Removal of Arsenic from Chlamys farreri with Different Methods

Arsenic is commonly found in seafood,and the toxicity of different speciation varies widely.Therefore,there is an urgent need to reduce the content and analyze the speciation of arsenic to improve the safety of seafood.In this study,arsenic was removed from Chlamys farreri by adding ferric ions and sodium citrate or reducing the salinity of seawater.Then,the speciation of arsenic was analyzed.The results showed that the removal rates of arsenic were 20%,23%,24%and 18%when C.farreri individuals were treated with 0.1 g L^(−1)Fe^(3+),0.4 g L^(−1),0.6 g L^(−1)sodium citrate or decreasing seawater salinity to 17 within 48 h,respectively.Furthermore,it was detected that the arsenic speciation in the C.farreri was mainly polar arsenic,and among the polar arsenic was mainly arsenic betaine.These results indicated that the removal of arsenic can be achieved by adding the removal agent or changing the seawater salinity under the experimental conditions.The speciation of arsenic did not change during the removal process and it was mainly excreted in the speciation of arsenic betaine.

Arsenic Exposure and Association with Hepatitis E IgG Antibodies

Arsenic is a known toxic chemical, has immuno-modulatory properties, and can change the susceptibility of infection in humans. Acute hepatitis E is an infectious disease;it can be self-limiting, but in severe cases, can cause acute-on-chronic liver failure. The presence of IgG anti-HEV (hepatitis E IgG antibody) in blood represents a past hepatitis E infection in an individual. Very few studies have investigated the association between arsenic levels and hepatitis E seroconversion in humans. The primary objective of this study was to assess the relationship between total urinary arsenic and speciated urinary arsenic (urinary arsenous acid, urinary arsenic acid, urinary arsenobetaine, urinary arsenocholine, urinary dimethylarsinic acid, urinary monomethylarsonic acid) and the presence of IgG anti-HEV. The 2011-2012, 2013-2014, and 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III data sets were analyzed, with participants aged 20 years and older (n = 7061). We used weighted logistic regression to determine the association between total and speciated urinary arsenic concentrations and IgG anti-HEV. For each analyte considered, a separate weighted logistic regression model was fitted. Each of these models regressed log-transformed analyte levels on the log-odds of the presence of IgG Anti-HEV. To evaluate the relationships between the urinary arsenic measurements, pairwise Pearson correlation coefficients were determined for each of the urinary arsenic measurements. Of the human subjects included, 6628 (93.9%) were negative for IgG Anti-HEV while 433 (6.1%) were positive for IgG anti-HEV. Total urinary arsenic was associated with 1.161 times greater odds of IgG anti-HEV (95% CI: [1.035, 1.303]) for each unit increase in concentration on a log-scale. For speciated urinary arsenic measurements, the odds ratios and 95% CI’s were: arsenobetanine 1.168 [1.075, 1.270], arsenocholine 1.201 [0.944, 1.529], dimethylarsinic acid 1.183 [1.009, 1.386], monomethylacrsonic acid 1.095 [0.915, 1.310], aresnous acid 0.907 [0.762, 1.079], and arsenic acid 1.951 [0.905, 4.209]. Our analysis indicates that total urinary arsenic, arsenobetanine, and dimethylarsinic acid are significantly associated with the odds of the presence of IgG anti-HEV. Future prospective studies are required to evaluate the association between hepatitis E infection and arsenic exposures.

Concentration and speciation of arsenic in an insect feeding on the leaves of Pteris vittata

The development of an effective and green bioinsecticide is a research hotspot.This study demonstrated the possibility of using an arsenic(As)hyperaccumulator as a bioinsecticide.When the As concentration in the Pteris vittata fronds exceeded 138 mg kg^(–1),the larva of the hawk moth(Theretra clotho)displayed apparent preference to lower-As-concentration P.vittata fronds.The As concentration in the larva body was as high as 850 mg kg^(–1).Such high concentration of As in the larva body might have been the case that T.clotho lacks a process to exclude As.The larval frass showed an As concentration of only 1%–4%of that in the larva body.The predominant As species in the larva body and frass was As(III)-SH.The percentage of As(III)-SH was slightly higher in the frass than that in the larval body.Chelation with thiols may be a universal detoxification mechanism for As in both plants and insects.In general,the adoption of P.vittata as a bioinsecticide should be feasible.However,the exact processes to achieve this goal still need further study.The mechanism of different animals to detoxify As is another interesting research topic.

Alcohol consumption promotes arsenic absorption but reduces tissue arsenic accumulation in mice

Alcohol consumption alters gut microflora and damages intestinal tight junction barriers,which may affect arsenic(As)oral bioavailability.In this study,mice were exposed to arsenate in the diet(6μg/g)over a 3-week period and gavaged daily with Chinese liquor(0.05 or 0.10 mL per mouse per day).Following ingestion,78.0%and 72.9%of the total As intake was absorbed and excreted via urine when co-exposed with liquor at daily doses of 0.05 or 0.10 mL,significantly greater than when As was supplied alone(44.7%).Alcohol co-exposure significantly altered gut microbiota but did not significantly alter As biotransformation in the intestinal tract or tissue.Significantly lower relative mRNA expression was observed for genes encoding for tight junctions in the ileum of liquor co-exposed mice,contributing to greater As bioavailability attributable to enhanced As absorption via the intestinal paracellular pathway.However,As concentration in the liver,kidney,and intestinal tissue of liquortreated mice was decreased by 24.4%-42.6%,27.5%-38.1%,and 28.1%-48.9%compared to control mice.This was likely due to greater renal glomerular filtration rate induced by alcohol,as suggested by significantly lower expression of genes encoding for renal tight junctions.In addition,in mice gavaged daily with 0.05 mL liquor,the serum antidiuretic hormone level was significantly lower than control mice(2.83±0.59 vs.5.40±1.10 pg/mL),suggesting the diuretic function of alcohol consumption,which may facilitate As elimination via urine.These results highlight that alcohol consumption has a significant impact on the bioavailability and accumulation of As.

Arsenic biotransformation and an arsenite Sadenosylmethionine methyltransferase in plankton

Arsenic(As)is a well-recognized toxicant and carcinogen.Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic causes a range of human cancers(e.g.,skin,bladder,and lung)and increases the risk of developing diabetes,hypertension,and cardiovascular and neurological diseases.The prevalence of arsenic species and the severity of their health effects continue to drive and demand for extensive research(Carlin et al.,2016).

Arsenic species in electronic cigarettes:Determination and potential health risk

Human exposure to contaminants from electronic cigarettes(e-cigarettes)and the associated health effects are poorly understood.There has been no report on the speciation of arsenic in e-liquid(solution used for e-cigarettes)and aerosols.We report here determination of arsenic species in e-liquids and aerosols generated from vaping the e-liquid.Seventeen e-liquid samples of major brands,purchased from local and online stores in Canada and China,were analyzed for arsenic species using high-performance liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.Aerosols condensed from vaping the eliquids were also analyzed and compared for arsenic species.Six arsenic species were detected,including inorganic arsenate(iAsⅤ),arsenite(iAsⅢ),monomethylarsonic acid(MMA),and three new arsenic species not reported previously.In e-liquids,iAsⅢwas detected in 59%,iAsⅤin 94%,and MMA in 47%of the samples.In the condensate of aerosols from vaping the e-liquids,iAsⅢwas detected in 100%,iAsv in 88%,and MMA in 13%of the samples.Inorganic arsenic species were predominant in e-liquids and aerosols of e-cigarettes.The concentration of iAsⅢin the condensate of aerosols(median 3.27μg/kg)was significantly higher than that in the e-liquid(median 1.08μg/kg)samples.The concentration of inorganic arsenic in the vaping air was approximately 3.4μg/m3,which approaches to the permissible exposure limit(10μg/m3)set by the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA).According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s unit risk factor(4.3×10-3 perμg/m3)for inhalation exposure to inorganic arsenic in the air,the estimated excess lung cancer risk from lifetime exposure to inorganic arsenic in the ecigarette vaping air(3.4μg/m3),assuming e-cigarette vaping at 1%of the time,is as high as1.5×10-4.These results raise health concerns over the exposure to arsenic from electronic cigarettes.

Experimental study on the uptake and effects of arsenic originated from poultry litter on the growth of Brassica napus in greenhouse pot cultivation and health risk assessment

Organoarsenics are widely used as growth promoters in poultry industry,resulting in arsenic(As)accumulation in poultry litter.A greenhouse pot study was implemented to investigate the fate of arsenic originated from poultry litter and their effects on the growth of Brassica napus(oilseed rape),and assess their potential health risks.Five poultry litter application rates(0,5%,10%,20%and 40%)were used,dividing into two groups:one for soil incubation(SI)and the other for plant cultivation(PC).Experimental results indicated that the total arsenic for composted poultry litter was(10.94±0.23)mg/kg,As(V)and As(III)decreased while methylated arsenic increased after 21 d in SI and PC treatments.Seed germination rates were negatively correlated with monomethylarsenic acid(MMA,R2=0.63,p<0.05).The length and biomass of roots and shoots were significantly inhibited by poultry litter,but plant length of 5%treatments was slightly stimulated.Within an average weekly intake of 0.5 kg Brassica napuss,the risk quotient(RQ)values induced from roots nearly all surpassed the acceptable limit(1),were two orders magnitude higher than shoots.According to the potential risk to order,child exhibited the highest risk,adolescent ranked secondly,and adult exhibited the lowest risk.Hence,people should better avoid intake Brassica napus roots to reduce arsenic potential risk.