The contents of risk elements, arsenic speciation, and possible interactions of elements and betalains in beetroot (Beta vulgaris, L.) growing in contaminated soil

AbstractThe effect of enhanced soil risk element contents on the uptake of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn was determined in two pot experiments. Simultaneously, transformation of arsenic and its compounds in beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) plants was investigated. The mobile fractions of elements were determined in 0.05 mol L−1 (NH4)2SO4 extracts and did not exceed 2% of total soil arsenic, 9% of total cadmium, 3% of total lead, and 8% of total zinc, respectively. Although the soils were extremely contaminated the mobile portions of the elements represented only a small fragment of the total element content. Arsenic contents in beet plants reached up to 25 mg As kg−1 in roots and 48 mg As kg−1 in leaves in the soil characterized by the highest mobile arsenic portion. Arsenic portions extractable with water and phosphate buffer from the beetroot samples did not show significant differences between the extraction agents but the extractability was affected by the arsenic concentration. Arsenic was almost quantitatively extractable from the samples with the lowest total arsenic concentration, whereas in the samples with the highest total arsenic concentration less than 25% was extractable. Arsenate was the dominant arsenic compound in the extracts (70% in phosphate buffer, 50% in water extracts). A small portion of dimethylarsinic acid, not exceeding 0.5%, was detected only in the sample growing in the soil with the highest arsenic concentration. The role of betalains (betanin, isobetanin, vulgaxanthin I and vulgaxanthin II) in transformation/detoxification of arsenic in plants was not confirmed in this experiment because the plants were able to grow in the contaminated soil without any symptoms of arsenic toxicity.

Download Full-text

Groundwater Irrigation and Arsenic Speciation in Rice in Cambodia

Journal of Health and Pollution ◽

10.5696/2156-9614-8.19.180911 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (19) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

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.

Download Full-text

Effect of Soil Washing Using Oxalic Acid on Arsenic Speciation and Bioaccessibility in Soils

Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers ◽

10.4491/ksee.2020.42.4.218 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 42 (4) ◽

pp. 218-227

Author(s):

Yeseul Gwon ◽

Seong Ryeol Kim ◽

Eun Jung Kim

Keyword(s):

Particle Size ◽

Oxalic Acid ◽

Contaminated Soil ◽

Arsenic Speciation ◽

Arsenic Concentration ◽

Size Fraction ◽

Soil Washing ◽

Large Particle Size ◽

Amorphous Oxides ◽

Particle Size Fractions

Objectives : Soil washing process has been widely applied for remediation of contaminated soil with arsenic and heavy metals in Korea. The application of soil washing could change physical and chemical properties of soils and metal speciation in soil, which could affect the risk to the environment and human health. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate metal and arsenic speciation and their mobility in soil after soil remediation in order to evaluate effectiveness of soil remediation process and manage soil quality effectively. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the risk of arsenic in soil after remediation of arsenic contaminated soil via soil washing.Methods : Arsenic contaminated soil collected at the abandoned mine site was washing with oxalic acid. The arsenic contaminated soil was divided into 2,000-500 µm, 500-250 µm, 250-150 µm, 150-75 µm, 75-38 µm, < 38 µm particle size fractions. After soil washing for each soil particle size fraction, arsenic speciation via sequential extraction and bioaccessibility in the soils were evaluated. Results and Discussion : Generally, arsenic and metal concentrations were higher in the soil fractions with smaller particle sizes. But high arsenic concentration was observed at the large particle size fractions (>250 µm), which might be due to the presence of mineral phases containing arsenic such as arsenolite or pyrite in the large particle size fraction soils. Sequential extraction showed that arsenic in mine soils was majorly present as associated with amorphous oxides. After soil washing with oxalic acid, arsenic in soils associated with amorphous oxides was greatly decreased, whereas the arsenic fraction associated sulfide and organic matter was increased. Soil washing decreased the bioaccessible arsenic concentration (mg/kg) in soil, but increased the bioaccessibility (%) depending on the soil characteristics. Conclusions : Soil washing changed arsenic species in soils, which affected mobility and risk of arsenic in soil.

Download Full-text

Occurrence and Speciation of Arsenic in Common Australian Coastal Polychaete Species

Environmental Chemistry ◽

10.1071/en05027 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 108 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Joel Waring ◽

William Maher ◽

Simon Foster ◽

Frank Krikowa

Keyword(s):

Arsenic Concentration ◽

Habitat Type ◽

Arsenic Species ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Dimethylarsinic Acid ◽

Total Arsenic ◽

Arsenic Compounds ◽

Feeding Guild ◽

Polychaete Species ◽

Deposit Feeders

Environmental Context. In well-oxygenated water and sediments, nearly all arsenic is present as arsenate (AsO43−). As arsenate is a phosphate (PO43−) analogue, organisms living in arsenate-rich environments must acquire the nutrient phosphorus yet avoid arsenic toxicity. Organisms take in and transform arsenic compounds by many means. Three major modes of arsenic biotransformation have been found to occur in the environment—redox transformation between arsenate and arsenite (AsO2−), the reduction and methylation of arsenic, and the biosynthesis of organoarsenic compounds such as arsenobetaine. These biotransformations lead to biogeochemical cycling of arsenic compounds and bioconcentration of arsenic in aquatic organisms and thence into the food web. Abstract. The paper reports the whole-tissue total arsenic concentrations and water-soluble arsenic species in eight common coastal Australian polychaete species. Laboratory experiments showed the period of depuration did not significantly alter the whole-tissue total arsenic concentrations in the two estuarine polychaete species tested. Significant differences were found between the whole-tissue total arsenic concentrations of the eight polychaete species (mean arsenic concentrations ranged from 18 to 101 µg g−1 dry mass). Total arsenic concentrations in polychaete species, grouped on the basis of a combination of their feeding guild and habitat type, were also significantly different with a significant interaction between these factors indicating that both factors simultaneously influence arsenic concentration in polychaetes. A large number of polychaete species contained similar arsenic species with high proportions of arsenobetaine (AB; 57–88%) and relatively low proportions of As3+, As5+, methyarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, arsenocholine, trimethylarsoniopropionate, and tetramethylarsonium ion (not detected to 12%). All polychaete species contained arsenoribosides (5–30%). This study identified two Australian polychaete species with particularly unusual whole-tissue water-soluble arsenic species proportions: Australonuphis parateres contained a very high proportion of trimethylarsoniopropionate (~33%), while Notomastus estuarius had a very low proportion of arsenobetaine (9%) and high proportions of As3+ (~30%), As5+ (~8%), arsenoribosides (30%), and an unknown anionic arsenic species (~4%). Most polychaetes accumulate arsenobetaine, except deposit feeders inhabiting estuarine mud habitats. Thus most polychaetes, which are prey for higher organisms, are a source of arsenobetaine in benthic food webs. Deposit feeders inhabiting estuarine muddy substrates contain appreciable quantities of inorganic arsenic and arsenoribosides that may be metabolized to different end products in higher organisms.

Download Full-text

The response of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) to different concentrations of inorganic and organic compounds of arsenic

Biologia ◽

10.2478/s11756-006-0013-0 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Pavel Tlustoš ◽

Jiřina Száková ◽

Daniela Pavlíková ◽

Jiří Balík

Keyword(s):

Arsenic Concentration ◽

Vegetation Period ◽

Dimethylarsinic Acid ◽

Arsenic Toxicity ◽

Arsenic Compounds ◽

Tomato Plants ◽

Methylarsonic Acid ◽

Cultivation Substrate ◽

Transformation Processes

AbstractTomato plants were cultivated in greenhouse and water solutions of arsenite (As(III)), arsenate (As(V)), methylarsonic acid (MA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) were applied individually into cultivation substrate at two As levels, 5 and 15 mg kg−1 of the substrate. Comparing the availability of arsenic compounds increased in order arsenite = arsenate < MA < DMA where the arsenic contents in plants decreased during vegetation period. Within a single plant, the highest arsenic concentration was found in roots followed in decreasing order by leaves, stems, and fruits regardless of arsenic compound applied. Arsenic toxicity symptoms reflected in suppressed growth of plants and a lower number and size of fruits were most significant with DMA treatment. However, the highest accumulation of arsenic by plants growing in the soil containing DMA was caused by higher mobility of this compound in the soil due to its lower sorption affinity. Our results confirmed substantial role of transformation processes of arsenic compounds in soil in uptake and accumulation of arsenic by plants.

Download Full-text

Arsenic Speciation in Human Organs following Fatal Arsenic Trioxide Poisoning—A Case Report

Clinical Chemistry ◽

10.1093/clinchem/45.2.301 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 45 (2) ◽

pp. 301-306 ◽

Cited By ~ 72

Author(s):

Larbi Benramdane ◽

Michele Accominotti ◽

Laurent Fanton ◽

Daniel Malicier ◽

Jean-Jacques Vallon

Keyword(s):

Arsenic Trioxide ◽

Total Concentration ◽

Arsenic Speciation ◽

Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry ◽

Inorganic Arsenic ◽

Arsenic Species ◽

Acute Intoxication ◽

Dimethylarsinic Acid ◽

Total Arsenic ◽

Human Organs

Abstract The aim of this investigation was to study the distribution of arsenic species in human organs following fatal acute intoxication by arsenic trioxide. The collected autopsy samples of most organs were ground and dried, and the total arsenic was measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The arsenic species—inorganic arsenic, in the form of arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)], and its metabolites [monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA)]—were quantified by ETAAS after extraction with methanol/water (1:1, by volume) and separation by HPLC. The results indicate that after acute intoxication, the liver and kidneys show the highest concentrations of total arsenic and that the total concentration in blood is 7- to 350-fold less concentrated than in organs. In all organs, As(III) is the predominant species, and MMA is more concentrated than DMA. MMA and DMA are more prevalent in lipidic organs (49% of total arsenic) compared with other organs (25% of total arsenic). As(V) was found in small quantities in the liver, kidneys, and blood.

Download Full-text

Influence of the Electrolyte Salt Concentration on DNA Detection with Graphene Transistors

Biosensors ◽

10.3390/bios11010024 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 24

Author(s):

Agnes Purwidyantri ◽

Telma Domingues ◽

Jérôme Borme ◽

Joana Rafaela Guerreiro ◽

Andrey Ipatov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phosphate Buffer ◽

Species Interactions ◽

Field Effect ◽

Field Effect Transistors ◽

Limit Of Detection ◽

Debye Length ◽

Intermolecular Forces ◽

Single Layer Graphene ◽

Dna Adsorption

Liquid-gated Graphene Field-Effect Transistors (GFET) are ultrasensitive bio-detection platforms carrying out the graphene’s exceptional intrinsic functionalities. Buffer and dilution factor are prevalent strategies towards the optimum performance of the GFETs. However, beyond the Debye length (λD), the role of the graphene-electrolytes’ ionic species interactions on the DNA behavior at the nanoscale interface is complicated. We studied the characteristics of the GFETs under different ionic strength, pH, and electrolyte type, e.g., phosphate buffer (PB), and phosphate buffer saline (PBS), in an automatic portable built-in system. The electrostatic gating and charge transfer phenomena were inferred from the field-effect measurements of the Dirac point position in single-layer graphene (SLG) transistors transfer curves. Results denote that λD is not the main factor governing the effective nanoscale screening environment. We observed that the longer λD was not the determining characteristic for sensitivity increment and limit of detection (LoD) as demonstrated by different types and ionic strengths of measuring buffers. In the DNA hybridization study, our findings show the role of the additional salts present in PBS, as compared to PB, in increasing graphene electron mobility, electrostatic shielding, intermolecular forces and DNA adsorption kinetics leading to an improved sensitivity.

Download Full-text

Importance of monitoring arsenic methylation metabolism in acute promyelocytic leukemia patients receiving the treatment of arsenic trioxide

Experimental Hematology and Oncology ◽

10.1186/s40164-021-00205-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yu Zheng ◽

Yuan-Fei Mao ◽

Hui-Jin Zhao ◽

Li Chen ◽

Li-Ning Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Arsenic Trioxide ◽

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Arsenic Speciation ◽

Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Chronic Liver ◽

Dimethylarsinic Acid ◽

Metabolic Pattern ◽

Methylation Index ◽

Arsenic Methylation

Abstract Background Arsenic trioxide [ATO, inorganic arsenite (iAsIII) in solution] plays an important role in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). However, the long-term adverse effects (AEs) and the retention of arsenic among APL patients are rarely reported. In this study, we focused on arsenic methylation metabolism and its relationship with chronic hepatic toxicity, as we previously reported, among APL patients who had finished the treatment of ATO. Methods A total of 112 de novo APL patients who had completed the ATO-containing treatment were enrolled in the study. Arsenic species [iAsIII, inorganic arsenate (iAsV), and their organic metabolites, monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA)] in patients’ plasma, urine, hair and nails were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS). Eighteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the arsenic (+ 3 oxidative state) methylation transferase (AS3MT) gene, which was known as the main catalyzer for arsenic methylation, were tested with the polymerase chain reaction method. Results The study showed the metabolic pattern of arsenic in APL patients undergoing and after the treatment of ATO, in terms of total arsenic (TAs) and four species of arsenic. TAs decreased to normal after 6 months since cessation of ATO. But the arsenic speciation demonstrated significantly higher portion of iAsIII in patient’s urine (40.08% vs. 1.94%, P < 0.001), hair (29.25% vs. 13.29%, P = 0.002) and nails (30.21% vs. 13.64%, P = 0.003) than the healthy controls’, indicating a decreased capacity of arsenic methylation metabolism after the treatment of ATO. Urine primary methylation index (PMI) was significantly lower in patients with both chronic liver dysfunction (0.14 vs. 0.28, P = 0.047) and hepatic steatosis (0.19 vs. 0.3, P = 0.027), suggesting that insufficient methylation of arsenic might be related to chronic liver disorders. Two SNPs (A9749G and A27215G) of the AS3MT gene were associated with impaired urine secondary methylation index (SMI). Conclusions The long-term follow-up of arsenic speciation indicated a decreased arsenic methylation metabolism and a probable relationship with chronic hepatic disorders among APL patients after the cessation of ATO. Urine PMI could be a monitoring index for chronic AEs of ATO, and the SNPs of AS3MT gene should be considered when determining the dosage of ATO.

Download Full-text

Role of Autochthonous Filamentous Fungi in Bioremediation of a Soil Historically Contaminated with Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.72.1.28-36.2006 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 72 (1) ◽

pp. 28-36 ◽

Cited By ~ 98

Author(s):

A. D'Annibale ◽

F. Rosetto ◽

V. Leonardi ◽

F. Federici ◽

M. Petruccioli

Keyword(s):

Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Contaminated Soil ◽

Chloride Ions ◽

Lepidium Sativum ◽

Fungal Colonization ◽

Soil Toxicity ◽

Germination Test ◽

Lignin Peroxidases ◽

Ph Conditions

ABSTRACT Nine fungal strains isolated from an aged and heavily contaminated soil were identified and screened to assess their degradative potential. Among them, Allescheriella sp. strain DABAC 1, Stachybotrys sp. strain DABAC 3, and Phlebia sp. strain DABAC 9 were selected for remediation trials on the basis of Poly R-478 decolorization associated with lignin-modifying enzyme (LME) production. These autochthonous fungi were tested for the abilities to grow under nonsterile conditions and to degrade various aromatic hydrocarbons in the same contaminated soil. After 30 days, fungal colonization was clearly visible and was confirmed by ergosterol determination. In spite of subalkaline pH conditions and the presence of heavy metals, the autochthonous fungi produced laccase and Mn and lignin peroxidases. No LME activities were detected in control microcosms. All of the isolates led to a marked removal of naphthalene, dichloroaniline isomers, o-hydroxybiphenyl, and 1,1′-binaphthalene. Stachybotrys sp. strain DABAC 3 was the most effective isolate due to its ability to partially deplete the predominant contaminants 9,10-anthracenedione and 7H-benz[DE]anthracen-7-one. A release of chloride ions was observed in soil treated with either Allescheriella sp. strain DABAC 1 or Stachybotrys sp. strain DABAC 3, suggesting the occurrence of oxidative dehalogenation. The autochthonous fungi led to a significant decrease in soil toxicity, as assessed by both the Lepidium sativum L. germination test and the Collembola mortality test.

Download Full-text