Daily Intake Of Arsenic Research Articles

Maternal Exposure to Arsenic and Its Impact on Maternal and Fetal Health: A Review.

Arsenic exposure is a significant public health issue, with harmful effects caused by its use in commercial products such as car batteries, pesticides, and herbicides. Arsenic has three main compounds: inorganic, organic, and arsine gas. Inorganic arsenic compounds in water are highly toxic. The daily intake of arsenic from food and beverages is between 20 and 300 mcg/day. Arsenic is known for its carcinogenic properties and is classified as a human carcinogen by different institutions. Exposure can lead to oxidative stress, DNA damage, and epigenetic deregulation, which can cause endocrine disorders, altered signal transduction pathways, and cell proliferation. In addition, arsenic can easily cross the placenta, making it a critical concern for maternal and fetal health. Exposure can lead to complications such as gestational diabetes, anemia, low birth weight, miscarriage, and congenital anomalies. Female babies are particularly vulnerable to the negative impact of arsenic exposure, with a higher risk of low weight for gestational age and congenital cardiac anomalies. Therefore, it is crucial to monitor and regulate the levels of arsenic in drinking water and food sources to prevent these adverse health outcomes. Further research is necessary to fully understand the impact of arsenic exposure on human health, especially during pregnancy and infancy, by implementing preventative measures and monitoring the levels of arsenic in the environment.

Risk assessment of trace metals in canned fish commercialized for human consumption in Egypt

Fourteen trace elements were examined using ICP-OES in the imported canned tuna fish, sardines, and tuna packaging medium that were sold in Greater Cairo. The leaching into acetic acid (3%) was done to simulate the releasing of trace metals from cans. The association between the trace metal levels in tuna, oil/brine, and the leaching of trace metals into 3% acetic acid solution was investigated. All trace metals were found in all samples, although Cd was not. Eight of 25 canned tuna (32%), and one of 5 canned Sardina pilchardus fish (20%) have Pb concentrations that exceeded the permissible limit (PL), whereas one albacore tuna (1/25; 4%) exceeded Finland's PL for As. Except for aluminum, which had higher concentration in oil/brine than in brine alone, there were no variations in other metal concentrations. Although, there is no considerable release of most metals into acetic acid, Fe and Al did, with a leaching median of 32 and 0.16 mg/L, respectively. The average daily intake of arsenic (0.850 mg) was greater than tolerable daily intake (TDI) for adults advised by WHO. The provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) for As (0.085 mg/kg bw/week) also surpassed the advised PTWI. Only 3 out of 30 samples (10%) had PTWIs for Pb above them. The computed non-carcinogenic hazard index (HI) indicating that canned tuna consumption may have health risk for human. The most significant factor in all samples' higher target hazard quotient (THQ) levels was arsenic. This study comprises popular tuna fish species from Thailand, Vietnam, Italy, and Morocco, including skipjack, longtail, albacore, and sardina fish. Thus, it is pertinent to all nations that import tuna from these nations.

Inflammation biomarkers associated with arsenic exposure by drinking water and respiratory outcomes in indigenous children from three Yaqui villages in southern Sonora, México.

Environmental arsenic exposure in adults and children has been associated with a reduction in the expression of club cell secretory protein (CC16) and an increase in the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), both biomarkers of lung inflammation and negative respiratory outcomes. The objectives of this study were to determine if the levels of serum CC16 and MMP-9 and subsequent respiratory infections in children are associated with the ingestion of arsenic by drinking water. This cross-sectional study included 216 children from three Yaqui villages, Potam, Vicam, and Cocorit, with levels of arsenic in their ground water of 70.01 ± 21.85, 23.3 ± 9.99, and 11.8 ± 4.42 μg/L respectively. Total arsenic in water and urine samples was determined by inductively coupled plasma/optical emission spectrometry. Serum was analyzed for CC16 and MMP-9 using ELISA. The children had an average urinary arsenic of 79.39 μg/L and 46.8 % had levels above of the national concern value of 50 μg/L. Increased arsenic concentrations in drinking water and average daily arsenic intake by water were associated with decreased serum CC16 levels (β = − 0.12, 95% CI − 0.20, − 0.04 and β = − 0.10, 95% CI − 0.18, − 0.03), and increased serum MMP-9 levels (β = 0.35, 95% CI 0.22, 0.48 and β = 0.29, 95% CI 0.18, 0.40) at significant levels (P < 0.05). However, no association was found between levels of these serum biomarkers and urinary arsenic concentrations. In these children, reduced serum CC16 levels were significantly associated with increased risk of respiratory infections (OR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.13, 0.90). In conclusion, altered levels of serum CC16 and MMP-9 in the children may be due to the toxic effects of arsenic exposure through drinking water.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11356-021-13070-x.

Heavy Metal contamination of Dietary Supplements products available in the UAE markets and the associated risk

A specific safety concern is the possibility that a dietary supplement could be contaminated with heavy metals. This research was undertaken to investigate the daily exposure levels of heavy metals in dietary supplements available in the UAE and to explore the factors associated with the contamination of dietary supplements with heavy metals. A total of 277 dietary supplement samples were collected from the UAE market and prepared for the analysis of selected heavy metal contamination. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to determine the presence of heavy metals. The average daily intake of cadmium was 0.73 μg [95% CI 0.61–0.85], compared to the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 6 μg; the daily intake of lead was 0.85 μg [95% CI 0.62–1.07], compared to the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 20 μg; and the daily intake of arsenic was 0.67 μg [95% CI 0.57–0.78], compared to the acceptable daily intake of 10 μg. Although the dietary supplements available in the UAE have low levels of heavy metal contamination, numerous individuals are consuming a number of different dietary supplements every day and thereby may experience a cumulative level of toxic exposure. Dietary supplements formulations (Categories), dosage forms and country of origin are strong determents of heavy metal contamination in dietary supplements products.

Temporal trend of arsenic in outdoor air PM2.5 in Wuhan, China, in 2015-2017 and the personal inhalation of PM-bound arsenic: implications for human exposure.

Arsenic in fine air particulate matter (PM2.5) has been identified as an important factor responsible for the morbidity of lung cancer, which has increased sharply in many regions of China. Some reports in China have shown that arsenic in the air exceeds the ambient air quality standard value, while long-term airborne arsenic concentrations in central China and human exposure via inhalation of PM-bound arsenic (inhalable airborne PM) have not been well characterized. In this study, 579 outdoor air PM2.5 samples from Wuhan, a typical city in central China, were collected from 2015 to 2017, and arsenic was measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Personal exposure to PM-bound arsenic via inhalation and urinary arsenic concentration were also measured. The concentrations of arsenic in PM2.5 were in the range of 0.42-61.6ng/m3 (mean 8.48ng/m3). The average concentration of arsenic in 2015 (10.7ng/m3) was higher than that in 2016 (6.81ng/m3) and 2017 (8.18ng/m3), exceeded the standard value. The arsenic concentrations in spring and winter were higher than those in summer and autumn. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found among different sites. The daily intake of arsenic inhalation based on PM10 samples collected by personal samplers (median, 10.8ng/m3) was estimated. Urban residents inhaled higher levels of PM-bound arsenic than rural residents. Daily intake of arsenic via inhalation accounted for a negligible part (< 1%) of the total daily intake of arsenic (calculated based on excreted urinary arsenic); however, potential associations between the adverse effects (e.g., lung adenocarcinoma) and inhaled PM-bound arsenic require more attention, particularly for those who experience in long-term exposure. This study is the first report of a 3-year temporal trend of airbornePM2.5-bound arsenic in central China.

Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks of arsenic exposure in drinking water in the rural environment

Carcinogenic and systemic health effects of arsenic exposure in drinking water are well documented. This study estimated the risk associated with chronic consumption of water with high concentrations of arsenic in children and adults living in six Andean locations, in Chile. Concentrations of arsenic in the drinking water were analyzed between 2014 and 2017 based on health authority reports and data collected during this study. Average daily arsenic intake was estimated, and systemic (HQ) and deterministic carcinogenic risk (CR) indices were calculated using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency methodology. Threshold values ​​of HQ>1 and CR> 1 x 10–4 were considered to indicate high risk of adverse health effects. Four of the locations (Chucuyo > Putre > Humapalca = Visviri) had high concentrations of arsenic in the water, at levels 6.3–57.6 times the norm of 0.01 mg/L, Zapahuira and Belen, had values just below the threshold. Extremely high HQ values were estimated in children, at 1.3–119.8 times the threshold. Furthermore, CR values were several orders of magnitude (3.06–10790.6) above the tolerable value among all age strata. The locations studied have a high risk of adverse health effects from exposure to arsenic in drinking water. It is urgent to implement mitigation measures to improve water quality in these communities and to carry out probabilistic studies to provide more accurate assessment of exposure.

Arsenic in outdoor air particulate matter in China: Tiered study and implications for human exposure potential

Arsenic can be easily enriched in air particulate matter and has been identified to be associated with many of diseases, including lung cancer. Tiered data regarding arsenic in ambient air particulate matter is limited in China, particularly data from small cities and rural areas. In this study, 918 outdoor air total suspended particulate samples were collected from 19 districts of 7 provinces in China (Hunan, Hubei, Hebei, Shanghai, Guangdong, Yunnan, and Shanxi) from January 2013 to September 2015. Results showed that arsenic concentrations fluctuated from 0.85 to 185 ng/m3 (geometric mean (GM): 11.7 ng/m3). The highest GM was observed in Hunan (20.5 ng/m3), followed by Hebei (18.8 ng/m3), Hubei (15.9 ng/m3), Shanxi (13.2 ng/m3), Yunnan (8.67 ng/m3), Guangdong (7.62 ng/m3), and Shanghai (6.34 ng/m3). All GMs exceeded the Chinese limit of 6 ng/m3 (annul average values in total suspended particulate matters) in ambient air. In general, winter and spring were characterized by higher arsenic concentrations in ambient air in comparison to summer and autumn. Rural areas in Hunan and Shanghai had higher levels of arsenic in air than their urban areas. The daily intake of arsenic through inhalation was estimated. Higher daily intake of arsenic through inhalation was observed in children in comparison to other age groups. Human exposure to arsenic via inhalation represented by daily intake was minor when compared with other pathways such as dietary intake; however, the potential adverse effects on sensitive and general populations in China require further study.

Effects of environmental governance in mining areas: The trend of arsenic concentration in the environmental media of a typical mining area in 25 years

China has considered different environmental management measures (EMMs) in mining areas. However, their effects remain unclarified. In this study, the achievements and limitations of different EMMs of a typical mining area—Huangchang realgar mine—located in Hunan province were explored. The variations in the arsenic concentrations in the soil, agricultural products, drinking water, and atmosphere in 25 years of EMM implementation were investigated. Source control measures, such as ceasing mining and smelting activities, disposal of waste residues, and purifying wastewater, significantly reduced the arsenic concentrations in the atmosphere and surface water by more than 99%—from 68 μg m−3 and 0.42 mg L−1 to 3.63 ng m−3 and 4.31 μg L−1, respectively. The arsenic concentrations in agricultural products decreased by more than 78.8%—from 1.32 mg kg−1 in wheat to 0.28 mg kg−1 in vegetable and 0.13 mg kg−1 in maize—after the planting structure adjustment (PSA). However, the chronic daily intake of arsenic via product ingestion was 1.5 times higher than the benchmark dose lower confidence limit. Natural attenuation measures exerted limited effects on soil remediation; the arsenic concentration in the soil decreased insignificantly from 291.9 mg kg−1 to 213.3 mg kg−1. With the current attenuation rate, decreasing the soil arsenic concentration to under 30 mg kg−1 would require 47,900 years. The exceeding contaminant concentration in the resuspended dust, surface runoff, and agricultural products from the contaminated soil must be considered. China's EMMs in mining areas have achieved significant results, but the contaminated soil requires more attention and the PSA should accommodate the dietary habits and economic limits.

The Hazards of a Ubiquitary Metalloid, Arsenic, Hiding in Infant Diets: Detection, Speciation, Exposure, and Risk Assessment.

Different types of infant foods categorized as formulas, cereals, and purees imported from seven different countries and available on the Kuwaiti retail market were collected for arsenic analysis. The samples were analyzed both for total arsenic concentration using ICP-MS and for arsenic speciation using HPLC-ICP-MS. Speciation is essential for food analysis because of the toxicity and carcinogenicity of inorganic arsenic species. There was a strong positive linear correlation between the total and inorganic arsenic levels in the tested infant foods at the 95% confidence level. Arsenic concentrations detected in this study were implemented to calculate the total daily intake of arsenic, where the calculated daily intake values were utilized to assess the potential health risks to infants incurred by consuming different infant foods by calculating three different assessment indices namely, hazard quotient (HQ), cancer risk (CR), and margin of exposure (MOE). Both the total arsenic content and the safety of the investigated infant foods were compared to the ones associated with 406 different infant food types from seven different countries reported in the literature. This study confirms that infants are exposed to arsenic via diet since rice-based infant food products contained elevated levels of arsenic; consequently, warranting careful attention to diet choices both to limit this exposure and to avert potentially hazardous adverse health effects to the infants.

Human health risk assessment from arsenic exposures in Bangladesh

High arsenic exposures, prevalent through dietary and non-dietary sources in Bangladesh, present a major health risk to the public. A quantitative human health risk assessment is described as a result of arsenic exposure through food and water intake, tea intake, accidental soil ingestion, and chewing of betel quid, while people meet their desirable dietary intake requirements throughout their lifetime. In evaluating the contribution of each intake pathway to average daily arsenic intake, the results show that food and water intake combined, makes up approximately 98% of the daily arsenic intake with the balance contributed to by intake pathways such as tea consumption, soil ingestion, and quid consumption. Under an exposure scenario where arsenic concentration in water is at the WHO guideline (0.01mg/L), food intake is the major arsenic intake pathway ranging from 67% to 80% of the average daily arsenic intake. However, the contribution from food drops to a range of 29% to 45% for an exposure scenario where arsenic in water is at the Bangladesh standard (0.05mg/L). The lifetime excess risk of cancer occurrence from chronic arsenic exposure, considering a population of 160 million people, based on an exposure scenario with 85 million people at the WHO guideline value and 75 million people at the Bangladesh standard, and assuming that 35 million people are associated with a heavy activity level, is estimated as 1.15 million cases.

The Determination of Protein-Based Arsenic in Shrimp Tissues by Hydride Generation-Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometer

A method combining protein extraction with hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometer was developed to analyze protein-based arsenic (PBA) present in popular shrimp of China. The traditional method of alkali extraction-isoelectric precipitation was used for protein extraction, and microwave was applied for sample digestion. It was found that PBA concentrations in the extracted proteins were 0.626, 4.01, and 5.91 μg/g for meat, shell, and visceral samples, respectively. PBA recoveries of between 89.72 and 102.3 % were obtained by using the extracted proteins from meat as “standard proteins.” The results of sample and time variability tests showed that PBA concentrations in shrimp samples were very stable. The obtained total arsenic concentration in meat was only 0.123 μg/g and indicated humans’ low daily intake of arsenic from this kind of Chinese shrimp.

WITHDRAWN: Use status and metabolism of realgar in Chinese patent medicine

Realgar is widely used in combination with other herbs as Chinese patent medicine to treat a wide range of diseases in China. It is also a well known arsenical toxicant. Chronic arsenic poisoning events caused by long-term usage of realgar-containing medicines have been reported in literatures. Given to the paradoxical role of realgar, comprehensive outline of its usage status in Chinese patent medicine might provide basal data for evaluating its toxicology risks in populations. Unfortunately, the relevant information is limited. Also, a metabolic process after intake of realgar-containing medicine in humans is poorly understood. The Traditional Chinese Patent Medicine Prescription Database was reviewed to get the information on the usage status of realgar. Realgar powder was dissolved in different pH-value solutions (1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11) to determine the soluble arsenic concentrations from realgar. Ten volunteers aged 24-26 years old were recruited to take four pills of Niu Huang Jie Du Pian (NHJDP), a very common Chinese patent medicine with realgar, to analyze the arsenic metabolism after exposure to realgar-containing medicine. The four pills were taken according to the medical instruction. Concentrations of soluble arsenic from realgar and urinary arsenic metabolites in humans were determined by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry. A total of 191 (2.25%) realgar-containing traditional Chinese patent medicines were obtained from the database, and almost 86.91% of them were for oral application. 73 (38.22%) medicines were found to be available for children. The mass fraction of arsenic in realgar-containing medicine ranged from 0.11% to 27.52%. According to medical instructions, the amount of average daily arsenic intake ranged from 0.47 to 2895.53mg. Nearly 86% medicines with daily intake of arsenic >10mg. Only inorganic arsenic (iAs) was detected from realgar in dissolution experiment and the levels of soluble iAs increased with pH values. After intake NHJDP, arsenic excretion in urine significantly increased, with a maximum excretion of iAs and monomethylarsonic acid at 6h post-ingestion and a peak excretion of dimethylarsinic acid at 9h post-ingestion. Arsenic methylation capacity was decreased after intake NHJDP. Females carried a more efficient arsenic methylation process than males. Realgar is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. The arsenic solubility from realgar may be enhanced under alkaline conditions. The levels of urinary arsenic metabolites significantly increased while the arsenic methylation capacity significantly decreased after intaking realgar-containing medicine, which may suggest that a potential health hazard exists if people use arsenical medicines for long-term.

Daily intake of arsenic and mercury by consumption of Bulgarian Black Sea fishes

The consumption of marine fish as popular seafood has increased steadily over the past decades. Toxic effects evidenced in the environment are most often caused by a mixture of pollutants such as heavy metals. The daily intake of arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) through the consumption of nine edible marine species by the general population of Bulgaria was estimated. Health risks derived from this intake were also assessed. The concentrations of As and Hg in nine edible marine fish species were determined by ETAAS and Milestone Direct Mercury Analyzer. The highest metal intake through fish consumption corresponds to As (7.837 μg/day) for male adults. The daily intake of these elements through fish consumption of these elements was compared with the provisional tolerable weekly intakes (PTWI). The data of this study showed that the metal concentrations in edible tissues of the sampled species were within the permissible safety levels for human consumption set by various health organizations.

폐금속광산 주변 논토양 및 벼작물의 비소함량과 계절적 변화

이 연구는 국내 휴폐금속광산 주변의 논토양과 식물(벼)의 비소 오염과 계절적 변화를 고찰하고, 토양과 식물의 유기적 관계규명을 위해 토양시료를 왕수, 1 M <TEX>$MgCl_2$</TEX>, 0.01 M <TEX>$CaCl_2$</TEX> 및 0.05 M EDTA 등 다양한 추출제로 전처리하여 비소를 분석하였다. 화학분해 방법에 따른 함량 변화는 통계적으로 유의한 양의 상관관계를 보이며(p<0.01), 1 M <TEX>$MgCl_2$</TEX> >0.01 M <TEX>$CaCl_2$</TEX> >0.05 M EDTA 순으로 나타났다. 벼줄기의 생물학적 농축계수는 산화환경보다 환원환경에서 높았으며, 백미시료에서는 농축계수가 0.02로 낮게 나타났다. 농가의 1일 평균 쌀소비량인 315 g을 적용하여 세계보건기구의 미량원소 1일 섭취 최대허용량과 비교한 결과 농가에서는 65%의 높은 섭취량을 보여, 이들 쌀 소비에 의한 비소의 인체섭취도에 중요한 역할을 하고 있음을 확인하였다. The objective of this study is to investigate the contents and seasonal variation of arsenic in soils and crop plant(rice) in paddy fields around the abandoned metal mines in Korea. The soils were extracted by various methods including aqua regia, 1 M <TEX>$MgCl_2$</TEX>, 0.01 M <TEX>$CaCl_2$</TEX> and 0.05 M EDTA to evaluate the relationships between soils and crop plants(rice). According to correlation analysis, statistically significant correlation with the four methods(p<0.01) were found in soils extracted by various chemical solutions and arsenic contents in soils were decreased in the order of 1M <TEX>$MgCl_2$</TEX> > 0.01M <TEX>$CaCl_2$</TEX> > 0.05 M EDTA. Biological accumulation coefficients(BACs) of rice stalks were higher than those of rice grain, and the coefficients under reducing(August) environment were higher than those under oxidizing conditions(October). Assuming the rice consumption of 315 g/day by farm households in Korea, the amount of daily intake of arsenic were estimated to be 77.8 <TEX>${\mu}g/day$</TEX>. The daily intake of arsenic from the rice estimates up to 65% of ADI(acceptable daily intake) that the FAO/WHO Joint Food Additive and Contaminants Committee has set to evaluate their safeties.

Evaluation of dietary arsenic exposure and its biomarkers: A case study of West Bengal, India

Few reports are available that characterize daily arsenic exposure through water and diet among people living in groundwater-contaminated regions and correlate it with biomarkers. The present study describes the total individual arsenic exposure and arsenic level in urine and hair of such an arsenic-exposed population in West Bengal. Demographic characteristics and the total daily arsenic intake through water and diet were determined in 167 (Group-1 participants selected from arsenic endemic region) and 69 (Group-2 participants selected from arsenic non-endemic region) in West Bengal. Out of 167 Group-1 participants 78 (Group-1A) had arsenical skin lesions while 89 Group-1B) had no such lesion. Arsenic level in water samples as well as diet, urine and hair samples, collected from all the individual participants, were estimated. The mean value of estimated total arsenic content from water and diet was 349 (range: 20–1615) μg/day in 167 (Group-1) participants living in As endemic region [As in water: mean value 54 (range:BDL-326) μg/L] and 36 (range:12–120) μg/day in 69 (Group-2) participants living in As non-endemic region (As in water: below detection level (BDL), < 0.3 μg/L). Estimated mean arsenic level in urine in these two groups of participants was 116 (range: 6–526) μg/L and 17 (range: BDL-37) μg/L and in hair was 1.0 (range: 0.22–3.98) mg/Kg and 0.16 (range: 0.06–0.37) mg/Kg, respectively. Multiple regressions analysis in Group-1 participants showed that total arsenic intake was associated significantly with urinary and hair arsenic level. The estimated regression coefficient was 0.0022 (95% confidence interval, C.I: 0.0016, 0.0028; P < 0.001) and 0.0024 (95% C.I: 0.0021, 0.003; P < 0.001), respectively. In sub group analysis, higher median urinary arsenic value relative to arsenic intake through water and diet was observed in 78 Group-1A subjects with skin lesion compared to urinary arsenic value in 89 Group-1B subjects without skin lesions, though there was a marginal difference of median total arsenic intake in these two groups. This study showed that significant elevation of arsenic level in urine and hair was associated with elevated arsenic intake through water and diet in people living in arsenic endemic region (Group-1), while these values were low in people living in non-endemic region (Group-2). Those with skin lesions were found to have higher arsenic in urine and hair compared to those without skin lesion with similar arsenic intake through water and diet.

Arsenic concentration in rice, fish, meat and vegetables in Cambodia: a preliminary risk assessment

To assess arsenic contaminations and its possible adverse health effects, food samples were collected from Kandal, Kratie and Kampong Cham in Cambodia. The highest and the lowest concentrations were observed in fish (mean 2,832 ng g(-1), ww) collected from Kandal province and cattle stomach (1.86 ± 1.10 ng g(-1), ww) collected from Kratie, respectively. The daily intake of arsenic via food consumption was 604, 9.70 and 136 μg day(-1) in Kandal, Kratie and Kampong Cham, respectively. The arsenic dietary intake in Kandal ranked No. 1 among all the 17 compared countries or regions. Fish consumption contributed the greatest proportion of total arsenic daily intake in Kandal (about 63.0 %) and Kampong Cham (about 69.8 %). It is revealed to be a much more important exposure pathway than drinking water for residents in Kampong Cham. The results of risk assessment suggested that the residents in Cambodia, particularly for people in Kandal province, suffer high public health risks due to consuming arsenic-contaminated food.

Home gardening near a mining site in an arsenic-endemic region of Arizona: Assessing arsenic exposure dose and risk via ingestion of home garden vegetables, soils, and water

The human-health risk posed by gardening near a legacy mine and smelter in an arsenic-endemic region of Arizona was characterized in this study. Residential soils were used in a greenhouse study to grow common vegetables, and local residents, after training, collected soil, water, and vegetables samples from their home gardens. Concentrations of arsenic measured in water, soil, and vegetable samples were used in conjunction with reported US intake rates to calculate the daily dose, Incremental Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (IELCR), and Hazard Quotient for arsenic. Relative arsenic intake dose decreased in order: water>garden soils>homegrown vegetables, and on average, each accounted for 77, 16, and 7% of a residential gardener's daily arsenic intake dose. The IELCR ranges for vegetables, garden soils, and water were 10−8 to 10−4, 10−6 to 10−4, and 10−5 to 10−2, respectively. All vegetables (greenhouse and home garden) were grouped by scientific family, and the risk posed decreased as: Asteraceae≫Fabaceae>Amaranthaceae>Liliaceae>Brassicaceae>Solanaceae≫Cucurbitaceae. Correlations observed between concentrations of arsenic in vegetables and soils were used to estimate a maximum allowable level of arsenic in soil to limit the excess cancer risk to 10−6. The estimated values are 1.56mgkg−1, 5.39mgkg−1, 11.6mgkg−1 and 12.4mgkg−1 for the Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, and Amaranthaceae families, respectively. It is recommended that home gardeners: sample their private wells annually, test their soils prior to gardening, and, if necessary, modify their gardening behavior to reduce incidental soil ingestion. This study highlights the importance of site-specific risk assessment, and the need for species-specific planting guidelines for communities.

Verrucous Carcinoma due to Arsenic Ingestion in a Psoriasis Patient

Verrucous carcinoma is a rare clinicopathologic entity caused by multifactorial influences. We report here a 64-year-old male patient presenting with a large exophytic mass in the right leg. The patient had a 19-year duration of psoriasis and received various treatments. In his last year of life, he had been taking an illegally produced folk drug with the hope of controlling his psoriasis. However, 6 months after the drug ingestion, many papules appeared on his right leg, which eventually developed into a large tumor in the next few months. The patient died of acute pulmonary embolism only a week after hospitalization, when his tumor was pathologically confirmed as verrucous carcinoma. Later, the folk drug was analyzed and found to contain arsenic. The causative relevance of the tumor with his daily arsenic intake is discussed.

Inclusion of soil arsenic bioaccessibility in ecological risk assessment and comparison with biological effects

The purpose of this study was to conduct an ecological risk assessment (ERA) for meadow voles ( Microtus pennslvanicus) found at three arsenic contaminated sites in Nova Scotia, Canada (as well as two background locations) and to compare the numeric results to measured biomarkers of exposure and effect. The daily intake of arsenic by meadow voles was determined by three separate calculations: estimated daily intake (EDI), bioaccessible estimated daily intake (BEDI, with bioaccessibility of soil included), and actual daily intake (ADI, which is calculated with arsenic concentrations in the stomach contents). The median bioaccessibility of arsenic in soils from the contaminated locations was significantly greater than at background locations. The bioaccessible arsenic concentration in soil from all samples (both contaminated and background) was significantly less than the total concentration. Use of site-specific bioaccessibility (hazard quotients = 38 at Upper Seal Harbour (USH); 60 at Lower Seal Harbour (LSH); and 120 at Montague tailings (MONT)) and stomach arsenic contents (hazard quotients = 2.1 at USH; 7.9 at LSH; and 6.7 at MONT) in the ERA resulted in lower numeric risk than compared to risk calculated with 100% bioavailability (hazard quotient = 180 at USH; 75 at LSH; and 680 at MONT). Further, the use of bioaccessibility on the calculation of risk was aligned with biomarker results (changes in glutathione and micronucleated erythrocytes) in voles captured at the sites. This study provides evidence that using site-specific bioaccessibility in ERAs may provide a more realistic level of conservatism, thereby enhancing the accuracy of predicting risk to wildlife receptors. Furthermore, when numeric risk assessments are combined with site-specific biological data (i.e., biomarkers of exposure and effect), both lines of evidence can be used to make informed decisions about ecological risk and site management.

Dietary B vitamin intakes and urinary total arsenic concentration in the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) cohort, Bangladesh

The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the effects of dietary B vitamin intakes on creatinine-adjusted urinary total arsenic concentration among individuals participating in the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) cohort in Araihazar, Bangladesh. Arsenic exposure is a major public health problem in Bangladesh, where nearly 77million people have been chronically exposed to arsenic through the consumption of naturally contaminated groundwater. Dietary factors influencing the metabolism of ingested arsenic may potentially be important modifiers of the health effects of arsenic in this population. Daily average B vitamin intakes from a validated food frequency questionnaire and laboratory data on drinking water and urinary arsenic concentrations among 9,833 HEALS cohort participants were utilized. Statistical analyses were conducted using generalized estimating equations incorporating knotted spline linear regression. Increasing dietary intakes of thiamin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and pyridoxine were found to significantly increase urinary total arsenic excretion, adjusted for daily arsenic intake from drinking water and other potential confounders. These results suggest that higher intakes of certain B vitamins may enhance the excretion of arsenic from the body. This study offers new insights into modifiable dietary factors that relate to arsenic excretion and thus provides potential avenues for the prevention of arsenic-related health effects.