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Abstract
Exposure limits for arsenic and lead in drinking water have long been established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and new regulations regarding the presence of these contaminants in bottled water went into effect in California in 2009. No comparable exposure limits or regulations are available, however, for juices and other beverages that may contain arsenic and lead. In the study described in this article, 20 apple juices (or ciders), 15 apple-containing juices, one grape, and one citrus juice were analyzed for arsenic and lead. Arsenic was detected in all juices while lead was detected in more than 94% of juices analyzed. Twelve samples (32%) demonstrated arsenic levels nearly at or above the drinking water exposure limit of 10 parts per billion. No juices contained lead above drinking water exposure limits. Expanding drinking water limits to include juices (and other frequently consumed beverages) would better protect consumers while regular testing of these juices would better inform consumers of the risks posed by specific juices and brands.
Introduction
In 2002, the average person in the U.S. consumed 42.8 L of juice per year (Euromonitor, 2002). In contrast, the average American consumes about 115 L of bottled water every year, a little over twice their juice consumption (Gleick, 2010). Children (6-11 years) consume approximately 1.6 L of fluid per day with about 0.46 L coming from plain water and 0.23 L coming from fruits juices, "-ades," or drinks (Kant & Graubard, 2010; Storey, Forshee, & Anderson, 2006). Furthermore, orange juice dominated juice consumption patterns 50 years ago but has been overtaken by apple juice in recent years (Dennison, 1996). Apple juice is a primary ingredient not only in apple juices, ciders, and cocktails but also in a broad range of other juices and fruit drinks including grape, berry, and other juice blends. At a global level, 1.26 million metric tons (approximately 1.2 billion L) of apple juice are produced every year. China is the top producer of apple juice, followed by Poland. The U.S., Argentina, Hungary, Germany, Italy, Chile, and Spain are also significant suppliers of apple juice to meet worldwide demand (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2006).
While consumption of juice is competitive with that of bottled water, exposure limits and recent regulations both fail...