Technol 2017 · PMID 28219238 · DOI 10.1021/acs.est.6b06258

Where roxarsone was used, chicken and especially liver contained more arsenic; estimated cancer risk was above priority levels for many adults.

Does the study support the specific claim? Yes · Methodological quality: moderate

Study explained simply

What did the researchers want to find out?: What arsenic species are in chicken tissues and feeds in Guangdong, and what is the cancer risk?
How was the study done?: Exposure measurement of feeds and chicken tissues from live poultry markets
How many people, animals or samples were studied?: not stated in abstract
What was actually found?: Feeds with ROX had inorganic arsenic 0.19-9.7 mg/kg. Livers had much higher total arsenic than muscle; urban-market muscle higher than rural. Incremental lifetime cancer risk above the 10^-4 priority level for 70% (Guangzhou) and 30% (Lianzhou) of adults.
How large was the observed effect?: Feeds with ROX had inorganic arsenic 0.19-9.7 mg/kg. Livers had much higher total arsenic than muscle; urban-market muscle higher than rural. Incremental lifetime cancer risk above the 10^-4 priority level for 70% (Guangzhou) and 30% (Lianzhou) of adults.
What do the results mean in everyday life?: Where arsenic drugs are allowed, chicken can be a relevant arsenic source.
What are the study's limitations?: Regional; Risk model assumptions; sample size not in abstract
What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?: Supports the mechanism; region-specific.
Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?: Not applicable to EU production.
What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?: Does not show actual cancer cases.

What arsenic species are in chicken tissues and feeds in Guangdong, and what is the cancer risk?

Study design: Measurement / residue study – Exposure measurement of feeds and chicken tissues from live poultry markets
Population: Chicken tissues (liver, breast, drumstick) and commercial feeds
Country: China
Period: not stated
Sample size: not stated in abstract
Inclusion and exclusion criteria: as described in the abstract

Results: Feeds with ROX had inorganic arsenic 0.19-9.7 mg/kg. Livers had much higher total arsenic than muscle; urban-market muscle higher than rural. Incremental lifetime cancer risk above the 10^-4 priority level for 70% (Guangzhou) and 30% (Lianzhou) of adults.
Absolute risks: not reported
Authors' conclusion: There is a significant need to phase out arsenic-based feed additives in China.

Higher risk estimate than US/other Chinese data; depends on intake assumptions.

Shows that where roxarsone is used, risk estimates can exceed priority thresholds.

Where roxarsone was used, chicken and especially liver contained more arsenic; estimated cancer risk was above priority levels for many adults.

Multidimensional assessment
Multidimensional assessment
Authenticity of the source	verified
Methodological quality	moderate
Risk of bias	some concerns
Precision of results	low
Directness	direct
Reproducibility	partly replicated
Consistency with the overall evidence	mixed
Regional transferability	low
Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive)	not applicable