| 1. |
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Arsenic in Geosphere and Human Diseases
- 2010
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Editorial proceedings (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The congress "Arsenic in the Environment" offers an international, multi- and interdisciplinary discussion platform for arsenic research aimed at short-term solutions of problems with considerable social impact, rather than only focusing on cutting edge and breakthrough research in physical, chemical, toxicological, medical and other specific issues on arsenic on a broader environmental realm. The congress "Arsenic in the Environment" was first organized in Mexico City (As 2006 ) followed by As 2008 in Valencia, Spain. The Third International Congress As 2010 was held in Tainan, Taiwan from May 17-21, 2010 entitled: "Arsenic in Geosphere and Human Diseases". The session topics comprised:1. Geology + hydrogeology of arsenic;2. Ecological effects: Arsenic in soils, plants and food chain;3. Marine + terrestrial biota;4. Health effects on humans: Epidemiology + biomarkers;5. Toxicological effects;6. Assessment and remediation;7. Analytical methods. Hosting this congress in Taiwan was especially relevant, because the endemic Blackfoot Disease, related to the arsenic uptake from drinking water supplied by artesian wells, was discovered here half a century ago. Since then Taiwan has become an important region specializing in arsenic research. This volume presents the extended abstracts of the congress and will give the latest state of the art knowledge based on current research performed by the global scientific community.
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| 2. |
- Bundschuh, Jochen, et al.
(author)
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Arsenic in the human food chain : the Latin American perspective
- 2012
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In: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 429, s. 92-106
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Many regions of Latin America are widely reported for the occurrence of high arsenic (As) in groundwater and surface water due to a combination of geological processes and/or anthropogenic activities. In this paper, we review the available literature (both in English and Spanish languages) to delineate human As exposure pathways through the food chain. Numerous studies show that As accumulations in edible plants and crops are mainly associated with the presence of high As in soils and irrigation waters. However, factors such as As speciation, type and composition of soil, and plant species have a major control on the amount of As uptake. Areas of high As concentrations in surface water and groundwater show high As accumulations in plants, fish/shellfish, livestock meat, milk and cheese. Such elevated As concentrations in food may result in widespread health risks to local inhabitants, including health of indigenous populations and residents living close to mining industries. Some studies show that As can be transferred from the water to prepared meals, thereby magnifying the As content in the human diet. Arsenic speciation might also change during food preparation, especially during high temperature cooking, such as grilling and frying. Finally, the review of the available literature demonstrates the necessity of more rigorous studies in evaluating pathways of As exposure through the human food chain in Latin America.
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| 3. |
- Bundschuh, Jochen, et al.
(author)
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Arsenic removal from groundwater of the Chaco-Pampean Plain (Argentina) using natural geological materials as adsorbents
- 2011
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In: Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part A. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1093-4529 .- 1532-4117. ; 46:11, s. 1297-1310
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Use of natural geological materials for arsenic (As) removal is an emerging solution at a household level for poor people in remote rural settlements, especially when the materials are locally available and can be collected by the local population. Their low or zero cost makes these materials very attractive compared with synthetic or commercial materials. Sometimes, this may be the only option to provide safe water to very poor settlements. Their suitability for As removal from water is mainly due to adsorption, co-precipitation and ion exchange processes involving Fe- and Al-rich minerals and clay minerals present in the soils or sediments. In the present study, various clay-rich soils from the Santiago del Estero province (SDE, NW Argentina) and, for comparison, a laterite from the Misiones province have been tested as adsorbents for As in shallow naturally contaminated groundwaters of the Rio Dulce alluvial aquifer in SDE. Batch adsorption experiments showed higher As(V) removal for the Misiones laterite sample (99 %) as compared with the soils from SDE (40-53 %), which can be related to lower contents of water-soluble and oxalate extractable Al and Fe in the last samples. These results suggest the application of the Misiones laterite soil as an alternative for As removal. However, high transportation costs from Misiones to SDE can be an economical restriction for the low-income population of SDE.
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| 4. |
- Bundschuh, Jochen, et al.
(author)
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Foreword
- 2011
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In: Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part A. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1093-4529 .- 1532-4117. ; 46:11, s. 1161-1162
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Bundschuh, Jochen, et al.
(author)
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One century of arsenic exposure in Latin America : A review of history and occurrence from 14 countries
- 2012
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In: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 429, s. 2-35
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The global impact on public health of elevated arsenic (As) in water supplies is highlighted by an increasing number of countries worldwide reporting high As concentrations in drinking water. In Latin America, the problem of As contamination in water is known in 14 out of 20 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru and Uruguay. Considering the 1 0 mu g/L limit for As in drinking water established by international and several national agencies, the number of exposed people is estimated to be about 14 million. Health effects of As exposure were identified for the first time already in the 1910s in Bellville (Cordoba province, Argentina). Nevertheless, contamination of As in waters has been detected in 10 Latin American countries only within the last 10 to 15 years. Arsenic is mobilized predominantly from young volcanic rocks and their weathering products. In alluvial aquifers, which are water sources frequently used for water supply, desorption of As from metal oxyhydroxides at high pH (>8) is the predominant mobility control; redox conditions are moderate reducing to oxidizing and As(V) is the predominant species. In the Andes, the Middle American cordillera and the Transmexican Volcanic Belt, oxidation of sulfide minerals is the primary As mobilization process. Rivers that originate in the Andean mountains, transport As to more densely populated areas in the lowlands (e.g. Rimac river in Peru, Pilcomayo river in Bolivia/Argentina/Paraguay). In many parts of Latin America, As often occurs together with F and B; in the Chaco-Pampean plain As is found additionally with V. Mo and U whereas in areas with sulfide ore deposits As often occurs together with heavy metals. These co-occurrences and the anthropogenic activities in mining areas that enhance the mobilization of As and other pollutants make more dramatic the environmental problem.
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| 7. |
- Kar, Sandeep, et al.
(author)
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Health risks for human intake of aquacultural fish : Arsenic bioaccumulation and contamination
- 2011
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In: Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part A. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1093-4529 .- 1532-4117. ; 46:11, s. 1266-1273
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aquacultural tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus L.) and shrimp (Penaeus monodon L.) from groundwater-cultured ponds in southwestern Taiwan were analyzed to estimate arsenic (As) bioaccumulation and the potential health risk to human intake. Most of aquacultural ponds exhibited higher arsenic than maximum allowed concentrations (50 mu g L(-1)) in pond water of Taiwan. Arsenic levels in tilapia in Budai, Yichu and Beimen were 0.92 +/- 0.52 mu g g(-1), 0.93 +/- 0.19 mu g g(-1) and 0.76 +/- 0.03 mu g g(-1), respectively and in shrimp was 0.36 +/- 0.01 mu g g(-1) in Beimen. Total arsenic in tilapia is highly correlated (R(2) = 0.80) with total arsenic concentration of pond water. Total arsenic in fish showed high correlation with that in bone (R(2) = 0.98), head (R(2) = 0.97) and tissue (R(2) = 0.96). Organic arsenic species (DMA) was found higher relative to inorganic species of As(III) and As(V). The average percent contribution of inorganic arsenic to total arsenic in fish samples was 12.5% and ranged between 11.7 to 14.2%. Bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for total arsenic in fish ranged from 10.3 to 22.1, whereas BAF for inorganic arsenic ranged from 1.33 to 2.82. The mean human health cancer risk associated with the ingestion of inorganic arsenic in the fish was estimated at 2.36 x 10(-4) +/- 0.99 x 10(-4), which is over 200 times greater than a de Minimus cancer risk of 1 x 10(-6). The mean human health hazard quotient associated with ingesting inorganic arsenic in the fish was 1.22 +/- 0.52, indicating that expected human exposure exceeds the reference dose for non-cancer health effects by 22%. These results suggest that the inhabitants in this region are being subjected to moderately elevated arsenic exposure through the consumption of tilapia and shrimp raised in aquaculture ponds.
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| 8. |
- Kar, Sandeep, et al.
(author)
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Role of organic matter and humic substances in the binding and mobility of arsenic in a Gangetic aquifer
- 2011
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In: Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part A. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1093-4529 .- 1532-4117. ; 46:11, s. 1231-1238
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Arsenic (As) enrichment in groundwater has led to extensive research, particularly on the factors responsible for its release into groundwater. In the Gangetic plain, organic matter driven microbial reduction of Fe-oxyhydroxides is considered as the most plausible mechanism of As release into groundwater. However, the role of organic matter in the aqueous environment is not well known and particularly that of organometallic complex. In this study, we have characterized bulk sediment and groundwater samples, collected from Barasat, West Bengal, India, to understand the effect of organic matter in the binding and mobility of As in the subsurface environment. The results showed a moderate correlation (R(2) = 0.49, p < 0.05) between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and As in groundwater, suggesting that DOC has a role in releasing As into groundwater. The relative fluorescent intensity (RFI) of the dissolved humic substances in groundwater showed a maximum value of 65 QSU (mean: 47 +/- 8 QSU). FT-IR spectra of the extracted humic acid fractions of the sediment showed COO-, C = O, OH, and C = C (aromatic ring) functional groups, which may act as a chelating agents with the metal(loid)s. FT-IR spectra of the HA-As complex exhibited specific peaks at 1242 and 832 cm(-1) in the fingerprint region. This is similar to the extracted humic acid fractions of the Gangetic sediment, suggesting binding of As with humic substances.
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| 9. |
- Liu, Chia-Chuan, et al.
(author)
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Biogeochemical interactions among the arsenic, iron, humic substances, and microbes in mud volcanoes in southern Taiwan
- 2011
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In: Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part A. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1093-4529 .- 1532-4117. ; 46:11, s. 1218-1230
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Fluid and mud samples collected from Hsiaokunshui (HKS), Wushanting (WST), Yenshuikeng (YSK), Kunshuiping (KSP), Liyushan (LYS), and Sinyangnyuhu (SYNH) mud volcanoes of southwestern Taiwan were characterized for major ions, humic substances (HS) and trace elements concentrations. The relationship between the release of arsenic (As) and activities of sulfate-reducing bacteria has been assessed to understand relevant geochemical processes in the mud volcanoes. Arsenic (0.02-0.06 mg/L) and humic substances (4.13 x 10(-4) to 1.64 x 10(-3) mM) in the fluids of mud volcanoes showed a positive correlation (r = 0.99, p < 0.05) except in Liyushan mud volcano. Arsenic and iron in mud sediments formed two separate groups i) high As, but low Fe in HKS, WST, and SYNH; and ii) low As, but high Fe in the YSK, KSP, and LYS mud volcanoes. The Eh(S.H.E). values of the mud volcano liquids were characterized by mild to strongly reducing conditions. The HKS, SYNH, and WST mud volcanoes (near the Chishan Fault) belongs to strong reducing environment (-33 to -116 mV), whereas the LYS, YSK, and KSP mud volcanoes located near the coastal plain are under mild reducing environment (-11 to 172 mV). At low Eh values mud volcanoes, saturation index (SI) values of poorly crystalline phases such as amorphous ferric hydroxide indicate understaturation, whereas saturation is reached in relatively high Eh(S.H.E.) values mud volcanoes. Arsenic contents in sediments are low, presumably due to its release to fluids (As/Fe ratio in YSK, KSP, and LYS sediment: 4.86 x 10(-4)-6.20 x 10(-4)). At low Eh(S.H.E.) values (mild to strong reducing environment), arsenic may co-precipitate with sulfides as a consequence of sulfate reduction (As/Fe ratios in WST, HKS, and SYNH sediments: 0.42-0.69).
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| 10. |
- Liu, Chia-Chuan, et al.
(author)
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Geochemical characteristics of the mud volcano fluids in southwestern Taiwan and their possible linkage to elevated arsenic concentration in Chianan plain groundwater
- 2012
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In: ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1866-6280 .- 1866-6299. ; 66:5, s. 1513-1523
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Fluid and mud samples were collected from Wushanting (WST), Hsiaokunshui (HKS), Yenshuikeng (YSK), Kuantzeling (KZL), and Kunshuiping (KSP) mud volcanoes of southwestern Taiwan. Concentrations of major ions and trace elements in mud volcanic fluids were analyzed to find the possible linkage to elevated arsenic (As) concentrations in the Chianan plain groundwater. The elevated Na+, K+, and Cl- concentrations indicated possible marine origin of the fluids. The trace element concentrations in the mud volcanic fluids were generally low, but the As concentrations were up to 0.12 mg/L. High contents of As, Fe, and Mn were observed in the mud samples. Saturation index calculations indicated that both carbonate and oxide minerals acted as potential sinks for As in the mud volcanic fluids. Arsenic in the dewatering fluids and muds may be transported by the subsurface flow and surface streams as suspended solids and eventually deposited in the Chianan plain aquifers. Under reducing conditions, As may be released from the host minerals (such as Fe- and Mn-oxides/hydroxides), thereby causing widespread groundwater As pollution.
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| 11. |
- Maity, Jyoti Prakash, et al.
(author)
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Arsenic-enriched groundwaters of India, Bangladesh and Taiwan-Comparison of hydrochemical characteristics and mobility constraints
- 2011
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In: Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part A. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1093-4529 .- 1532-4117. ; 46:11, s. 1163-1176
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Arsenic (As) enrichment in groundwater has become a major global environmental disaster. Groundwater samples were collected from 64 sites located in the districts of 24-Parganas (S), and Nadia in West Bengal, India (Bhagirathi sub-basin), and 51 sites located in the districts of Comilla, Noakhali, Magura, Brahman baria, Laxmipur, Munshiganj, Faridpur and Jhenaida in Bangladesh (Padma-Meghna sub-basin). Groundwater samples were also collected from two As-affected areas (Chianan and Lanyang plains) of Taiwan (n = 26). The concentrations of major solutes in groundwater of the Padma-Meghna sub-basin are more variable than the Bhagirathi sub-basin, suggesting variations in the depositional and hydrological settings. Arsenic concentrations in groundwaters of the studied areas showed large variations, with mean As concentrations of 125 mu g/L (range: 0.20 to 1,301 mu g/L) in Bhagirathi sub-basin, 145 mu g/L (range: 0.20 to 891 mu g/L) in Padma-Meghna sub-basin, 209 mu g/L (range: 1.3 to 575 mu g/L) in Chianan plain, and 102 mu g/L (range: 2.5 to 348 mu g/L) in Lanyang plain groundwater. The concentrations of Fe, and Mn are also highly variable, and are mostly above the WHO-recommended guideline values and local (Indian and Bangladeshi) drinking water standard. Piper plot shows that groundwaters of both Bhagirathi and Padma-Meghna sub-basins are of Ca-HCO(3) type. The Chianan plain groundwaters are of Na-Cl type, suggesting seawater intrusion, whereas Lanyang plain groundwaters are mostly of Na-HCO(3) type. The study shows that reductive dissolution of Fe(III)-oxyhydroxides is the dominant geochemical process releasing As from sediment to groundwater in all studied areas.
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| 12. |
- Maity, Jyoti Prakash, et al.
(author)
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Arsenic-induced health crisis in peri-urban Moyna and Ardebok villages, West Bengal, India : an exposure assessment study
- 2012
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In: Environmental Geochemistry and Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0269-4042 .- 1573-2983. ; 34:5, s. 563-574
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Drinking of arsenic (As)-contaminated groundwater has adverse effects on health of millions of people worldwide. This study aimed to determine the degree of severity of As exposure from drinking water in peri-urban Moyna and Ardebok villages, West Bengal, India. Arsenic concentrations in hair, nail and urine samp les of the individuals were determined. Arsenical dermatosis, keratosis and melanosis were investigated through medical evaluation. We have evaluated the association between As exposure from drinking water, and keratosis and melanosis outcomes. The results showed that 82.7 % of the sampled tube wells contain As concentrations above 10 mu g/L, while 57.7 % contain As concentrations above 50 mu g/L. The hair, nail and urine As concentrations were positively correlated with As concentrations in drinking water. In our study population, we observed a strong association between As concentrations ranging 51-99 mu g/L and keratosis and melanosis outcomes, although the probability decreases at higher concentration ranges perhaps due to switching away from the use of As-contaminated tube wells for drinking and cooking purposes. High As concentrations in hair, nail and urine were observed to be associated with the age of the study population. The level of As concentrations in hair, nail and urine samples of the study population indicated the degree of severity of As exposure in the study region.
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| 13. |
- Maity, Jyoti Prakash, et al.
(author)
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Biogeochemical characteristics of Kuan-Tzu-Ling, Chung-Lun and Bao-Lai hot springs in southern Taiwan
- 2011
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In: Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part A. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1093-4529 .- 1532-4117. ; 46:11, s. 1207-1217
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hot springs are the important natural sources of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. Kuan-Tzu-Ling (KTL), Chung-Lun (CL) and Bao-Lai (BL) are well-known hot springs in southern Taiwan. Fluid and mud (sediments) samples were collected from the eruption points of three hot springs for detailed biogeochemical characterization. The fluid sample displays relatively high concentrations of Na(+) and Cl(-) compared with K(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), NO(2)(-), and SO(4)(2-), suggesting a possible marine origin. The concentrations of Fe, Cr, Mn, Ni, V and Zn were significantly higher in the mud sediments compared with fluids, whereas high concentrations of As, Ba, Cu, Se, Sr and Rb were observed in the fluids. This suggests that electronegative elements were released during sediment-water interactions. High As concentration in the fluids was observed to be associated with low redox (Eh) conditions. The FTIR spectra of the humic acid fractions of the sediments showed the presence of possible functional groups of secondary amines, ureas, urethanesm (amide), and silicon. The sulfate-reducing deltaproteobacterium 99% similar to Desulfovibrio psychrotolerans (GU329907) were rich in the CL hot spring while mesophilic, proteolytic, thiosulfate-and sulfur-reducing bacterium that 99% similar to Clostridium sulfidigenes (GU329908) were rich in the BL hot spring.
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| 14. |
- Maity, Jyoti Prakash, et al.
(author)
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The potential for reductive mobilization of arsenic [As(V) to As(III)] by OSBH(2) (Pseudomonas stutzeri) and OSBH(5) (Bacillus cereus) in an oil-contaminated site
- 2011
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In: Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part A. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1093-4529 .- 1532-4117. ; 46:11, s. 1239-1246
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Microbial reduction of arsenate [As(V)] plays an important role in arsenic (As) mobilization in aqueous environments. In this study, we investigated reduction of arsenate by different bacterial isolates such as OSBH(1) (GU329913), OSBH(2) (GU329914), OSBH(3) (GU329915), OSBH(4) (GU329916) and OSBH(5) (GU329917), isolated from the oil sludge of a sewage treatment plant operated by the China Petroleum Refinery Company in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan. Bacterial strains of pure culture were identified by 16S rRNA analysis (>= 99 % nucleotide similarity). Morphological and 16S rRNA analysis show that the isolate OSBH(1) is similar to E. coli, OSBH(2) is similar to P. stutzeri, OSBH(3) is similar to P. putida, OSBH(4) is similar to P. aeruginosa, and OSBH(5) is similar to B. Cereus. The As(V) was transformed to As(III) in the presence of isolates OSBH(2) and OSBH(5) by a detoxification process. The potential reduction rates of As(V) were higher in the presence of isolate OSBH(5) compared to the isolate OSBH(2). The microbial growth (cell/mL) of isolate OSBH(5) was significantly higher in culture medium compared to OSBH(2). The bacterial isolates such as OSBH(1), OSBH(3) and OSBH(4) were found to be incapable of transforming the As(V). It is concluded that the activity of the oil-degrading bacterial isolates described in this work contributes to the mobilization of As in the more toxic As(III) form that affects biotic life.
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