Laver　samples　(Porphyra　haitanensis)　were　collected　from　the　coastal　waters　of　Fujian　province,　south-eastern　China　and　then　the　speciation　characteristics　of　arsenic　in　the　samples　were　studied　in　detail.　These　laver　samples　contained　five　arsenical　species,　namely　arsenobetaine,　monomethylarsonic　acid,　As(V)　and　two　kinds　of　arsenic-containing　ribosides　(arsenosugars),　with　a　relatively　high　concentration　of　total　arsenic　in　the　range　of　28.85-63.03　μg　As/g　dried　weight.　DMAsSugarMethoxy　was　found　to　be　the　predominant　species　of　arsenic　in　lavers,　accounting　for　90-98%　of　total　arsenic.　As3+　was　not　detected　and　the　level　of　inorganic　arsenic　was　much　lower　than　the　national　tolerable　average　residue　level　(TARL),　suggesting　that　the　lavers　are　safe　for　consumption.　©　2011　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.