The metabolism of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) a common pesticide and the main metabolite of inorganic arsenic in mammals, has been studied in mice, hamsters and man. Mice and hamsters were administered a single dose of 74As-DMA (40 mg As/kg body weight) orally, while a human subject ingested DMA corresponding to 0.1 mg As/kg body weight. Ion exchange chromatography, paper electrophoresis, thin layer chromatography as well as arsine generation--gas chromatography combined with atomic absorption spectrophotometry or mass spectrometry were used to characterize the arsenic metabolites in urine and feces collected over 48 hours after treatment. In mice and hamsters 3.5% and 6.4% of the dose, respectively, were excreted in urine in the form of trimethylarsine oxide (TMAO). No TMAO was found in feces. A DMA-complex was detected in urine and feces. It amounted to about 13% of the dose in mice and 15% in hamsters. About 80-85% of the dose was eliminated in urine and feces in the form of unmetabolized DMA. No demethylation of DMA to inorganic arsenic was observed. In man, about 4% of the dose was excreted in urine as TMAO and about 80% as DMA.
7 (1981) 3'8-44. Total urinary arsenic has traditionally been used for assessing occupational exposure to inorganic arsenic. However, dietary arsenic, especially from seafood, may greatly influence this value. This paper describes a fast and convenient method for routinely measuring the combined amount of inorganic arsenic, methylarsonic acid, and dimethylarsinic acid, which are the major urinary meta!bolites after exposure to inorganic arsenic. Organic arsenic compounds of marine origin are not biotransformed to inorganic arsenic or methylated arsenic acids to any significance in the human body. They do not produce arsines when treated with the reducing agent in the proposed method and will therefore not interfere with the measurements. The sensitivity, accuracy, and precision of the proposed method are sufficient for the determination of concentrations of arsenic normally found in the urine of nonexposed persons. The method is based on a commercially available hydride generation kit attached to an atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
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