Changes in the Chemical Speciation of Arsenic Following Ingestion by Man

Abstract

JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) andBrogan & Partners are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Environmental Health Perspectives.The concentrations of four chemical species of arsenic in urine were observed with time, after ingestion of three different chemical species of arsenic. The arsenic-rich substances ingested, inelwwde(5 arsenite-rich wine, arsenate-rich dnnking water, and crab meat which contained organo-arsenic compounds. After ingestion of arsenite-rich wine, appronmately IOto of the arsenic was exereted as arsenite, but the majority of the arsenic was methylated to methylarsonic acid and dimethylarsinic acid and exereted. After ingestion of arsenate-rich water, elevated levels of both arsenate and dimethylarsinic acid were observed. When crab meat was ingested, none of these four arsenic species were observed at elevated levels until the urine was heated in 2N NaOH. After the hot base digestion, high levels of dimethylarsinic acid were detected in these samples. The apparent biological half-lives were on the order of 10 hr for inorganic arsenic and 30 hr for the methylated arsenic forms.

Occurrence of arsenic in plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), nature of organo-arsenic compound present and its excretion by man.

“…It was established that no volatile arsines were present if the alkaline digestion is omitted prior the reduction procedure. The necessity of an alkaline digestion prior to the reduction procedure agrees with the results of Crecelius (12). However, in this investigation trimethylarsine is formed in urine after reduction, while Crecelius reported the formation of dimethylarsine.…”

“…Prior to this experiment none of the participants had eaten arsenic-rich food. During the first 12 hr of the experiment the volunteers were asked to urinate at 2 hr time intervals. After 5 days the experiment was terminated.…”

“…Various fish species have been analyzed for arsenic by Woidich and Pfannhauser (6). High concentrations were observed in conger eels (12-30 mg/kg), plaice (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17) mg/kg), shrimp (0.4-12 mg/kg), sturgeon (0.7-12 mg/kg) and cod (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10) mg/kg).…”

Baseline risk assessment of ground water contamination at the uranium mill tailings site near Riverton, Wyoming. Revision 1

“…Seafood, meats, and grains contain the highest levels of arsenic. Wine and mineral waters can contain several hundred micrograms of arsenic per liter (Crecelius, 1977;WHO, 1981 1.…”

Questions concerning environmental mobility of arsenic: needs for a chemical data base and means for speciation of trace organoarsenicals.

“…Clearly, anthropogenic inputs in inorganic materials can and do enhance such transformations, resulting in transport of volatile or lipidsoluble pollutants. Moreover, there is evidence (6) that even higher organisms, specifically man, can invoke elimination processes which involve formation of methylarsenic compounds. Consequently, organometal(loid)s sequestered in food chains and ultimately in man?…”