Human Biomonitoring of Arsenic and Antimony in Case of an Elevated Geogenic Exposure

Abstract

Part of the norther Palat e region in Germany is erized by elevated leels of arsenic and antimony in the soil due to the presence ofore sources and former mining activities. In a biomonitoring study, 218 residents were investigted for a putative increased intake of these elements. Seventy-six nonexposd subjects in a rur region in south lower Saxony were chosen as the rrece group. Urine and scalp hair sampes were obtained as su to dein he miteral exposures to arsenic and antimony. The analys were pefr*m ed using graphite furace atomic absorption spectrometry except for arsenic in urine, which was determined by the hydride tecnique. This method does not detect organo ls from sefood, which are not toxicologicaly relevant In the northem Palatinate subjects, sdighy elevated arsenic contents in urine and scalp hair (presumably not hazardous) could be corrldated with an increased arenic content in the soil. On the other hand, the results did not show a correation between the am contents in tie soil ofthe housing area and those in urine and hair. Except for an y in sp hair, age tended to be associatd wi intenal exposure to arsenic and antimony in both study groups. Consumpion of seafood had a slight impact on the levd ofuinary arsenic, which is indi of dte presence oflow quanities of inoranic arsenicas and dimethasinic acid in sefood. Th.e arsenic and antimony contents in scalp hair were positively correated with the 24-hr arsenic io in urine. However, antimony in scalp hair was not correlated with seafood consmptio as was asenic in slp hair and in urine. Tbis indicated the exstence of unidentified common p of exposure contributng to the almentary body burden. Short time peaks in the 24-hr excretion of arsenic in urine, which could not be signed to a high consumpio of sfood, were detected for six pard pan. This suggest that additional factors relevant in the exposure to arsenic are still unidentified. I&y wondv arsenic, antimony, human biomonitoring, scalp hair, urine.

Use of Arsenic Contaminated Irrigation Water for Lettuce Cropping: Effects on Soil, Groundwater, and Vegetal

“…Translocation of As from the soil to terrestrial plants made by root uptake or by absorption of airborne arsenic deposited on the leaves and certain species may accumulate high levels [1]. Nevertheless, even when these plants are grown in soil with high As content, the uptake is relatively low [35,36].…”

Sorption of aqueous antimony and arsenic species onto akaganeite

“…Compared to the extensive data for the toxicity of arsenic species, very little information concerning the toxicity of antimony species is available [9].…”

Mobilization of Antimony and Arsenic in Soil and Sediment Samples – Evaluation of Different Leaching Procedures

“…It is generally assumed that arsenic and antimony have a similar geochemical behavior and a similar toxicity (Wilson et al 2004;Gebel et al 1998). Several years ago it was reported that only small amounts of Sb were found to be easily mobilizable from soils (Lintschinger et al 1998).…”