Apples, Arsenic, and Risk - Part 19: Like Dysentery, Only Sweeter

Ubiquitous = Everywhere

Consumer Reports tells us:

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that can contaminate groundwater used for drinking and irrigation in areas where it’s abundant, such as parts of New England, the Midwest, and the Southwest. (1)

If we water our apple trees with ground water that is naturally contaminated with arsenic, or groundwater that is contaminated with arsenic from past pesticide and industrial use, that arsenic will be sucked up the trees and end up in the apples they produce.

That's one way, the other way has a bit more of the yuck factor involved.

If you look at the NHAMES data Consumer Reports references, and focus on this statement they make in their report, you will maybe understand why it is "ubiquitous."

Because most ingested arsenic is excreted in urine, the best measure of recent exposure is a urine test. (1)

Perhaps I can make my point using a song from the play "The Book Of Mormon."  That song, "Joseph Smith American Moses" has lyrics that discuss the spread of dysentery.  Now if you are familiar with South Park, the guys who wrote this play are the same ones who write that, so if you have sensitive ears or eyes you may not want to go looking for them.

So with apologies to Stone and Parker, here are my lyrics to illustrate the ubiquitousness of Inorganic Arsenic.

Arsenic goes out in the urine

Urine goes down the sewer

The sewer ends up in the river

The river irrigates the apple tree

The apple tree makes the apple juice

The apple juice goes in the cup

The cup goes to the mouth

The mouth goes to the stomach

Arsenic goes out in the urine

So now that I have that little ditty out of the way, let me put it all together using Vinny Gambini: - from "My Cousine Vinny - as a way to further illustrate what may be happening.

I'll set the scene: Vinny is in court cross examining Russell H. Greenfield, MD who made this statement:

"...the US government put a stop to the use of inorganic arsenical pesticides years ago. The same action, however, has not been taken by other countries, such as China, which just so happens to be the major source of apple juice products found in American stores. Chinese farmers, including apple farmers, still may use pesticides containing arsenic." (1)

The courtroom audience is hush, the air thick...

Vinny Gambini: And where does apple juice come from?
Dr. Greenfield:  China
Vinny Gambini:  Good...but more specifically....
Dr. Greenfield:  From the apples that grow on apple treesVinny Gambini: And those trees...do they require anything other than sunlight and soil to grow?
Dr. Greenfield: They need water.
Vinny Gambini: Water, that's right, don't be afraid just shout 'em right out when you know 'em.  And where does that water come from?
Dr. Greenfield: The rain
Vinny Gambini:  Rain...that's right, is that all?
Dr. Greenfield: Groundwater
Vinny Gambini: Ahh...pumped up from below the surface.  Anywhere else?
Dr. Greenfield: Rivers...
Vinny Gambini: Yes, rivers, streams. pounds, lakes...tanks - as you call them in Texas.  You mean surface water?
Dr. Greenfield: Yeah...surface water
Vinny Gambini: And is the water pumped up from the ground always free of arsenic?
Dr. Greenfield: No
Vinny Gambini: And that urinary arsenic we've been talkin' about.  Anyway that can get into the surface water?
Dr. Greenfield: Yeah, if that's where the treated water is discharged.
Vinny Gambini: So, what do you think? Isn't it possible that the arsenic is naturally coming from the soil or is present in the surface or groundwater used to irrigate the apple trees and not just from pesticides?
Dr. Greenfield: I suppose.
Vinny Gambini: I'm finished with this guy. 

I (almost) rest my case.

Next (and finally the last) Post: Apples, Arsenic, and Risk - Part 20: It is, and always will be, about the dose.


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