Arsenic drinking water regulations in developing countries with extensive exposure

Smith, Allan H.; Smith, Meera M. Hira

doi:10.1016/j.tox.2004.02.024

Cited by 117 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Similar synergistic or potentiating effects of arsenic have been seen for endocrine disruption (6,16), angiogenesis (17,38), and DNA damage and repair (3,13). Human epidemiology studies also have shown that arsenic is strongly synergistic with cigarette smoking for risk of lung cancer (10,37). This has interesting experimental and practical implications in evaluating the pathophysiological effects of arsenic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Role of glucocorticoid receptor in acclimation of killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) to seawater and effects of arsenic

Shaw¹,

Gabor²,

Lankowski³

et al. 2007

American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comp

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Role of glucocorticoid receptor in acclimation of killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) to seawater and effects of arsenic

Shaw¹,

Gabor²,

Lankowski³

et al. 2007

American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comp

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“…It is found in soils and ground water in many regions of the world, including the United States (reviewed in Nordstrom, 2002). Chronic exposure to arsenic ingested from drinking water may lead to lung, bladder, and kidney cancers in humans (reviewed in Smith and Hira-Smith, 2004;Rahman et al, 2009). While arsenic contamination is a significant environmental problem in many regions of the world, arsenic also has beneficial uses in medicine, especially in the treatment of acute leukemia and parasitic diseases (Hermine et al, 2004;Lallemand-Breitenbach et al, 2008;Tatham et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Vacuolar Arsenite Transporter Necessary for Arsenic Tolerance in the Arsenic Hyperaccumulating Fern Pteris vittata Is Missing in Flowering Plants

et al. 2010

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The fern Pteris vittata tolerates and hyperaccumulates exceptionally high levels of the toxic metalloid arsenic, and this trait appears unique to the Pteridaceae. Once taken up by the root, arsenate is reduced to arsenite as it is transported to the lamina of the frond, where it is stored in cells as free arsenite. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of two P. vittata genes, ACR3 and ACR3;1, which encode proteins similar to the ACR3 arsenite effluxer of yeast. Pv ACR3 is able to rescue the arsenic-sensitive phenotypes of yeast deficient for ACR3. ACR3 transcripts are upregulated by arsenic in sporophyte roots and gametophytes, tissues that directly contact soil, whereas ACR3;1 expression is unaffected by arsenic. Knocking down the expression of ACR3, but not ACR3;1, in the gametophyte results in an arsenite-sensitive phenotype, indicating that ACR3 plays a necessary role in arsenic tolerance in the gametophyte. We show that ACR3 localizes to the vacuolar membrane in gametophytes, indicating that it likely effluxes arsenite into the vacuole for sequestration. Whereas single-copy ACR3 genes are present in moss, lycophytes, other ferns, and gymnosperms, none are present in angiosperms. The duplication of ACR3 in P. vittata and the loss of ACR3 in angiosperms may explain arsenic tolerance in this unusual group of ferns while precluding the same trait in angiosperms.

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“…This is very alarming as the level of arsenic contamination has been extremely high and its presence in multiple sources, such as foods and water, increases the opportunity for exposure. It had been predicted that in the large parts of southern Bangladesh, almost 1 in every 10 adult deaths in the coming decade will be a result of arsenic-induced cancer (Smith and Smith, 2004). Studies in Bangladesh had shown that lifetime mortality risks due to arsenic-related lung cancer of women and men were 23 and 159 per 100,000 respectively and bladder cancer of women and men were 0.3 and 5.4 respectively (Chen and Ahsan, 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecosystem Perspective of Groundwater Arsenic Contamination in India and Relevance in Policy

Sarkar

2010

EcoHealth

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Millions of people living in India are at risk by consuming arsenic contaminated groundwater. Several technological solutions have failed to address the problem due to segmental approaches, resulting in human suffering for a period of three decades. The article is based on an analysis of arsenic-related health problems from an ecosystem perspective through a primary survey conducted in five arsenic affected villages in the state of West Bengal and review of existing research and policy documents. Although modern agricultural practices and drinking water policies have resulted in arsenic contamination of groundwater, current mitigation policy is essentially confined to biomedical approaches, which includes potable water supply and medical care. The study also shows that existing disparity, difficulty in coping, inaccessibility to health service and potable water supply and lack of participation in decision making have resulted in more suffering among the poor. On the other hand, spreading of arsenic contamination in the ecosystem remains unabated. Foods grown in the affected area have emerged as additional sources of exposure to humans. There is lack of evidence of any perceivable benefits due to sustainable agriculture, as present nature of agriculture practice is essentially driven by crop yield only. Further research is needed to generate credible evidence of alternative agriculture paradigms that may eventually reduce body burden of arsenic through reduced dependency on groundwater.

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Arsenic drinking water regulations in developing countries with extensive exposure

Cited by 117 publications

References 21 publications

Role of glucocorticoid receptor in acclimation of killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) to seawater and effects of arsenic

Role of glucocorticoid receptor in acclimation of killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) to seawater and effects of arsenic

A Vacuolar Arsenite Transporter Necessary for Arsenic Tolerance in the Arsenic Hyperaccumulating Fern Pteris vittata Is Missing in Flowering Plants

Ecosystem Perspective of Groundwater Arsenic Contamination in India and Relevance in Policy

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