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Simultaneous Determination of Water- and Fat-Soluble Arsenic Species by HPLC-ICP-MS in Food Samples: A Pilot Study

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Summary

This 2026 pilot study from Polish authors demonstrates a novel reversed-phase HPLC-ICP-MS method capable of simultaneously detecting both water-soluble arsenic species (arsenite As(III), arsenate As(V), DMA, arsenobetaine AsB) and fat-soluble arsenolipids (arsenofatty acid AsFA 362, arsenohydrocarbon AsHC 360) on a single C8 column. The method is validated on four food matrices (red algae, spirulina supplement, Atlantic salmon, tuna). The study reports exploratory estimates of arsenolipid content in salmon (AsFA 362 approximately 0.6 mg/kg DM, AsHC 360 approximately 0.2 mg/kg DM) and confirms that spirulina arsenic is dominated by arsenobetaine (low toxicity).

Key numbers

  • Atlantic salmon (exploratory): AsFA 362 approximately 0.6 mg/kg DM; AsHC 360 approximately 0.2 mg/kg DM in oil fraction
  • Spirulina: arsenobetaine (AsB) dominant species; AsHC 360 not detected
  • Red algae: arsenosugars dominant; speciation profile characteristic of Phaeophyta
  • Tuna: arsenolipids coeluted with water-soluble species; presence uncertain
  • Method LODs: low ug/kg range (see paper for matrix-specific values)

Methods

Reversed-phase HPLC-ICP-MS: Shimadzu Shim-pack Scepter C8-120 column (4.6 x 150 mm); mobile phases 10 mmol/L ammonium acetate water/methanol pH 6.0; gradient 0-100% methanol over 40 min; PerkinElmer NexION ICP-MS detection at m/z 75. Pilot (n=4); method development focus. Validated against published arsenolipid standards.

Implications

The toxicological relevance of arsenolipids (specifically AsHC 360) is under active investigation; cell model studies have shown AsHC 360 to be neurotoxic at concentrations comparable to or above those of inorganic arsenic. This method advance enables detection of arsenolipids alongside inorganic arsenic (iAs) in a single analytical run, which is relevant for fatty fish (salmon, herring, mackerel) where arsenolipids may contribute to overall arsenic toxicity. For current food regulatory purposes, iAs remains the regulated fraction; arsenolipids are not yet subject to regulatory limits in most jurisdictions.

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