Effects of Organic Arsenic Compounds on Tissue Enzymes and Proteins and on Tissue Metabolism

Nature ◽  
1947 ◽  
Vol 159 (4029) ◽  
pp. 97-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. GORDON ◽  
J. H. QUASTEL
Keyword(s):  
Arsenic Compounds ◽  
Tissue Metabolism ◽  
Organic Arsenic

Characterization of organic arsenic compounds in bivalves

1992 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 343-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuyuki Shibata ◽  
Masatoshi Morita
Keyword(s):  
Arsenic Compounds ◽  
Organic Arsenic

scholarly journals Arsenic speciation in food chains from mid-Atlantic hydrothermal vents

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivien F. Taylor ◽  
Brian P. Jackson ◽  
Matthew R. Siegfried ◽  
Jana Navratilova ◽  
Kevin A. Francesconi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Hydrothermal Vents ◽  
Arsenic Speciation ◽  
Inorganic Arsenic ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Arsenic Compounds ◽  
Marine Animals ◽  
Δ13c And Δ15n ◽  
Organic Arsenic

Environmental contextArsenic occurs in marine organisms at high levels and in many chemical forms. A common explanation of this phenomenon is that algae play the central role in accumulating arsenic by producing arsenic-containing sugars that are then converted into simpler organic arsenic compounds found in fish and other marine animals. We show that animals in deep-sea vent ecosystems, which are uninhabited by algae, contain the same organic arsenic compounds as do pelagic animals, indicating that algae are not the only source of these compounds. AbstractArsenic concentration and speciation were determined in benthic fauna collected from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge hydrothermal vents. The shrimp species, Rimicaris exoculata, the vent chimney-dwelling mussel, Bathymodiolus azoricus, Branchipolynoe seepensis, a commensal worm of B. azoricus and the gastropod Peltospira smaragdina showed variations in As concentration and in stable isotope (δ13C and δ15N) signature between species, suggesting different sources of As uptake. Arsenic speciation showed arsenobetaine to be the dominant species in R. exoculata, whereas in B. azoricus and B. seepensis arsenosugars were most abundant, although arsenobetaine, dimethylarsinate and inorganic arsenic were also observed, along with several unidentified species. Scrape samples from outside the vent chimneys covered with microbial mat, which is a presumed food source for many vent organisms, contained high levels of total As, but organic species were not detectable. The formation of arsenosugars in pelagic environments is typically attributed to marine algae, and the pathway to arsenobetaine is still unknown. The occurrence of arsenosugars and arsenobetaine in these deep sea organisms, where primary production is chemolithoautotrophic and stable isotope analyses indicate food sources are of vent origin, suggests that organic arsenicals can occur in a foodweb without algae or other photosynthetic life.

Current Perspectives in Arsenic Environmental and Biological Research

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin A. Francesconi
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Fresh Water ◽  
Environmental Chemistry ◽  
Biological Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Arsenic Content ◽  
Biological Chemistry ◽  
Arsenic Compounds ◽  
Environmental Behaviour ◽  
Organic Arsenic

Environmental Context. Arsenic occurs in rock, fresh water and seawater. Organic arsenic compounds are found as natural constituents of many organisms and, because some, e.g. seafood, are consumed by humans, there is ongoing health interest in their arsenic content. Thio-arsenicals, a newly discovered group of arsenic compounds, may be integral to understanding the environmental behaviour of arsenic. This paper reviews recent research in arsenic environmental chemistry and discusses ideas intended to stimulate future research in this area. Abstract. Recent results in the field of arsenic environmental and biological chemistry are presented, in particular the relevance of the discoveries to issues of human health are discussed.

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