Studies for Intervention and Effect Assessment on Arsenism

Chronic exposed to high arsenic via drinking water is worldwide public health problem. A large number of epidemiological studies showed that exposed to arsenic cause the human body skin lesions and also induce cancer, cardiovascular and other kind of diseases. So arsenism not only affect the person’s work capability and life quality but also result in economic losses and mental suffering. How to prevent and control the effects of high arsenic? What intervention is more important and necessary for arsenism? How to scientifically assess the interventions effect of short-term and long-term? Through a systematic follow-up investigation in different high arsenic regions in Inner Mongolia, the environmental arsenic and human body internal arsenic exposure were analyzed, the clinical characteristics and signs of arsenism patients were examined. We established the evaluation system of intervention and control measures for population exposed to high arsenic. This evaluation system and control measures included government and exposed population. For government, change water supply and keep it work well and health education is very important. For exposed population, improving the diet and treating the symptoms or signs related to arsenic is more necessary. Arsenic in human body such as nail or urine sample arsenic must be reduced to normal value and this index show that the subject if still or not expose to high arsenic.

Investigation and Analysis on Current Situation of Coal-Burning Fluorosis Prevalence

Objective: The purpose of the paper is to provide the result from investigation on the current situation of coal-burning fluorosis prevalence in Chongqing City and make an assessment on the prevention and curing measures. Method: The Dean’s Method is applied to investigate on the fluorotic teeth of locally-born children aged between 8 to 12;investigate how modified cooking stoves are utilized by households and how food maize and hot pepper are being dried;and test the urinary fluorine content and pepper fluorine content. Result: The investigations show that, in the 661 villages with illness history from the 100 townships of 13 districts in Chongqing City, 11.28% (7464/ 66,162) of the children aged between 8 and 12 suffer from dental fluorosis;the stoves modified rate, qualified rate of modified stoves, and correct utilization rate of qualified modified stoves are respectively 100%, 98.82%, and 99.45%;and food maize and hot pepper’s drying rates are respectively 99.88% and 99.75%. Conclusion: The result shows that the coal-burning type fluorosis prevalence in the endemic area of Chongqing City has decreased dramatically, the preventive measure is effectively implemented, and a long-term preventive mechanism has preliminarily been established.

Analysis the Results of Control and Elimination of Coal-Burning-Borne Endemic Fluorosis in Chongqing City

Objective: Discuss the analysis of the results of control and elimination of coal-burning fluorosis in Chongqing, and evaluate the effect of prevention and control. Methods: Dean’s method was used to investigate the fluorosis for the local children whose ages ranged from 8 to 12 years old, the use of improved stoves in residential households, the drying of corn and pepper for human consumption, and the results were evaluated and discussed according to the national standard for the control and elimination of coal-burning fluorosis. Results: The prevalence rate of dental fluorosis borne-disease in children whose ages ranged from 8 to 12 years old was about 11.28% in 661 historically diseased villages in 100 townships and in 13 districts and counties of Chongqing city. The correct utilization rates of improved stoves, qualified improved stoves, and qualified stoves were 100%, 98.82%, and 99.45%, respectively. The correct drying rates of corn and pepper for human consumption were 99.88% and 99.75% respectively. There are 24 uncontrolled villages, 225 controlled villages, and 412 villages in eliminated disease zones in administrative villages. There are 4 villages and counties in uncontrolled, 4 in controlled, and 5 eliminated areas in districts and counties. Conclusion: Fluorosis borne-disease caused by coal-burning in Chongqing has reached the control and elimination targets of the twelfth Five-year plan.

Recycling arsenic-containing bio-leaching residue after thermal treatment in cemented paste backfill:Structure modification,binder properties and environmental assessment

The substantial arsenic(As)content present in arsenic-containing bio-leaching residue(ABR)presents noteworthy environ-mental challenges attributable to its inherent instability and susceptibility to leaching.Given its elevated calcium sulfate content,ABR exhibits considerable promise for industrial applications.This study delved into the feasibility of utilizing ABR as a source of sulfates for producing super sulfated cement(SSC),offering an innovative binder for cemented paste backfill(CPB).Thermal treatment at varying temperatures of 150,350,600,and 800℃ was employed to modify ABR’s performance.The investigation encompassed the examination of phase transformations and alterations in the chemical composition of As within ABR.Subsequently,the hydration characteristics of SSC utilizing ABR,with or without thermal treatment,were studied,encompassing reaction kinetics,setting time,strength development,and microstructure.The findings revealed that thermal treatment changed the calcium sulfate structure in ABR,consequently impacting the resultant sample performance.Notably,calcination at 600℃ demonstrated optimal modification effects on both early and long-term strength attributes.This enhanced performance can be attributed to the augmented formation of reaction products and a densified micro-structure.Furthermore,the thermal treatment elicited modifications in the chemical As fractions within ABR,with limited impact on the As immobilization capacity of the prepared binders.

Distribution and Contamination of Arsenic in Fish, Gastropods and Bivalves in the Aby and Tendo Lagoons in East of Ivory Coast

Lagoons are ecosystems for biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal communities. The main objective of the study was to analyze the variability of arsenic concentrations in gastropods and bivalves in the Aby and Tendo lagoons, taking into account spatial, seasonal and hydrological variations. The study was carried out in four stages spread over two successive hydroclimatic cycles, including two seasons during the rainy season and two more during the dry season. The samples were taken in two areas of the Aby and Tendo lagoons. Arsenic levels were measured by ICP-MS. The results showed that mean arsenic concentrations in the muscles of organisms in Aby Lagoon ranged from 0.01 to 1.26 μg As/g, with a mean and median of 0.17 and 0.06 μg As/g, respectively. Fish had the highest levels of arsenic, followed by crustaceans, while molluscs and plants had lower and comparable concentrations of As. Arsenic concentrations in tilapia and jawbones varied significantly between sites and seasons, with higher concentrations at Tendo and during the rainy season. Arsenic concentrations in gastropods and bivalves were significantly higher than those of other species, with averages of 0.74 and 1.03 mg As/kg, respectively.

Multiple roles of arsenic compounds in phase separation and membraneless organelles formation determine their therapeutic efficacy in tumors

Arsenic compounds are widely used for the therapeutic intervention of multiple diseases.Ancient pharmacologists discovered the medicinal utility of these highly toxic substances,and modern pharmacologists have further recognized the specific active ingredients in human diseases.In particular,Arsenic trioxide(ATO),as a main component,has therapeutic effects on various tumors(including leukemia,hepatocellular carcinoma,lung cancer,etc.).However,its toxicity limits its efficacy,and controlling the toxicity has been an important issue.Interestingly,recent evidence has pointed out the pivotal roles of arsenic compounds in phase separation and membraneless organelles formation,which may determine their toxicity and therapeutic efficacy.Here,we summarize the arsenic compoundsregulating phase separation and membraneless organelles formation.We further hypothesize their potential involvement in the therapy and toxicity of arsenic compounds,highlighting potential mechanisms underlying the clinical application of arsenic compounds.

A new approach for recycling arsenic and tin from low-grade tin middlings using a self-sulfurization roasting

Massive amounts of low-grade tin middlings have been produced from tin tailings,in which arsenic and tin are worthy to be recycled.Owing to high sulfur content in these tin middlings,a novel self-sulfurization roasting was proposed to transform,separate and recover arsenic and tin in this research.There was no extra curing agent to be added,which decreased the formation of pollutant S-containing gas.The self-sulfurization process involved a two-stage roasting of reduction followed by sulfurization.First in reduction roasting,FeAsS decomposed to FeS and As and the As then transformed to As_(4)(g)and As_(4)S_(4)(g),via which the arsenic was separated and recovered.The arsenic content in the first residue could be decreased to 0.72 wt.%.Accompanied with it,the FeS was firstly oxidized to Fe_(1−x)S and then to SO_(2)(g)by the coexisted Fe_(2)O_(3),and finally reduced and combined with the independent Fe_(2)O_(3)to form Fe_(1−x)S.In the followed sulfurization roasting,the Fe_(1−x)S sulfurized SnO_(2)to SnS(g),due to which tin could be recovered and its content in the second residue decreased to 0.01 wt.%.This study provided an efficient method to separate and recover arsenic and tin from low-grade tin middlings.

Roles of Aqueous Extract of Marigold on Arsenic-Induced Oxidative Damage in Pancreatic Islet β-Cells

Roles of Marigold extracts (ME) on arsenic trioxide (ATO)-induced oxidative damage to pancreatic β-cells need to be further elucidated. In this study, NIT-1 cells were treated with different concentrations of and/or ATO, following by the cell viability was detected by CCK8 assay. Then, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, lipid peroxide (MDA) contents and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured with a fluorescence probe method and colorimetric assay, respectively. The apoptosis rate and morphology was detected and observed with hoechst 33,258 staining assay. The mRNA levels and protein expressions of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction and protein immunoblotting assay, respectively. Our results indicated that Co-treatment with ME and ATO exacerbated the cell viability decreasing reduced by ATO, while the addition of ME after ATO treatment effectively promote the recovery of ATO reduced survival rates. The ATO group increased apoptosis (P P β-cells by modulating the activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Arsenic and fluoride co-enrichment of groundwater in the loess areas and associated human health risks:A case study of Dali County in the Guanzhong Basin

This study aims to reveal the occurrence and origin of typical groundwater with high arsenic and fluoride concentrations in the loess area of the Guanzhong Basin—a Neogene faulted basin.Key findings are as follows:(1)Groundwater samples with high arsenic and fluoride concentrations collected from the loess area and the terraces of the Weihe River accounted for 26%and 30%,respectively,of the total samples,with primary hydrochemical type identified as HCO_(3)-Na.The karst and sand areas exhibit relatively high groundwater quality,serving as preferred sources for water supply.It is recommended that local governments fully harness groundwater in these areas;(2)groundwater with high arsenic and fluoride concentrations in the loess area and the alluvial plain of rivers in Dali County is primarily distributed within the Guanzhong Basin,which represents the drainage zone of groundwater;(3)arsenic and fluoride in groundwater originate principally from natural and anthropogenic sources;(4)the human health risk assessments reveal that long-term intake of groundwater with high arsenic and fluoride concentrations pose cancer or non-cancer risks,which are more serious to kids compared to adults.This study provides a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of groundwater with high arsenic and fluoride concentrations in loess areas.

Feasibility Evaluation of Using Biochar-based Permeable Reactive Barrier for the Remediation of Mercury and Arsenic Composite Polluted Water Bodies

This study employed a modified biochar material to construct a permeable reactive barrier(PRB)for the treatment of water bodies polluted with mercury and arsenic.The experimental results demonstrated that the addition of goethite-modified biochar significantly enhanced the remediation efficiency of As(III),achieving a maximum removal rate of 100%.Conversely,pure biochar exhibited high efficiency in the removal of Hg(II),with a maximum removal rate approaching 100%.Furthermore,the pH level of the water significantly influenced the adsorption efficiency of heavy metal ions,with the optimal removal performance observed at a pH of 6.0.The PRB system demonstrated excellent removal rates under low concentrations of heavy metals.However,as the concentration increased,the remediation efficiency exhibited a slight decrease.In summary,the findings of this study provide compelling evidence for the use of modified biochar in the construction of PRBs for the remediation of mercury and arsenic-polluted water bodies.Furthermore,the study reveals the mechanism by which pH and heavy metal concentration influence remediation efficiency.

Removal and stabilization of arsenic from anode slime by forming crystal scorodite

A process was proposed for removing and stabilizing arsenic(As) from anode slime. The anode slime with high arsenic concentration was pretreated by circular alkaline leaching process. Then, the arsenic in the leaching solution can be further precipitated as a form of scorodite crystalline(FeAsO4·2H2O). In the precipitating arsenic reaction, in which ferrous ions were oxidized by air gas, the effects of acidity(p H), reaction temperature, air flow rate, initial concentration of arsenic and initial molar ratio of Fe(II) to As(V) on arsenic precipitation were investigated. The results showed that sufficiently stable crystal scorodite could be achieved under the condition of initial arsenic concentration of 10 g/L, pH 3.0-4.0, Fe/As molar ratio of 1.5, the temperature of 80-95 °C, and the air flow rate higher than 120 L/h. Under the optimal condition, more than 78% of arsenic could be precipitated as a form of scorodite crystalline. The As leaching concentration of the precipitates was less than 2.0 mg/L and the precipitates may be considered to be safe for disposal.

Leaching behavior of metals from high-arsenic dust by NaOH-Na_2S alkaline leaching

Arsenic is selectively extracted from high-arsenic dust by NaOH-Na2S alkaline leaching process. In the leaching arsenic process, the effects of alkali-to-dust ratio, sodium sulfide addition, leaching temperature, leaching time and liquid-to-solid ratio on metals leaching efficiencies were investigated. The results show that the arsenic can be effectively separated from other metals under the optimum conditions of alkali/dust mass ratio of 0.5, sodium sulfide addition of 0.25 g/g, leaching temperature of 90 ℃, leaching time of 2 h, and liquid-to-solid ratio of 5：1 （mL/g）. Under these conditions, the average leaching efficiencies of arsenic, antimony, lead, tin and zinc are 92.75%, 11.68%, 0.31%, 29.75% and 36.85%, respectively. The NaOH-Na2S alkaline leaching process provides a simple and highly efficient way to remove arsenic from high-arsenic dust, leaving residue as a suitable lead resource.

Determination of arsenic speciation in secondary zinc oxide and arsenic leachability

The species of arsenic in secondary zinc oxide generated from fuming furnace were investigated. The results revealed that there are mainly three types of secondary zinc oxide based on three arsenic species. The main phase of As is As2O3 in type Ⅰ, zinc arsenite （Zn（AsO2）2） in type Ⅱ and lead arsenate （Pb（As206）, Pb4As2O9） in type Ⅲ, respectively. Selective leaching of zinc oxide of type Ⅱ was carried out. The leaching rate of As kept at 65%-70% with 30 g/L NaOH and L/S ratio of 3 at 20 ℃ for 1 h, while the losses of Pb and Zn were both below 1%.

Extraction of arsenic from arsenic-containing cobalt and nickel slag and preparation of arsenic-bearing compounds

The arsenic extraction from the arsenic-containing cobalt and nickel slag,which came from the purification process of zinc sulfate solution in a zinc smelting factory,was investigated.The alkaline leaching method was proposed according to the mode of occurrence of arsenic in the slag and its amphoteric characteristic.The leaching experiments were conducted in the alkaline aqueous medium,with bubbling of oxygen into the solution,and the optimal conditions for leaching arsenic were determined.The results showed that the extraction rate of arsenic was maximized at 99.10%under the optimal conditions of temperature 140 ℃,NaOH concentration 150 g/L,oxygen partial pressure 0.5 MPa,and a liquid-to-solid ratio 5：1.Based on the solubilities of As2O5,ZnO and PbO in NaOH solution at 25 ℃,a method for the separation of As in the form of sodium arsenate salt from the arsenic-rich leachate via cooling crystallization was established,and the reaction medium could be fully recycled.The crystallization rate was confirmed to reach 88.9%（calculated on the basis of Na3AsO4） upon a direct cooling of the hot leachate down to room temperature.On the basis of redox potentials,the sodium arsenate solution could be further reduced by sulfur dioxide（SO2） gas to arsenite,at a reduction yield of 92%under the suitable conditions.Arsenic trioxide with regular octahedron shape could be prepared successfully from the reduced solution,and further recycled to the purification process to purify the zinc sulfate solution.Also,sodium arsenite solution obtained after the reduction of arsenate could be directly used to purify the zinc sulfate solution.Therefore,the technical scheme of alkaline leaching with pressured oxygen,cooling crystallization,arsenate reduction by SO2 gas,and arsenic trioxide preparation,provides an attractive approach to realize the resource utilization of arsenic-containing cobalt and nickel slag.

Reduction and deposition of arsenic in copper electrolyte

The influences of temperature, H2SO4 concentration, CuSO4 concentration, reaction time and SO2 flow rate on the reduction of arsenic（V） with SO2 were studied and the deposition behavior of arsenic （III） under the effect of concentration and co-crystallization was investigated in copper electrolyte. The results indicate that reduction rate of arsenic （V） decreases with increasing temperature and H2SO4 concentration, but increases with increasing SO2 flow rate and reaction time, and it can reach 92% under appropriate conditions that reaction temperature is 65 °C, H2SO4 concentration is 203 g/L, CuSO4 concentration is 80 g/L, reaction time is 2 h and SO2 gas flow rate is 200 mL/min. To remove arsenic in the copper electrolyte, arsenic （V） is reduced to trivalence under the appropriate conditions, the copper electrolyte is concentrated till H2SO4 concentration reaches 645 g/L, and then the removal rates of As, Cu, Sb and Bi reach 83.9%, 87.1%, 21.0% and 84.7%. The XRD analysis shows that crystallized product obtained contains As2O3 and CuSO4·5H2O.

Determination of Arsenic and Mercury in Soil by Microwave Digestion and Hidride GenerationAtomic Fluorescence Spectrometry

[Objective] The aim was to develop a rapid, simple method for determina- tion of arsenic and mercury in soil samples by atomic fluorescence spectrometry. [Method] The method for determination of As and Hg in soil by combined atomic fluorescence spectrometry and microwave digestion was used. [Result] The concentration curve was linear within the range of 0-80.0μg/L of As and 0-8.0 μg/L of Hg, and the detection limits of As and Hg was 0.036 μg/L and 0.015 μg/L, respectively. The precision for elevenfold determination of As at 40.0 ug/L level and Hg at 4.0μg/L level were 1.1% and 2.2%（RSD）, respectively. Recoveries of 103.0%-106.6% for As and 90.0%-95.0% for Hg were obtained for there soil samples. [Conclusion] The proposed method has the advantages of simple operation, high sensitivity, and high efficiency; it was successfully used for determination of As and Hg in soil samples.

基于代谢组学和蛋白组学研究砷暴露对肥胖孕鼠肝脏代谢分子网络的影响

砷是普遍存在的环境毒物,可能影响生物体的正常生理过程。尽管已有研究探讨了砷对健康的影响,但砷暴露对肥胖孕妇肝脏代谢的影响及其作用机制尚不明确。本研究旨在通过高脂饮食诱导肥胖孕鼠模型,并采用灌胃方式模拟孕期砷暴露,以探究其对肝脏代谢的影响。孕鼠砷暴露后,我们利用代谢组学和蛋白组学技术,结合病理生化分析,对肝脏组织进行了深入研究。结果显示,砷暴露显著增加了肥胖孕鼠肝脏中的脂质累积,并伴随着炎症因子和氧化应激标志物的升高。代谢组学分析揭示了砷暴露对脂质代谢通路,特别是花生四烯酸代谢的显著影响。此外,蛋白组学分析确认了与脂质合成、氧化应激和炎症反应相关的蛋白质表达水平发生了变化。这些结果表明,砷暴露可能通过多种代谢途径和蛋白质调节通路,对肥胖孕鼠肝脏的脂质代谢产生显著影响。本研究不仅为理解砷暴露与肥胖及相关代谢性疾病之间的关系提供了新的科学视角,也为环境健康风险评估和公共卫生政策的制定提供了重要参考。

Effect of arsenic on spatial pattern of radial oxygen loss and iron plaque formation in rice

The effects of different arsenic （As） treatments on spatial pattern of radial oxygen loss （ROL）, iron （Fe） plaque formation and As accumulation in rice were investigated using three rice genotypes, planted under greenhouse conditions. Arsenic was applied to soil at 50 and 100 mg/kg, with untreated soil used as a control having an average As concentration of 8.5 mg/kg. It was demonstrated that the ratio of ROL in root tips to that at the root base slightly decreased with increasing As concentration, suggesting that the spatial ROL patterns in these groups may be shifted from the “tight” barrier towards the “partial” barrier form. Furthermore, increasing As concentration led to a increase in Fe plaque formation on root surfaces. In addition, root As concentrations of genotypes in 50 and 100 mg/kg As treatments were significantly higher than that of control treatment （P〈0.05）. Grain As concentration of genotype Nanyangzhan （with lower ROL） was significantly higher （P〈0.05） than that of genotype CNT87059-3 with higher ROL.

Dissolved Inorganic Arsenic in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea—Distributions and Seasonal Variations

The distributions and seasonal variations of total dissolved inorganic arsenic （TDIAs, [TDIAs] = [As^5＋]＋[As^3＋]） and arsenite （As3.） in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea are presented hero based on the observations of 9 cruises carried out in 2000 - 2003. The study area covers a broad range of hydrographic and chemical properties. The emphasis is put on a southeast transect from Changjiang Estuary to the Ryukyu Islands （i.e. PN section） in the East China Sea to discuss the impact of terrestdal input on the marginal seas of China. Arsenic species （TDlAs and arsenite） are determined by selective hydride generation - atomic fluorescence spectrometry （HG-AFS）. TDIAs concentrations were high in the coastal area of Changjiang Estuary and decreased slightly towards the shelf region. High concentratiOns of TDIAs were also existed in the near bottom layer of shelf edge of the East China Sea which indicated another source of arsenic from the incursion of Kuroshio Waters. The seasonal variations of TDIAs in the study area depend on the hydrographic stages of Changjiang and the incursion intensity of Kuroshio Waters. Arsenite showed opposite distributions with TDIAs, with higher concentrations appeared at the surface layer of shelf region, which was positive correlated with the chlorophyll a. Biological conversion of arsenate into arsenite was hypothesized for the observed distribution pattern and its seasonal variations. The stoichoimetric ratios of As to P were estimated to be about 2×10^3 at PN Section in summer. The concentrations of dissolved arsenic in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea were comparable with other areas in the world.

细菌浸出含砷铜矿石过程的表面钝化研究

含砷铜矿是重要的铜矿资源,在生物浸矿的过程中,矿石表面产生的钝化膜致使Cu浸出率大幅降低。在细菌浸出含砷铜矿的过程中,利用XRD、XPS等分析矿石表面的矿物成分及物相变化。结果表明:浸出初期(1~5 d),矿石表面主要产生Fe(Ⅲ)—OOH、Fe(Ⅲ)—氧化物、S_(n)^(2-)和S^(0);浸出中期(5~9 d),矿石表面Fe(Ⅲ)—OOH、Fe(Ⅲ)—氧化物、S_(n)^(2-)和S^(0)含量增加;浸出后期(9~15 d),矿石表面产生黄钾铁矾和非晶态砷酸铁。结合Cu浸出率随时间变化曲线,分析得出浸出初期并未出现钝化现象;浸出中期主要是S_(n)^(2-)和S^(0)的阻碍作用;浸出后期主要是黄钾铁矾包裹造成钝化影响浸出。