In vivo and in vitro methods for evaluating soil arsenic bioavailability: relevant to human health risk assessment

Abstract

Arsenic (As) is the most frequently occurring contaminant on the priority list of hazardous substances, which lists substances of greatest public health concern to people living at or near U.S. National Priorities List site. Accurate assessment of human health risks from exposure to As-contaminated soils depends on estimating its bioavailability, defined as the fraction of ingested As absorbed across the gastrointestinal barrier and available for systemic distribution and metabolism. Arsenic bioavailability varies among soils and is influenced by site-specific soil physical and chemical characteristics and internal biological factors. This review describes the state-of-the science that supports our understanding of oral bioavailability of soil As, the methods that are currently being explored for estimating soil As relative bioavailability (RBA), and future research areas that could improve our prediction of the oral RBA of soil As in humans. The following topics are addressed: (1) As soil geochemistry; (2) As toxicology; (3) in vivo models for estimating As RBA; (4) in vitro bioaccessibility methods; and (5) conclusions and research needs.

Human health risk assessment of arsenic in a region influenced by a large coal-fired power plant

“…Although, As exposure by air did not represent a risk (HQ and HI < 1) in all exposure pathways, excepted to inhalation, there was no safe level for As exposure by air (WHO 2012). Based on a wide spectrum of As toxic effect (Bradham et al 2018) and the predominant species of inorganic arsenic species in airborne PM (Mao et al 2020), the presence of this element even in low concentration is a worrisome and might be monitored to avoid future health problem, especially in vulnerable population.…”

“…As is bioaccumulative and non-biodegradable element (Wei and Yang 2010), classified as the first substance in the Substance Priority List from International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and is considerate a carcinogenic element to human, also it is associated to coal mining activity (Galán et al 2019). Exposure to As produces a wide spectrum of toxic effects (cancer and/or non-cancer) in a variety of organ systems, including cardiovascular system, eyes, kidney, liver, nervous system, pancreas, and skin (Bradham et al 2018).…”

Binding and Activity of Tetrabromobisphenol A Mono-Ether Structural Analogs to Thyroid Hormone Transport Proteins and Receptors

“…The proper hydrophobicity of TBBPA-MDBPE might lead to its higher membrane transportation ability, which could then lead to its higher potential to stimulate GH3 cell proliferation. The bioavailability of a pollutant, which normally refers to a complex in vivo outcome-including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion-is relevant to its toxicity (Bradham et al 2018). The membrane transportation ability of a pollutant, which is directly correlated to its hydrophobicity, is one of the factors affecting bioavailability (Semple et al 2004).…”

Bioaccessible arsenic in soil of thermal areas of Viterbo, Central Italy: implications for human health risk

“…Once ingested, the risk for human health is associated with As bioavailability, defined as the fraction of an ingested dose that crosses the gastrointestinal epithelium and becomes available for absorption by internal tissues (US EPA, 2007a ). Bioavailability can be determined by in vivo studies (Bradham et al, 2018 ). In the last decades, As bioaccessibility, i.e., the As fraction soluble in the gastrointestinal tract and available for absorption (Rodriguez et al, 1999 ; Ruby et al, 1999 ; US EPA, 2007a ), is often employed as a surrogate of bioavailability.…”