Inorganic Arsenic Concentrations Research Articles

Association between mediterranean diet and metal(loid) exposure in 4-5-year-old children living in Spain.

Even relatively low levels of metals exposure may impact health, particularly among vulnerable populations such as infants and young children. However, little is known about the interplay between simultaneous metal exposures, common in real-life scenarios, and their association with specific dietary patterns. In this study, we have evaluated the association between adherence to Mediterranean diet (MD) and urinary metal concentrations individually and as an exposure mixture in 713 children aged 4-5-years from the INMA cohort study. We used a validated food frequency questionnaire to calculate two MD indexes scores: aMED and rMED. These indexes gather information on various food groups within the MD and score differently. To measure urinary concentrations of cobalt, copper, zinc, molybdenum, selenium, lead, and cadmium as exposure biomarkers, we used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), coupled with an ion chromatography (IC) equipment for arsenic speciation analysis. We applied linear regression and quantile g-computation, adjusted for confounders, to analyse the association between MD adherence and exposure to the metal mixture. High adherence to MD such as the quintile (Q) 5 MD was associated with higher urinary arsenobetaine (AsB) levels than Q1, with β values of 0.55 (confidence interval - CI 95% 0.01; 1.09) for aMED and 0.73 (CI 95% 0.13; 1.33) for rMED. Consumption of fish was associated with increased urinary AsB but reduced inorganic arsenic concentrations. In contrast, the aMED vegetables consumption increased urinary inorganic arsenic content. A moderate level of adherence to MD (Q2 and Q3) was associated with lower copper urinary concentrations than Q1, with β values of −0.42 (CI 95% −0.72; −0.11) for Q2 and -0.33 (CI 95% −0.63; −0.02) for Q3, but only with aMED. Our study, conducted in Spain, revealed that adhering to the MD reduces exposure to certain metals while increasing exposure to others. Specifically, we observed increase in exposure to non-toxic AsB, highlighting the significance of consuming fish/seafood. However, it is crucial to emphasize the necessity for additional efforts in reducing early-life exposure to toxic metals, even when adhering to certain food components of the MD.

Inorganic arsenic in holopelagic Sargassum spp. stranded in the Mexican Caribbean: Seasonal variations and comparison with international regulations and guidelines

Due to the massive proliferation and stranding of holopelagic Sargassum spp. over the last decade, different strategies for the sustainable valorisation of Sargassum biomass have been explored and investigated. One limitation to the development of Sargassum biomass valorisation is related to its high arsenic (As) content. The toxicity of As depends on the chemical forms present and their oxidation or valence state, classified as inorganic and organic compounds, with the inorganic As compounds being much more toxic than the organic ones. The aim of the present study was to determine the inorganic arsenic (iAs) content in holopelagic Sargassum spp. for which almost no information on stranded biomass is available. In this study, we examined the iAs content in the three holopelagic Sargassum morphotypes collected over a seasonal cycle in 2018–2019. The iAs concentrations ranged from 12.7 to 62.9 mg kg−1, representing 14.1–81.7% of total arsenic (TotAs). The iAs content was compared between species and seasons and discussed in the context of existing international regulations and guidelines.

Urinary arsenic and spontaneous pregnancy loss – a hypothesis-generating case-control investigation in western Romania

Arsenic occurs as a natural contaminant of drinking water supplies in arsenic endemic areas, posing a threat to public health. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between urinary arsenic concentrations and spontaneous pregnancy loss in a population with low-moderate level drinking water arsenic exposure (mostly <10 μg/L). We enrolled 150 women with incident spontaneous pregnancy losses and 150 controls with ongoing pregnancies matched by gestational age. We measured arsenic species in urine using high performance liquid chromatography paired to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Urinary arsenic was not related to spontaneous pregnancy loss in conditional logistic regression models adjusted for confounding factors. However, a 10 μg/L increase in urinary arsenic (III + V) salt concentrations was associated with 8.00-fold (95% CI: 0.68, 3.35 × 105) greater odds of spontaneous loss among women using prenatal vitamins in an interaction model (P for interaction = 0.07), although the effect estimate was imprecise. In an additional interaction model, prenatal vitamin use was associated with lower odds of loss (OR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.66), although the association was diminished in the presence of a 10 μg/L increase in urinary inorganic arsenic (OR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.70, 3.22). Total urinary arsenic was associated with 1.48-fold (95% CI: 0.20, 11.35) greater odds for loss among women with urinary cotinine >50 μg/L in another interaction model (P for interaction = 0.07). These results suggest a potential modest increase in the odds of pregnancy loss associated with increased total urinary arsenic among women smoking during pregnancy (urinary cotinine >50 μg/L). Prenatal vitamin use may act as a protective factor for arsenic exposure associated pregnancy loss, but appears to be less protective with increasing urinary inorganic arsenic concentrations.

Inorganic arsenic concentration in Idaho fish tissue governed by trophic level and size, not water column concentration: implications for human health water quality criteria.

In 2019, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) implemented a paired surface water and fish tissue data collection program to derive a state-specific bioaccumulation factor (BAF) for inorganic arsenic (iAs) as part of the development of new human health water quality criteria (HHWQC). No statistically significant relationship was found between total arsenic (tAs) or iAs in surface water and fish tissue. Fish body weight was the only parameter with a statistically significant effect on iAs concentration in fish tissue. The ratio of iAs to tAs in fish tissue declined significantly with both increasing trophic level and increasing body weight. The decrease in iAs concentration in fish tissue with increasing size and trophic level, as well as the decrease in the proportion of tAs that is iAs with increasing trophic level, are likely the result of metabolic transformation of iAs to organic As by organisms in each level of the aquatic foodweb. Although the linear regression-based BAF using the Idaho paired fish and water data best predicted observed iAs fish tissue concentrations compared to several alternative BAFs, it was not statistically significant (p < 0.05) and was a poor predictor (R2 = 0.01) of iAs concentrations in fish tissue. These results illustrate that iAs, and possibly other metals, in the natural environment do not conform with commonly used bioaccumulation models and the paradigm used by USEPA for determining HHWQC. These results indicate modifications to the paradigm are necessary, such as a fish tissue criterion as Idaho has proposed, to assure public health is protected.

Torsemide increases arsenic concentrations by inhibition of multidrug resistance protein 4 in arsenic trioxide treated acute promyelocytic leukemia patients

Torsemide is commonly used to relieve edema during the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with arsenic trioxide (ATO). We explored the effect of torsemide on the plasma concentrations of inorganic arsenic (iAs), monomethylarsonic acid (MMAV) and dimethyarsinic acid (DMAV) in APL patients treated with ATO and clarified its molecular mechanism in rats and cells. The study included 146 APL patients treated with ATO. 60（41.1 %) of these 146 patients were co-administered with torsemide. The treatment of torsemide increased plasma concentrations of iAs (P < 0.05) and DMAV (P < 0.05) in APL patients. The single co-administration of ATO and torsemide in rats significantly increased the plasma concentrations and AUC(0−t) of iAs (P < 0.05) and MMAV (P < 0.05), decreased the urinary excretion rates and the urine concentrations of iAs (P < 0.05) and DMAV (P < 0.05), and enhanced iAs (P < 0.05) and MMAV (P < 0.05) concentrations in the kidneys of rats. In addition, torsemide decreased the expression of multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4) in rat kidneys after 7 days of continuous co-administration (P < 0.05). We also treated MRP4-overexpressing HEK293T cells with ATO and different concentrations of torsemide. Torsemide markedly increased the concentrations of iAs, MMAV and DMAV by inhibiting MRP4 compared with ATO alone (P < 0.05). In conclusion, torsemide increased the plasma concentrations of arsenic metabolites in APL patients treated with ATO by inhibiting the transporter MRP4 in a dose-dependent manner.

3D-printed device for the kinetic determination of As(III) in groundwater samples by digital movie analysis

High concentrations of inorganic arsenic in groundwater for human consumption is a worldwide common problem. Particularly, the determination of As(III) becomes important, since this species is more toxic than organic, pentavalent and elemental arsenic forms. In this work, a 3D-printed device that included a 24-well microplate was developed to perform the colourimetric kinetic determination of arsenic (III) by digital movie analysis. A smartphone camera attached to the device was used to take the movie during the process where As(III) inhibited the decolourization of methyl orange. The movie images were subsequently transformed from RGB to YIQ space to obtain a new analytical parameter called “d”, which was related to the chrominance of the image. Then, this parameter allowed the determination of the inhibition time of reaction (tin), which was linearly correlated with the concentration of As(III). A linear calibration curve (R = 0.9995) in the range from 5 μg L−1 to 200 μg L−1 was obtained. The method was precise (RSD = 1.2%), and the limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 1.47 μg L−1 and 4.44 μg L−1, respectively. These values were lower than the limit established by the World Health Organization for total arsenic in drinking water (10 μg L−1). The accuracy of the method was assessed by a recovery study with optimal results (94.3%–104.0%). Additionally, the Analytical GREEnness metric approach was applied, obtaining a score 1.7 times higher than previously published works. The method is simple, portable and low-cost, being in compliance with various principles of green analytical chemistry.

Monomethylarsonous acid binds to Cys-104α and Cys-112β of hemoglobin in acute promyelocytic leukemia patients treated with arsenic trioxide

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) has prominent effect in treating acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Identification of arsenic-binding proteins has gained attention for their important biological functions. However, none has been published concerning the binding mechanism of arsenic with hemoglobin (Hb) in APL patients after treatment of As2O3. The present study discloses the binding sites of arsenic on Hb in APL patients. Concentrations of inorganic arsenic (iAs), monomethyl arsenic (MMA), and dimethyl arsenic (DMA) in erythrocytes of APL patients were quantified using HPLC-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (HPLC-ICP-MS). Hb-bound arsenic was identified by size-exclusion chromatography ICP-MS. The binding sites of arsenic on Hb were determined by mass spectrometry (MS). The concentration trend of arsenic species in erythrocytes of 9 APL patients treated with As2O3 was iAs>MMA>DMA, and MMA was the predominant methylated arsenic metabolite. Size-exclusion chromatography separation of free and protein-bound arsenic by simultaneous monitoring of 57Fe and 75As demonstrated the presence of Hb-bound arsenic. MS information suggested monomethylarsonous (MMAIII) was the dominant arsenic bound to Hb, and further identified that Cys-104α and Cys-112β were two binding sites of MMAIII in Hb. MMAIII binding to Cys-104α and Cys-112β was responsible for arsenic accumulation in erythrocytes of APL patients. This interaction may contribute to understand the therapeutic effect of As2O3 as an anticancer drug and its toxicity on APL patients.

Arsenic, cadmium, and lead in rice and rice products on the Austrian market

ABSTRACT Fifty-one rice samples, i.e. 25 rice varieties, 8 rice products, and 18 rice containing baby foods from the Austrian market were surveyed for arsenic, cadmium, and lead. Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is most toxic to human health, and its mean concentrations in rice were 120 µg kg−1, 191 µg kg−1 in rice products, and 77 µg kg−1 in baby foods. The average dimethylarsinic acid and methylarsonic acid concentrations were 56 µg kg−1 and 2 µg kg−1, respectively. The highest iAs concentration was found in rice flakes (237 ± 15 µg kg−1), close to the Maximum Level (ML) set by the EU regulation for husked rice (250 µg kg−1). The levels of cadmium (12 to 182 µg kg−1) and lead (6 to 30 µg kg−1) in the majority of rice samples were below the European ML. Upland grown rice from Austria showed both, low inorganic arsenic (<19 µg kg−1) and cadmium (<38 µg kg−1) concentrations.

Regulation of arsenite toxicity in lettuce by pyrite and glutamic acid and the related mechanism

Compared with the effect of a single substance on arsenic plant toxicity, the effect of coexisting pyrite and natural organic matter can better reflect actual environmental conditions. In this study, the interaction between pyrite and glutamic acid in arsenite solution was explored, the influence of pyrite and glutamic acid on arsenite plant toxicity was evaluated, and the metabolic regulation mechanism of pyrite and glutamic acid on the arsenite phytotoxic effect was clarified by metabolomics analysis. Combined pyrite and glutamic acid treatment fixed more arsenic by forming chemical bonds such as AsS, AsO, and As-O-OH in culture solution and reduced inorganic arsenic levels in plants. Compared with glutamic acid alone and pyrite alone, the combined treatment reduced the inorganic arsenic concentration in plants by 4.7 % and 40.0 %, respectively. The combined treatment limited plant ROS accumulation and maintained the leaf chlorophyll content by increasing SOD synthesis. Compared with the effect of As(III) alone, the chlorophyll content increased by 15.1–21.0 % on average under the combined treatment. The combined treatment promoted the absorption of Ca, Cu, Fe, Mo and Zn in lettuce, enhanced plant adaptation to As(III) and significantly improved plant nutritional quality. Compared with glutamic acid alone, the combined treatment increased the VC, fiber and protein contents by 128.9 %, 202.8 % and 36.7 %, respectively. Metabolomics analysis indicated that in the combined treatment group, the upregulation of tyrosine, pyruvate and N metabolism increased the plant chlorophyll content. The upregulation of S metabolism increases VC synthesis in plants and inhibits ROS accumulation, thus maintaining normal plant growth and development. The upregulation of glutathione and glycine metabolism enhances plant stress resistance. This study will provide a new way to scientifically and rationally evaluate the ecological risk of arsenic and regulate its toxicity.

Diosmin exerts hepatoprotective and antihyperglycemic effects against sodium arsenite-induced toxicity through the modulation of oxidative stress and inflammation in mice

BackgroundChronic exposure to high concentrations of inorganic arsenic (NaAsO2) in drinking water is related to an increase in the risk of liver toxicity and diabetes. Diosmin has various pharmacological properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of diosmin on diabetes and hepatotoxicity caused by NaAsO2. MethodsSixty male 8-week-old NMRI mice, weighing 25 ± 2 g, were randomly selected and put into six groups. The control (Group 1) was treated orally with distilled water, group 2 was treated with diosmin (100 mg/kg, p.o), group 3 received NaAsO2 (10 mg/kg, p.o), and groups 4, 5, 6 received diosmin (25, 50, 100 mg/kg, p.o), respectively and NaAsO2 (10 mg/kg, p.o). After 29 days, fasting blood sugar (FBS) measurement and glucose tolerance test were done. The mice were sacrificed on day 31, and blood and tissue (liver and pancreas) samples were taken. Then, serum and tissue samples were studied for biochemical and histological evaluations. ResultsThe results demonstrated that diosmin ameliorated glucose intolerance and decreased FBS compared to the NaAsO2 group. Diosmin (50 and 100 mg/kg) improved the serum factors of liver function (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase) in the groups receiving NaAsO2. Moreover, increased levels of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in liver tissue induced by NaAsO2 were diminished by diosmin treatment. Administration of diosmin increased total thiol and enzymatic activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase in liver tissue. Furthermore, treatment with diosmin reduced the increase in protein amount of Sirtuin 3 and nuclear factor kappa B in the groups receiving NaAsO2. Also, the liver and pancreas histological lesions induced by NaAsO2 were attenuated by diosmin treatment. ConclusionDiosmin has a preventive effect against hepatotoxicity and diabetes induced by NaAsO2 in mice through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

An Investigation of Inorganic Arsenic Concentration in Whole Rice Grains and Ratio of Perfect Grain in ‘Koshihikari’/

An Investigation of Inorganic Arsenic Concentration in Whole Rice Grains and Ratio of Perfect Grain in ‘Koshihikari’/

Co-variate adjusted associations between serum concentrations of selected perfluoroalkyl substances and urinary concentrations of selected arsenic species.

Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2011-2012 were used to estimate associations of the serum concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), and 2-(N-methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetic acid (Me-PFOSA) with urinary concentrations of total arsenic (UAS), inorganic arsenic (IAS), arsenobetaine (UAB), and dimethyl arsinic acid (UDMA) among US adults aged > = 20years. Concentrations of PFNA were positively associated with all four arsenic variables but statistical significance was observed for IAS only (β = 0.33364, P = 0.04). Concentrations of PFDA were positively associated with UAS (β = 0.20688, P = 0.01), IAS (β = 0.23712, P = 0.02), and UAB (β = 0.26049, P = 0.02). Concentrations of PFUnDA were positively associated with UAS (β = 0.49946, P < 0.01), IAS (β = 0.51782, P < 0.01), UAB (β = 0.62924, P < 0.01), and UDMA (β = 0.26375, P < 0.01). Concentrations of Me-PFOSA with PFAS were inversely associated with every PFAS but statistical significance was observed for UDMA only (β = - 0.05613, P = 0.03). PFOA, PFHxS, and PFOS were, in general, negatively associated with concentrations of all four arsenic variables but without reaching statistical significance. Positive associations of PFDA, PFNA, and PFUnDA with arsenic necessitate investigation about impact of the co-exposure of these PFAS with arsenic and their impact on health. Fluorinated carbon chain length > 8 as opposed to ≤ 8 may have a role in defining associations of PFAS with arsenic.

Prevalence of arsenic contamination in rice and the potential health risks to the Bahamian population—A preliminary study

Rice is among the most important staple foods worldwide. However, the consumption of rice and rice-based food products poses a potential health risk since rice is a paddy crop that is well known to accumulate high concentrations of arsenic (As) in its grain. In The Bahamas, although rice is heavily consumed, it is not grown locally. Instead, all the consumed rice and its derived products are imported. Recent food surveys in the major rice exporting countries have shown that a significant portion of their market rice products is contaminated with As. However, to date, the prevalence of As in the rice foods available in The Bahamas remains unknown. Therefore, in this study, we surveyed the occurrence of As in a selection of rice and rice products that were on sale in the Bahamian market. A total of 21 different rice brands were collected. The concentration of As and the potential health risk were estimated by target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI), and lifetime cancer risk (LCR). Our results showed that only the blue ribbon samples had an estimated inorganic arsenic (iAs) concentration above the World Health Organization (WHO) safety limits (200 μg/kg), which is based on global average consumption. However, when we factor for average rice consumption in The Bahamas, 79% of the rice samples had iAs concentration values indicative of carcinogenic risks and 57% had iAs concentration values that suggested non-carcinogenic health risks. Based on our results, we recommend urgent follow-up studies to further test rice varieties that show the greatest LCR and HI values and to also broaden the study to include more off-brand/generic varieties, cooked rice, and drinking water.

Toward a greener approach to detect inorganic arsenic using the Gutzeit method and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy.

Inorganic arsenic is a carcinogen repeatedly found in water and foods threatening global human health. Prior work applied the Gutzeit method and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to quantify inorganic arsenic based on a harmful chemical, i.e., mercury bromide, to capture the arsine gas. In this project, we explored silver nitrate as an alternative to mercury bromide for the capture and detection of inorganic arsenic. To compare the performance of mercury bromide and silver nitrate, two standard curves were established in the range from 0 to 33.3 µg/L after optimization of reaction conditions such as the quantity of reagents and reaction time. Our result shows silver nitrate-based standard curve had a lower limit of detection and limit of quantification at 1.02 µg/L and 3.40 µg/L, respectively, as compared to the one built upon mercury bromide that has limit of detection of 4.86 µg/L and limit of quantification of 16.2 µg/L. The relative higher sensitivity when using silver nitrate was contributed by the less interfering elements for X-ray fluorescence analysis and thus lower background signals. A commercial apple juice was studied for matrix inference, and the results show 85%-99% recoveries and 7.4%-24.5% relative standard deviation. In conclusion, we demonstrated silver nitrate is a better choice in terms of safety restrictions and detection capability at lower inorganic arsenic concentrations.

Pediatric Practitioner Knowledge of Arsenic in Baby Food.

Rice, one of the first solid foods introduced to infants, is 10 times more absorbent of inorganic arsenic than any other grain. An evaluation has not been performed about practitioner knowledge of arsenic content in infant foods. The purpose of this survey was to determine pediatric practitioners' knowledge of current US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations to limit exposure to arsenic-containing foods in infants. This was a convenience sample of pediatric practitioners conducted as an online survey. The survey contained 19 questions related to knowledge of arsenic-containing foods, FDA recommendations, practitioner recommendations on feeding infants, and demographic information. Participants were recruited using organization list servs. Participants were reminded to complete the survey 2 months after the initial email. An infographic on arsenic was provided at the end of the survey. One hundred thirty-seven individuals completed the survey. The majority of respondents were physicians or pharmacists and have been in practice less than 6 years. Nine percent of respondents (11/123) stated the FDA arsenic limit of 100 ppb. Sixteen percent (20/123) identified white rice as having a lower inorganic arsenic content than brown rice and 27% (36/132) identified that there is no difference in inorganic arsenic content between organic infant rice cereal and conventional infant rice cereal. The vast majority of participants were not aware of the FDA's proposed limit on arsenic consumption or the concern of heavy metals in baby foods. More education is needed to increase knowledge regarding arsenic in baby foods.

Influence of geological faults on dissolved arsenic concentrations in an overexploited aquifer with shallow geothermal heat

Hydrochemical and mineralogical analyses were performed to identify the main processes that contribute to the concentration of total inorganic arsenic (iAs) in groundwater within the northern portion of the Laguna Seca aquifer in Guanajuato State, Mexico. The spatial extent of the study area spans across a large graben with pore-waters that contain the highest dissolved arsenic concentrations in the basin. This scale of study was chosen to test the hypothesis that normal faults act as conduits for rising geothermal waters carrying arsenic into the shallow aquifer that has been historically depressurized by irrigation pumping. The arsenic content in outcrops ranged from 3.5 to 19.5 ppm. The major minerals are quartz, plagioclase, micas, and zeolites. Multivariate cluster and Principal Components Analyses on the chemical composition and temperature of 15 wells in the study area suggest that silicate weathering is the dominant water-rock interaction that explains the observed concentrations of major ions and arsenic in groundwater. The sampled irrigation and municipal wells ranged from 190 to 550 m in depth and had temperatures ranging from 28.3 to 45.2 °C. Cluster II had the highest temperature, and greatest mineralization (total dissolved solids), and it was more influenced by regional flow than Cluster I. The concentration of iAs ranged from 16 to 229 μgL−1, all of the samples exceeded the maximum concentration suggested by the World Health Organization (10 μgL−1). Four samples belonging to Cluster II exceeded the maximum concentration set by Mexican regulations (25 μgL−1) by at least five times. The highest concentration of arsenic in surface rock coincides spatially with Cluster II wells. Geothermal heat and long pore-water-residence times enables the dissolution of silicate minerals which increases the pH (from 7.3 to 9.1) and consequently drives desorption of arsenic from mineral surfaces. During the dry season the iAs content increased in all wells from 6 to 138 μgL−1 compared to the wet season. This could be attributed to the increase in pumping that occurs then. The close proximity of Cluster II wells to newly mapped faults within the graben supports the hypothesis that Cluster II wells intercept regional groundwater flow that ascends through those previously unmapped faults.

Arsenic species and their health risks in edible seaweeds collected along the Chinese coastline

Edible seaweeds with a relatively high total arsenic concentration have been a global concern. As the largest seaweed producer, China contributes about 60 % of the global seaweed production. The present study investigated 20 seaweed species collected from representative seaweed farming sites in the six provinces along the Chinese coastline, of which Saccharina japonica, Undaria pinnatifida, Neopyropia spp., Gracilaria spp., Sargassum fusiforme were listed as the most consumed seaweeds in Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The inorganic arsenic (iAs) concentration in most of the seaweeds was below maximum limits (0.3 mg iAs/kg) as seaweed additives for infant food in the National Food Safety Standard of Pollutants in China (GB2762-2017, 2017), except for the species Sargassum, in which the iAs concentration significantly exceeded the limit and ranged from 15.1 to 83.7 mg/kg. Arsenic speciation in 4 cultivated seaweeds grown in both temperate and subtropical zones is reported for the first time. No significant differences in total As and iAs concentration were identified, except slightly higher total As concentration were found in Saccharina japonica growing in the temperate zone. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of toxic iAs via seaweed consumption was generally below the EFSA CONTAM Panel benchmark dose lower confidence limit (0.3 μg/kg bw/day) except for all Sargassum species where the EDI was significantly higher than 0.3 μg/kg bw/day. Moreover, the first-ever reported data on As speciation indicated very high iAs concentrations in Sargassum hemiphyllum and Sargassum henslowianum. To minimize the food chain iAs exposure, reducing both human intake of Sargassum spp. and the used of Sargassum spp. for animal feed is highly recommended. CapsuleThis study showed that edible seaweed Sargassum spp. consumption may pose a health risk related to inorganic arsenic (iAs) exposure. The risk of iAs exposure via seaweed consumption or livestock is a concern that needs to be monitored. The arsenic accumulation and speciation may be predominantly species-dependent rather than environmental-dependent.

Assessing the risk of human exposure to bioaccessible arsenic from total diet through market food consumption in Chengdu, China.

To assess the daily intake of total arsenic (tAs) and arsenic speciation and their potential health risks, different food groups, including vegetables, rice, meat, viscera, freshwater fish, and seafood from Chengdu, China were analyzed. The concentrations of tAs ranged from 41.3 to 1185μgkg-1 with a median of 238μgkg-1, and 26.0% of tAs in the food groups was of inorganic toxic form. The median concentration of As(V) in rice (184 ± 21.6μgkg-1) was approximately 2 to 6 times higher than those in other food groups. The bioaccessible inorganic arsenic (iAs) concentrations of the food items obtained from the local markets of Chengdu ranged from 1.07 to 24.6μgkg-1 (mean of 6.04μgkg-1). Rice contributed toward the largest amount of daily iAs intake (66.2%). The mean daily iAs intake from vegetable, meat and viscera contributed 10.7%, 12.5% and 6.04% of total iAs intake, respectively. The actual concentration of arsenic in the food exposed to the human body depends on oral bioaccessible fraction. The oral bioaccessibility estimated daily intake (μg kg-1 bw d-1) of tAs and iAs for the residents of Chengdu was 0.32 and 0.16. Health risk assessments carried out based on bioaccessible iAs concentrations showed that the food items were safe for consumption from the iAs perspective.

Toxic elements in Sardina pilchardus and food toxicological significance

ABSTRACT Cd, Hg, and Pb concentrations were investigated in Sardina pilchardus fish. Samples originated from the Atlantic Northeast fishing area 27 and were analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The aim of the study was to estimate the health impact of consumption, based on the concentrations and calculated exposure for each element. Based on the average total arsenic concentration of 3.26 ± 0.39 mg/kg in the samples, the estimated inorganic arsenic content and calculated PTWI suggested that the samples do not pose a health risk for consumers. Cadmium content of the samples was also not considered hazardous, as both the measured concentrations and PTMI values were below the specified limits. Lead concentration exceeded the maximum limit in 73% of the samples, while calculated average weekly intake was below the recommended level. The measured mercury concentrations exceeded the maximum limit in only 5% of the samples.

Arsenic Trioxide Therapy During Pregnancy: ATO and Its Metabolites in Maternal Blood and Amniotic Fluid of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Patients.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is extremely fatal if treatment is delayed. Management of APL in pregnancy is a challenging situation. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is successfully applied to treat APL. ATO can be transformed into different arsenic species [arsenite (AsIII), monomethylated arsenic (MMA, consists of MMAIII and MMAV), dimethylated arsenic (DMA, consists of DMAIII and DMAV), and arsenate (AsV)], which produce different toxic effects. Investigating the maternal and fetal exposure to arsenic species is critical in terms of assessing maternal and fetal outcomes, choice of optimal treatment, and making decisions for attempting to preserve the obstetrical and fetal wellbeing. In this study, maternal blood and amniotic fluid (AF) from APL patients treated with ATO in pregnancy and blood samples of non-pregnant patients were collected. Concentrations of inorganic arsenic (iAs, iAs = AsIII+AsV), MMA, and DMA were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography–hydride generation–atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HPLC–HG–AFS). The difference in arsenic species of plasma between pregnant patients and non-pregnant patients, distribution of arsenic compounds in AF and maternal plasma, and arsenic penetration into AF were explored. The outcomes of pregnant women treated with ATO and their fetus were analyzed. No significant differences in arsenic concentration, percentage, and methylation index [PMI: primary methylation index (MMA/iAs); SMI: secondary methylation index (DMA/MMA)] between pregnant women and non-pregnant women (p > 0.05) were observed. The mean ratios of AF to maternal plasma were as follows: iAs, 2.09; DMA, 1.04; MMA, 0.49; and tAs, 0.98. Abortion rate is higher with the diagnosis at an earlier gestational age, with 0%, 67%, and 100% of pregnancies ending in abortion during the third, second, and first trimester, respectively. The age of the pregnant women, the dose of ATO, and the duration of fetal exposure in utero had no influence on fetal outcomes. All APL women achieved complete remission (CR). Collectively, ATO and its metabolites can easily cross the placenta. Levels and distribution of arsenic species in maternal plasma and AF gave evidence that arsenic species had a different ability to penetrate the placenta into AF (iAs > DMA > MMA) and indicated a relatively high fetal exposure to ATO and its metabolites in utero. Gestational age at diagnosis was more likely to be closely related to fetal outcomes, but had no effects on mother outcomes.