PSIV-B-20 A fecal arsenic excretion pattern in pigs fed arsenic-containing rice bran

Rice bran is a common feed/food stuff for animals and humans; however, it usually contains a substantial amount of arsenic that is a class-I, non-threshold carcinogen to humans. This study was to investigate the fecal arsenic excretion pattern from the pigs fed an arsenic-containing rice bran. Twenty growing gilts (26.3 kg) were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments (n = 6 or 7) with Diets I, II, and III containing 0, 36.7, and 73.5% rice bran, and 0, 306, and 612 ppb arsenic, respectively. The feeding trial lasted 6 weeks, and fresh fecal samples were collected on Days 0, 14, 28, and 42 post-treatments. Fecal arsenic concentrations were analyzed using an ICP-MS protocol standardized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Tobit statistical model was employed for data analysis because some censored values were obtained from the laboratory sample analysis. Results (Table 1) showed that there were no differences in fecal arsenic concentrations from Day 0 through 42 post-treatment in pigs fed Diet I (a control diet). Nevertheless, the fecal arsenic concentration was increased significantly (P < 0.05) on Days 14 and 28 when compared to Day 0 post-treatment with Diet II (a moderate level of rice bran inclusion), and it was further increased (P < 0.05) on Day 42 post-treatment. The fecal arsenic excretion pattern in pigs fed Diet III (a high level of rice bran inclusion) was the same as that in pigs fed Diet II. The dietary treatment effects on fecal arsenic excretion were already reported previously. In short, the results of this study suggest that the fecal arsenic excretion is increased in the first 4 weeks and then further increased around the 6th week since the start of feeding arsenic-containing rice bran. This further increase may be due to the saturation of arsenic retention in pig body.

Identifying the Costs of a Public Health Success: Arsenic Well Water Contamination and Productivity in Bangladesh

We exploit recent molecular genetics evidence on the genetic basis of arsenic excretion and unique information on family links among respondents living in different environments from a large panel survey within a theoretical framework incorporating optimizing behavior to uncover the hidden costs of arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh. We provide for the first time estimates of the effects of the ingestion and retention of inorganic arsenic on direct measures of cognitive and physical capabilities as well as on the schooling attainment, occupational structure, entrepreneurship and incomes of the rural Bangladesh population. We also provide new estimates of the effects of the consumption of foods grown and cooked in arsenic–contaminated water on individual arsenic concentrations. The estimates are based on arsenic biomarkers obtained from a sample of members of rural households in Bangladesh who are participants in a long–term panel survey following respondents and their coresident household members over a period of 26 years.

Selenium-mediated arsenic excretion in mammals: a synchrotron-based study of whole-body distribution and tissue-specific chemistry

Organ and tissue-level studies demonstrate selenium binding to arsenic in vivo in mammals, facilitating excretion.

Variation in response to selenium folic acid and vitamin E in arsenic exposed aerobic flora in rats

Gut bacteria are considered to be body's first line of defense against ingested xenobiotics. Various nutritional and environmental factors play a role in bacterial growth and multiplication. Bacteria exposed to arsenic in high concentration for a long period showed growth inhibition. Influence of nutrition on bacterial growth and multiplication was observed by giving selenium (0.4 ?g/day), vitamin E (1 mg/day), folic acid (200 ?g/day) supplementation. Selenium and vitamin E were able to overcome the inhibitory effect of arsenic on gut flora. Selenium not only increased gut bacterial count, it also increased arsenic excretion in stool. Folic acid could not overcome the inhibitory effect of arsenic on gut flora but there was significant decrease in liver arsenic level suggestive of hepatic mehylation of arsenic. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmb.v4i2.13770 Bangladesh J Med Biochem 2011; 4(2): 13-16