A recent study released last month revealed that three of the top four wine-producing states in America - California, Washington, New York and Oregon - have arsenic levels exceeding US drinking water standards. However, health risks from the natural and toxic element depends on a person's consumption of other high-arsenic foods and beverages, according to Science Daily.
Examples of other high-arsenic food include rice, cereal bars and apple juice.
The new study, made by the University of Washington, reportedly tested 65 wines from California, Washington, New York, and Oregon. Only one state passed the level of arsenic allowed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in drinking water.
According to the EPA, drinking water should not contain more than 10 parts per billion of arsenic. The wine in the University of Washington report states that they average 24 parts per billion.
Despite the extremely high levels of arsenic, study author and professor Denise Wilson in the University of Washington's electrical engineering department told CBS News that wine lovers shouldn't worry.
"I consider there to be two populations at risk (of arsenic poisoning). The first would be someone I call a 'core wine drinker,' or someone who drinks one to two glasses per day of the same wine with the same arsenic content," she said. "The other population, which is more common, would be someone who drinks some red wine, but then consumes other substances that contain high levels of arsenic."
In the study, Washington state wines was found with the highest average arsenic concentrations in its wines. Oregon's wines had the lowest arsenic content, according to CBS News.
Arsenic could reportedly transform when combined with either organic or inorganic substances. It can seep inside water and soil of a vineyard as it is contained when river water, rain, or wind erode arsenic-containing rocks.
Red wines became the focal point of the new study since grape skins reportedly have more heavy metals than pulp.
In an ironic twist, the study's researchers claim infant formula made with organic brown rice syrup pose greatest risk of arsenic poisoning than red wine.
