Arsenic accumulation and speciation in freshwater fish living in arsenic-contaminated waters

2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patcharin Jankong ◽  
Cherif Chalhoub ◽  
Norbert Kienzl ◽  
Walter Goessler ◽  
Kevin A. Francesconi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Freshwater Fish ◽  
Muscle Tissue ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Reference Site ◽  
Arsenic Concentration ◽  
Inorganic Arsenic ◽  
Arsenic Species ◽  
Contaminated Sites ◽  
Arsenic Content ◽  
Human Populations

Environmental context. Inorganic arsenic, a well-known human carcinogen, represents a major worldwide environmental problem because contaminated water supplies have lead to widespread human exposure. This study investigates the arsenic content of freshwater fish from arsenic-contaminated and non-contaminated sites in Thailand, and reports high arsenic concentrations and significant amounts of inorganic arsenic in the edible muscle tissue. The data suggest that freshwater fish may represent a significant source of inorganic arsenic to some human populations. Abstract. Striped snakehead (Channa striata), carnivorous freshwater fish that serve as popular food in Thailand, were collected from a reference site (1.4 µg As L–1) and from two arsenic-contaminated ponds (Pond A, 550 µg As L–1; Pond B, 990 µg As L–1) in southern Thailand and analysed for arsenic by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) and for arsenic species by HPLC-ICPMS performed on aqueous methanol extracts of muscle, liver and gill (n = 3 fish from each site). Mean total arsenic concentration in muscle tissue of C. striata collected from the reference site was 1.9 µg As g–1 (dry mass) while fish from the contaminated sites contained 13.1 µg As g–1 (Pond A) and 22.2 µg As g–1 (Pond B). Liver and gill tissues showed similar increasing arsenic concentrations on going from the reference site to Ponds A and B, with Pond B showing the highest levels. Speciation analysis on the three tissues showed that, although arsenate was the major extractable arsenical in reference fish (e.g. 0.73 µg As g–1 in muscle tissue), dimethylarsinate was by far the dominant arsenic species in fish from the two contaminated sites. Three non-carnivorous fish species (Danio regina, Rasbora heteromorpha and Puntius orphoides), collected from Pond B only, had lower arsenic concentrations (7.9–11.3 µg As g–1 in muscle tissue) than did C. striata, and contained appreciable amounts of trimethylarsine oxide together with two other major arsenicals, arsenate and dimethylarsinate, and smaller quantities of arsenite and methylarsonate. The study shows for the first time a clear effect of water arsenic concentrations on natural fish tissue arsenic concentrations, and is the first report of a freshwater fish species attaining arsenic concentrations comparable with those found in marine fish species. Furthermore, the high concentrations of toxic inorganic arsenic (predominantly arsenate) in the muscle tissue of the edible fish C. striata have human health implications and warrant wider investigations.

scholarly journals Total Arsenic Determination and Speciation in Infant Food Products by Ion Chromatography-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

2004 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 244-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nohora P Vela ◽  
Douglas T Heitkemper
Keyword(s):  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Inorganic Arsenic ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Arsenic Species ◽  
Arsenic Content ◽  
Infant Food ◽  
Sweet Potatoes ◽  
Green Beans ◽  
Inductively Coupled

Abstract Health risk associated with dietary arsenic intake may be different for infants and adults. Seafood is the main contributor to arsenic intake for adults while terrestrial-based food is the primary source for infants. Processed infant food products such as rice-based cereals, mixed rice/formula cereals, milk-based infant formula, applesauce and purée of peaches, pears, carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans, and squash were evaluated for total and speciated arsenic content. Arsenic concentrations found in rice-based cereals (63–320 ng/g dry weight) were similar to those reported for raw rice. Results for the analysis of powdered infant formula by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) indicated a narrow and low arsenic concentration range (12 to 17 ng/g). Arsenic content in purée infant food products, including rice cereals, fruits, and vegetables, varies from <1 to 24 ng/g wet weight. Sample treatment with trifluoroacetic acid at 100°C were an efficient and mild method for extraction of arsenic species present in different food matrixes as compared to alternative methods that included sonication and accelerated solvent extraction. Extraction recoveries from 94 to 128% were obtained when the summation of species was compared to total arsenic. The ion chromatography (IC)-ICP-MS method selected for arsenic speciation allowed for the quantitative determination of inorganic arsenic [As(III) + As(V)], dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), and methylarsonic acid (MMA). Inorganic arsenic and DMA are the main species found in rice-based and mixed rice/formula cereals, although traces of MMA were also detected. Inorganic arsenic was present in freeze-dried sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, and peaches. MMA and DMA were not detected in these samples. Arsenic species in squash, pears, and applesauce were not detected above the method detection limit [5 ng/g dry weight for As(III), MMA, and DMA and 10 ng/g dry weight for As(V)].

Distribution of arsenic species in an open seagrass ecosystem: relationship to trophic groups, habitats and feeding zones

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Price ◽  
W. Maher ◽  
J. Kirby ◽  
F. Krikowa ◽  
E. Duncan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inorganic Arsenic ◽  
Arsenic Species ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Arsenic Content ◽  
Trophic Groups ◽  
Marine Systems ◽  
Seagrass Ecosystem ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Arsenic Source

Environmental contextAlthough arsenic occurs at high concentrations in many marine systems, the influencing factors are poorly understood. The arsenic content of sediments, detritus, suspended particles and organisms have been investigated from different trophic levels in an open seagrass ecosystem. Total arsenic concentrations and arsenic species were organism-specific and determined by a variety of factors including exposure, diet and the organism physiology. AbstractThe distribution and speciation of arsenic within an open marine seagrass ecosystem in Lake Macquarie, NSW, Australia is described. Twenty-six estuarine species were collected from five trophic groups (autotrophs, suspension-feeders, herbivores, detritivores and omnivores, and carnivores). Sediment, detritus, epibiota and micro-invertebrates were also collected and were classified as arsenic source samples. There were no significant differences in arsenic concentrations between trophic groups and between pelagic and benthic feeders. Benthic-dwelling species generally contained higher arsenic concentrations than pelagic-dwelling species. Sediments, seagrass blades and detritus contained mostly inorganic arsenic (50–90 %) and arsenoribosides (10–26 %), with some methylarsonate (9.4–14.6 %) and dimethyarsinate (7.9–9.7 %) in seagrass blades and detritus. Macroalgae contained mostly arsenoribosides (40–100 %). Epibiota and other animals contained predominately arsenobetaine (63–100 %) and varying amounts of dimethyarsinate (0–26 %), monomethyarsonate (0–14.6 %), inorganic arsenic (0–2 %), trimethylarsenic oxide (0–6.6 %), arsenocholine (0–12 %) and tetramethylarsonium ion (0–4.5 %). It was concluded that arsenic concentrations and species within the organisms of the Lake Macquarie ecosystem are species-specific and determined by a variety of factors including exposure, diet and the physiology of the organisms.

scholarly journals The Bioaccumulation and Tissue Distribution of Arsenic Species in Tilapia

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Pei ◽  
Jinxing Zuo ◽  
Xiaoyan Wang ◽  
Jingyu Yin ◽  
Liping Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Human Health Risk ◽  
Arsenic Concentration ◽  
Inorganic Arsenic ◽  
Arsenic Species ◽  
Total Arsenic ◽  
Organic Form ◽  
Exposure Pathway ◽  
Organic Arsenic

Arsenic is a public concern due to its widespread occurrence and carcinogenicity. Consumption of arsenic-contaminated fish is an important exposure pathway for human health. This study focused on understanding how exposure to arsenic-contaminated fish is informative to human health risk assessment. While the bioaccumulation and tissue distributions of total arsenic concentration in fish are commonly reported, there are limited studies related to the time-course of arsenic species in various tissues. Using the Tilapia as a case, this study aimed to investigate the bioaccumulation and tissue distributions (liver, gastrointestinal (GI), muscle, and gill) of arsenic species in freshwater fish via diet-borne inorganic arsenic exposure. In particular, the Tilapia were exposed to arsenic (III) and As(V) for 32 days. The accumulation of arsenic in all tissues linearly increased with time in the first 10 days’ exposure, while the arsenic levels remained stable in the following 20 days’ exposure. The accumulation of arsenic in tissue followed the sequence of intestine > liver > gill > muscle. Meanwhile, more than 90% of arsenic was converted into organic form in liver, gill, and muscle, while organic arsenic contributed about 30–80% to the total arsenic in the GI. The percentage of organic form in muscle is the highest, followed by gill, liver, and intestine, and arsenobetaine is the main form of organic arsenic. While the exposure profiles of As(III) and As(V) are quite similar, the absorption rate of As(V) is relatively higher than that of As(III). Information provided here can be instrumental for exposure assessment and risk management for arsenic in aquatic environment.

Distribution and Speciation of Arsenic in Temperate Marine Saltmarsh Ecosystems

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Foster ◽  
William Maher ◽  
Anne Taylor ◽  
Frank Krikowa ◽  
Kristy Telford
Keyword(s):  
Arsenic Concentration ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Inorganic Arsenic ◽  
Arsenic Species ◽  
Total Arsenic ◽  
Marine Animals ◽  
Visceral Mass ◽  
Arsenic Uptake ◽  
Significant Negative Relationship ◽  
Root Tissues

Environmental Context. The pathways by which arsenic is accumulated and transferred in aquatic ecosystems are relatively unknown. Examination of whole marine ecosystems rather than individual organisms provides greater insights into the biogeochemical cycling of arsenic. Saltmarshes with low ecological diversity are an important terrestrial–marine interface about which little is known regarding arsenic concentrations and species distribution. This study examines the cycling of arsenic within Australian saltmarsh ecosystems to further understand its distribution and trophic transfer. Abstract. This paper reports the distribution of total arsenic and arsenic species in saltmarsh ecosystems located in south-east Australia. We also investigated the relationship between arsenic, iron, and phosphorus concentrations in saltmarsh halophytes and associated sediment. Total mean arsenic concentrations in saltmarsh plants, S. quinqueflora and S. australis, for leaves ranged from 0.03 ± 0.05 to 0.67 ± 0.48 μg g−1 and 0.03 ± 0.02 to 0.08 ± 0.06 μg g−1, respectively, and for roots ranged from 2 ± 2 to 6 ± 12 μg g−1 and 0.39 ± 0.20 to 0.57 ± 1.06 μg g−1 respectively. Removal of iron plaque from the roots reduced the arsenic concentration variability to 0.40–0.79 µg g−1 and 0.95–1.05 µg g−1 for S. quinqueflora and S. australis roots respectively. Significant differences were found between locations for total arsenic concentrations in plant tissues and these differences could be partially attributed to differences in sediment arsenic concentrations between locations. For S. quinqueflora but not S. australis there was a strong correlation between arsenic and iron concentrations in the leaf and root tissues. A significant negative relationship between arsenic and phosphorus concentrations was found for S. quinqueflora leaves but not roots. Total mean arsenic concentrations in salt marsh animal tissues (7 ± 2–21 ± 13 µg g−1) were consistent with those found for other marine animals. The concentration of total arsenic in gastropods and amphipods could be partially explained by the concentration of total arsenic in the dominant saltmarsh plant S. quinqueflora. Of the extractable arsenic, saltmarsh plants were dominated by arsenic(iii), arsenic(v) (66–99%), and glycerol arsenoribose (17–35%). Arsenobetaine was the dominant extractable arsenic species in the gastropods Salinator soilda (84%) and Ophicardelus ornatus (89%) and the crab Neosarmatium meinerti (89%). Amphipods contained mainly arsenobetaine (44%) with some phosphate arsenoribose (23%). Glycerol trimethyl arsonioribose was found in both gastropods (0.7–0.8%) and the visceral mass of N. meinerti (0.1%). These results show that arsenic uptake into plants from uncontaminated saltmarsh environments maybe dependent on plant iron uptake and inhibited by high phosphorus concentrations. Arsenic in saltmarsh plants is mainly present as inorganic arsenic, but arsenic in animals that eat plant detritus is present as organo arsenic species, primarily arsenobetaine and arsenosugars. The presence of glycerol trimethyl arsonioribose poses the question of whether trimethylated arsonioriboses are transitory intermediates in the formation of arsenobetaine.

scholarly journals Groundwater Irrigation and Arsenic Speciation in Rice in Cambodia

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Murphy ◽  
Kongkea Phan ◽  
Emmanuel Yumvihoze ◽  
Kim Irvine ◽  
Ken Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arsenic Speciation ◽  
Arsenic Concentration ◽  
Arsenic Exposure ◽  
Inorganic Arsenic ◽  
Arsenic Species ◽  
Dimethylarsinic Acid ◽  
Total Arsenic ◽  
Groundwater Irrigation ◽  
Financial Interests ◽  
Rice Consumption

Background. Arsenic bioaccumulation in rice is a global concern affecting food security and public health. Objective. The present study examined arsenic species in rice in Cambodia to characterize health risks with rice consumption and to clarify uncertainties with Codex guidelines. Methods. The present study collected 61 well water samples, 105 rice samples, 70 soil samples, and conducted interviews with 44 families in Preak Russey near the Bassac River and Kandal Province along the Mekong River in Cambodia. Analyses of metals, total arsenic and arsenic species were conducted in laboratories in Canada, Cambodia and Singapore. Results. Unlike in Bangladesh, rice with the highest total arsenic concentrations in Cambodia contains mostly organic arsenic, dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), which is unregulated and much less toxic than inorganic arsenic. The present study found that storing surface runoff in ditches prior to irrigation can significantly reduce the arsenic concentration in rice. It is possible to remove > 95% of arsenic from groundwater prior to irrigation with natural reactions. Conclusions. The provision of high quality drinking water in 2015 to Preak Russey removed about 95% of the dietary inorganic arsenic exposure. The extremes in arsenic toxicity that are still obvious in these farmers should become less common. Rice from the site with the highest documented levels of arsenic in soils and water in Cambodia passes current Codex guidelines for arsenic. Informed Consent. Obtained Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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