Discovery Of Arsenic Research Articles

Toward Heterolytic Bond Dissociation of Dihydrogen: The Study of Hydrogen in Arsenolite under High Pressure

The discovery of arsenic(III) oxide hydrogen inclusion compound As4O6·2H2 formed under high pressure is presented. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiments and DFT computations permit for a propos...

Arsenic mitigation in Bangladesh: An analysis of institutional stakeholders' opinions

While Bangladesh made significant achievements in safe water coverage via installation of shallow tubewells (STWs) nationwide, this success was shattered by the discovery of arsenic (As) in the STWs. The extent and severity of As groundwater contamination throughout Bangladesh and its detrimental effects on human health are well known and demand long-term sustainable mitigation. It is an immensely complex and expensive task to bring tens of millions of arsenic exposed people under safe water coverage. While various mitigation measures have been undertaken by various organizations, most have not achieved their expected outcomes due to technical, spatial and socio-economic challenges. Better understanding of these challenges by institutional stakeholders is crucial for sustainable arsenic mitigation in Bangladesh. In this study, institutional stakeholders' opinions on various aspects of As mitigation were elicited to identify their preferences for and reservations of specific mitigation measures. The current status of As mitigation activities and the factors influencing the success of As mitigation were also explored. Institutional weakness, lack of accountability and a latency period were the major factors hindering sustainable As mitigation. The results also suggested that the stakeholders' understanding of the As problem and their preferences for the different mitigation measures have a significant impact on the effectiveness of As mitigation. Mitigation of As contamination is a complex issue that requires a coordinated effort from various levels of stakeholders. The concept of “paying for water”, which is currently potentially unknown in the rural areas of Bangladesh, also needs to be developed as this will create a stronger sense of user ownership of As safe water and thus better water management.

Participatory Action Research in Marginalised Communities: Safe Drinking Water in Rural Bangladesh

This paper provides an example of an application of participatory action research (PAR) to the current crisis of arsenic poisoning in rural Bangladesh. The approach was used to link the author’s doctoral research with the work of the Arsenic Mitigation and Research Foundation (AMRF), a small group of researchers and practitioners involved in both research and implementation. Since 2001, we (the coordinators and staff of AMRF) set out to establish safe drinking water supplies in several marginalised and arsenic-affected communities—a matter of grave urgency after the discovery of arsenic in the groundwater more than 15 years ago. Millions of groundwater users are exposed and the implementation of solutions across Bangladesh is generally lacking or inadequate. Closely aligned with AMRFs aims, the general objectives of the author’s doctoral research (2006–2009) were to better understand the situation, and to search for more adequate approaches. The research was predominantly informed by project activities on the ground and, in turn, this learning experience was fed back into our program to help guide new activities. Essentially, the author was involved both as an observer and practitioner. To fulfil this double role, PAR provides a potentially useful but also challenging methodology. This paper presents our experiences with PAR in the field; reflects on the value of its participative, qualitative and cyclical characteristics; and discusses some of the barriers that emerged in the process.

Element of Surprise? Rice as a Source of Arsenic in Children’s Diets

Last winter, the discovery of arsenic in foods containing organic brown rice syrup, including toddler formulas, made headlines. Members of the same research team now report higher urinary arsenic concentrations in children who eat any type of rice than in children who don’t, suggesting this food may be an important source of arsenic exposure for children in the United States [EHP 120(10):1418–1424; Davis et al.]. Rice is an economic, nutritious staple food consumed around the world, and its popularity is growing in the United States. In addition, rice flours, syrups, and other products are widely used in processed foods. But rice plants are especially well suited to accumulating arsenic from the soil in which they grow. The arsenic content of rice varies widely depending on where it was grown and how it was processed. In the current study, researchers examined data for 2,323 children who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2003 and 2008. They compared concentrations of arsenic in the urine of children estimated to have eaten at least a quarter cup of cooked rice during the previous 24 hours and the urine of children estimated to have eaten none. These estimates were based on children’s consumption of rice itself plus foods that contain rice-based ingredients. “Rice eaters” had a median urinary arsenic concentration of 8.9 μg/L compared with 5.5 μg/L for “non-rice eaters.” After adjusting for possible confounding factors and excluding children who had eaten seafood (a major source of a form of arsenic that is considered nontoxic) during the past 24 hours, the study found that urinary arsenic concentration increased 14.2% with every quarter-cup increase in rice that the children ate. The association was greater in children aged 6–11 years than in children aged 12–17 years, suggesting possible metabolic or dietary differences between the two age groups. One limitation of this study is that the researchers assessed all forms of rice combined and did not examine the impact of specific types of rice on urinary arsenic concentration. Another is that estimates of the rice content in each processed food may have been off. There is some evidence that high levels of arsenic exposure during childhood are associated with neurobehavioral problems as well as cancer and lung disease later in life. However, further research is needed to understand the health effects of exposures like those observed in this study.

ARSENOLIPIDS IN FISH OIL

ARSENIC, A HAZARDOUS heavy metal, associates with lipids in fish, researchers have found ( Chem. Commun. , DOI: 10.1039/b808049f). The discovery of arsenic in oil from capelin ( Mallotus villosus ), a North Atlantic fish in the smelt family, and the prospect that it could also be present in other fatty fish, could have important implications for human health and the ocean environment. Arsenic is a lethal poison and thus a major environmental and health hazard. Most human exposure to the metal occurs through water, and the majority of research on arsenic toxicity has focused on this. Scientists had previously believed that any arsenic found in fish would be water-soluble; they were surprised to find it in lipids. This discovery of arsenic in fish oil adds to health concerns, especially because many dietitians encourage people to increase their fish consumption. A group led by Kevin A. Francesconi, professor of chemistry at the University of Graz, in Austria, has now ...

Arsenic in Exhumed Bodies

Following discovery of arsenic in one body, fixed autopsy specimens from a related case, and exhumation specimens from three other bodies were examined for arsenic. The specimens, methods, arsenic concentrations, and significance are discussed.