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Inorganic arsenic (iAs) and total arsenic (tAs) were determined in common food from the Swedish market. Special focus was on rice, fish and shellfish products. For the speciation of iAs the European standard EN:16802 based on anion exchange chromatography coupled to ICP-MS was used. The two market basket food groups cereals (including rice), and sweets and condiments (a mixed group of sugar, sweets, tomato ketchup and dressings), contained the highest iAs levels (means 9 and 7 μg iAs/kg), whereas other food groups, including fish, did not exceed 2 μg iAs/kg. Varying levels of iAs were found in separate samples of tomato ketchup, 2.4–26 μg/kg, and is suggested to be one reason of the rather high average level of iAs in the food group sweets and condiments. Some specific food products revealed iAs levels much higher, i.e. rice crackers 152 and Norway lobster 89 μg iAs/kg. The intake of iAs via food was estimated by data from two national consumption surveys, performed in 2010–11 (1797 adults) and 2003 (2259 children). The estimated median iAs intakes in adults and children were 0.047 and 0.095 μg/kg body weight and day, respectively. The iAs intake for rice eaters was about 1.4 times higher than for non-rice eaters. Validation of the consumption survey-based iAs intake, using food purchase and market basket data mainly from 2015, resulted in a per capita intake of a similar magnitude, i.e. 0.056 μg/kg body weight and day. The estimated cancer risk for adults using low-dose linear extrapolation is <1 per 100,000 per year. Unlabelled Image • Food group cereals and sweets contained the highest iAs levels, 9 and 7 μg/kg. • Foods groups fish, fruits, vegetables, dairies and egg contained <2 μg iAs/kg. • Median iAs intakes in adults and children were 0.047 and 0.095 μg/kg bw per day. • The iAs intake for rice eaters was 1.4 times higher than for non-rice eaters. • Estimated cancer risk due to iAs is <1 per 1 ∗ 105/y (low-dose linear extrapol). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic (As) is associated with numerous adverse effects. Argentina is one of the countries affected by arsenicism; however, there are few studies that evaluate inorganic As exposure and its effects on child population. The aim of this study is to evaluate exposure to As through water and food in child populations living in the provinces of Santiago del Estero and Chaco (n = 101), and to determine the impact of this exposure analysing biomarkers of exposure (urine and hair As contents) and effect [8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)]. The populations selected live in three areas with different levels of As in the drinking water (Santa Teresa de Carballo, 0.925 mg/L; Taco Pozo, 0.210 mg/L; Jumi Pozo, 0.016 mg/L). The As intakes through water and food are especially high in the areas with the greatest As exposure (Santa Teresa de Carballo, 1575 ± 8 μg/day; Taco Pozo, 386 ± 8 μg/day; Jumi Pozo, 39 ± 1 μg/day). The total As contents in most of the samples of hair (0.11–13.11 mg/kg) and urine (31–4258 μg/g creatinine) are higher than the reference values (hair: 1 mg/kg; urine: 50 μg/g creatinine). The increase in the level of As exposure alters the profile of metabolites in urine, with a decrease of dimethylarsinic acid (10%) and an increase in the percentages of monomethylarsonic acid (4%) and inorganic As (6%). The results also show high values of 8-OHdG (3.7–37.8 μg/g creatinine), a oxidative DNA damage marker, in the two areas with greater As exposure. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • This study evaluates As exposure (water and food) in child populations of Argentina. • Arsenic intakes are especially high in Taco Pozo and Santa Teresa de Carballo. • Total As contents in hair and urine are higher than the reference values. • The increase in the level of As exposure alters the profile of metabolites in urine. • High values of 8-OHdG, a marker of DNA damage, in children with greater As exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Although epidemiologic studies show an association between long-term environmental inorganic arsenic (iAs) exposure and various disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism, the mechanisms of these ailments remain unclear. While white adipose tissue (WAT) essentially acts as a storage tissue for energy and is key to energy homeostasis, brown adipose tissue (BAT) consumes excess energy via uncoupling protein 1-mediated non-shivering thermogenesis in mitochondria and helps maintain the steady state of glucose and lipid metabolism. Our previous in vitro work found that iAs may inhibit adipogenesis and glucose uptake in adipocytes, leading us to hypothesize that chronic exposure to iAs in vivo may also affect the development and function of BAT, which plays a part in iAs-induced metabolic disorders. Thus, adult C57BL/6J female mice were provided drinking water containing 5 or 20 ppm of inorganic arsenicals (iAs3+ and iAs5+) for 17 weeks and control mice were given unaltered water. In these mice, iAs exposure induced cold intolerance and lipid accretion in BAT. In addition, iAs exposure impaired expression of various genes related to thermogenesis, mitochondrial function, adipocyte differentiation, as well as lipolysis in BAT of the exposed mice. These findings suggest a novel toxicity of iAs in BAT occurring via induction of BAT malfunction and impairment of thermogenesis. This novel toxicological linkage helps explain the mechanisms linking iAs exposure to increased risk of disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Prolonged oral iAs exposure induces cold intolerance and BAT whitening in mice. • iAs exposure impairs expression of various genes related to thermogenesis in BAT. • iAs-treated mice show glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. • Malfunction of BAT contributes to iAs-induced impairment of energy homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic (As) speciation and bioaccumulation in fish muscle tissues have been intensively investigated in marine ecosystem. However, little is known about these in freshwater fish. In this study, freshwater fish including 120 specimens and 8 species were collected from the Xiang River, a typical mine-impacted river in China. Six As species including arsenite (AsIII), arsenate (AsV), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), arsenocholine (AsC) and arsenobetaine (AsB) were simultaneously separated and determined using HPLC-ICP-MS. The mean (± SD) concentration of total As (tAs) in the dried fish muscle was 0.748 ± 0.651 mg·kg − 1 . AsB was found as the predominant As species in most of the studied fish samples, in accordance with the reports in marine fish. However, the diversity of inorganic/organic As proportion observed in the studied freshwater fish species was larger than that in marine fish species due to greater spatial variability of As contamination, mobilization and origination in the studied catchments. The percentage of AsB (AsB%) in fish muscle was irrelevant to tAs concentration, while the percentage of iAs (iAs%) decreased with tAs concentration in a hyperbolic pattern. This can be attributed to restricted assimilation and accumulation of toxic iAs with increasing tAs concentration in fish. Chronic non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks were evaluated through Monte-Carlo simulation. The result indicated that consuming freshwater fish in the Xiang River could cause considerable carcinogenic risk to local inhabitants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is ubiquitous in the environment as arsenite (AsIII) and arsenate (AsV) compounds and biotransformation of these toxic chemicals leads to the extraordinary variety of organoarsenic species found in nature. Despite classification as a human carcinogen based on data from populations exposed through contaminated drinking water, only recently has a need for regulatory limits on iAs in food been recognized. The delay was due to the difficulty in risk assessment of dietary iAs, which critically relies on speciation analysis providing occurrence data for iAs in food – and not simply for total arsenic. In the present review the state of knowledge regarding arsenic speciation in food and diet is evaluated with focus on iAs and human exposure assessment through different dietary approaches including duplicate diet studies, market basket surveys, and total diet studies. The analytical requirements for obtaining reliable data for iAs in food are discussed and iAs levels in foods and beverages are summarized, along with information on other (potentially) toxic co-occurring organoarsenic compounds. Quantitative exposure assessment of iAs in food is addressed, focusing on the need of capturing variability and extent of exposure and identifying what dietary items drive very high exposure for certain population groups. Finally, gaps and uncertainties are discussed, including effect of processing and cooking, and iAs bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrations of inorganic forms [arsenite, As(III) and arsenate, As(V) of arsenic (As) present in groundwater, agricultural soils and subsurface sediments located in the middle Gangetic plain of Bihar, India were determined. Approximately 73% of the groundwater samples ( n = 19) show As(III) as the dominant species while 27% reveals As(V) was the dominant species. The concentration of As(III) in agricultural soil samples varies from not detectable to 40 μg/kg and As(V) was observed as the major species (ranging from 1050 to 6835 μg/kg) while the total As concentration varied from 3528 to 14,690 μg/kg. Total extracted concentration of As was higher in the subsurface sediments (range 9119–20,056 μg/kg in Methrapur and 4788–19,681 μg/kg in Harail Chapar) than the agricultural soil, indicating the subsurface sediment as a source of As. Results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) revealed the presence of hematite and goethite throughout the vertical section below while magnetite was observed only in the upper oxidized layer at Methrapur and Harail Chapar. Alteration of Fe-oxides and presence of fibrous goethite indicating presence of diagenetic sediment. Siderite plays a crucial role as sinks to the As in subsurface sediments. The study also concluded that decomposition of organic matter present in dark and grey sections promote the redox conditions and trigger mobilization of As into groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we report on model simulations performed using the newly developed exposure tool, MERLIN-Expo, in order to assess inorganic arsenic (iAs) exposure to adults resulting from past emissions by non-ferrous smelters in Belgium (Northern Campine area). Exposure scenarios were constructed to estimate external iAs exposure as well as the toxicologically relevant As (tAs, i.e., iAs, MMA and DMA) body burden in adults living in the vicinity of the former industrial sites as compared to adults living in adjacent areas and a reference area. Two scenarios are discussed: a first scenario studying exposure to iAs at the aggregated population level and a second scenario studying exposure at the individual level for a random sub-sample of subjects in each of the three different study areas. These two scenarios only differ in the type of human related input data (i.e., time-activity data, ingestion rates and consumption patterns) that were used, namely averages (incl. probability density functions, PDFs) in the simulation at population level and subject-specific values in the simulation at individual level. The model predictions are shown to be lower than the corresponding biomonitoring data from the monitoring campaign. Urinary tAs levels in adults, irrespective of the area they lived in, were under-predicted by MERLIN-Expo by 40% on average. The model predictions for individual adults, by contrast, under-predict the biomonitoring data by 7% on average, but with more important under-predictions for subjects at the upper end of exposure. Still, average predicted urinary tAs levels from the simulations at population level and at individual level overlap, and, at least for the current case, lead to similar conclusions. These results constitute a first and partial verification of the model performance of MERLIN-Expo when dealing with iAs in a complex site-specific exposure scenario, and demonstrate the robustness of the modelling tool for these situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the levels of total arsenic and arsenic species in marine biota such as clams ( Meretrix meretrix ; N = 21 ) and pearl oyster ( Pinctada radiata ; N = 5 ) collected from nine costal sites in Jan 2014, and cuttlefish ( Sepia pharaonis ; N = 8 ), shrimp ( Penaeus semisulcatus ; N = 1 ), and seven commercially important finfish species ( N = 23) collected during Apr–May 2013 from seven offshore sites in the western Arabian Gulf. Total As and As species such as dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), arsenobetaine (AB), trimethylarsine oxide (TMAO), arsenocholine (AC), tetramethylarsonium ion (Tetra), arsenosugar-glycerol (As-Gly) and inorganic As (iAs) were determined by using ICPMS and HPLC/ICPMS. In bivalves, the total As concentrations ranged from 16 to 118 mg/kg dry mass; the toxic iAs fraction contributed on average less than 0.8% of the total As, while the nontoxic AB fraction formed around 58%. Total As concentrations for the remaining seafood (cuttlefish, shrimp and finfish) ranged from 11 to 134 mg/kg dry mass and the iAs and AB fractions contributed on average 0.03% and 81% respectively of the total As. There was no significant relationship between the tissue concentrations of total As and iAs in the samples. There was also no significant relationship between As levels in seafood and geographical location or salinity of the waters from which samples were collected. Based on our results, we recommend introducing a maximum permissible level of arsenic in seafood from the Gulf based on iAs content rather than based on total As. Our analyses of cancer risks and non-cancer hazards identified non-negligible risks and the potential for hazards; the greatest risks were identified for expatriate consumers of bivalves and high-end consumers of seafood. Despite this, many uncertainties remain that would be best addressed by further analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangrove forests, provide vital food resources and are an endangered ecosystem worldwide due to pollution and habitat destruction. A risk-benefit assessment (RBA) was performed on the red mangrove crab (Ucides occidentalis) from the threatened Guayas mangroves in Ecuador. It was aimed to assess the combined potential adverse and beneficial health impact associated with crab consumption and define a recommended safe intake (SI) to improve the diet of the Ecuadoran population while ensuring safe food intake. Target hazard quotients (THQs), benefit quotients (Qs), and benefit-risk quotients (BRQs) were calculated based on the concentrations of the analyzed contaminants (121 pesticide residues, 11 metal(loid)s, antimicrobial drugs from 3 classes) and nutrients (fatty acids, amino acids, and essential nutrients). Except for inorganic arsenic (iAs), the THQ was below 100 for all investigated contaminants, suggesting that the average crab consumer is exposed to levels that do not impose negative non-carcinogenic or carcinogenic health effects in the long and/or short term. Concentrations of iAs (average AsIII: 25.64 and AsV: 6.28 μg/kg fw) were of the highest concern because of the potential to cause negative health effects on long-term consumption. Despite the thriving aquaculture in the Guayas estuary, concentrations of residues of the antimicrobial drugs oxytetracycline (OTC), florfenicol, and nitrofurans still were low. Based on the fact that different risk reference values exist, related to different safety levels, four SI values (0.002, 0.04, 4, and 18 crabs/day) were obtained. The strictest intake values indicate a concern for current consumption habits. In conclusion, the red mangrove crab contains various important nutrients and can be part of a balanced diet for the Ecuadorian population when consumed in limited portions. The present study emphasizes the importance of safeguarding the quality of the environment as a prerequisite for procuring nutritious and safe food., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Arsenic (As) can exist in the environment in several different forms, each having unique chemical characteristics that influence its toxicity and potential for human and ecological exposure. Within the last decade or so, the focus on speciated As (both the inorganic and organic forms) and its potential toxicity has led to an increased availability of data on speciated As in different food types. To gain an understanding of these developments and the current science, we evaluated the state of knowledge regarding As speciation in food and calculated the average levels of several species of As measured in food. Because inorganic arsenic (inAs) is considered the most toxicologically important form of As, we focused our analysis on papers presenting information on total inAs and speciated inAs (inAs 3 + or inAs 5 + ). We also evaluated speciated As forms ( e.g. , monomethylarsonic and dimethylarsinic acid) when presented with inAs information. Publications were drawn from the peer-reviewed literature and reports by authoritative health agencies. While a great deal of speciation data were identified, including over 6500 unique inAs data points, unclear study methodology and inconsistencies between studies introduced uncertainty into the analysis of these data. Despite these limitations, our analysis demonstrates that inAs in foods can vary widely by type and even by sample, with mean inAs concentrations ranging from undetectable (in milk) to 11,000 μg/kg (in seaweed/algae). We found a high percentage of non-measurable As in many food types, suggesting that the limits of detection of speciated As must be considered to accurately estimate dietary As exposure. The applicability of our analysis is limited by the inconsistencies and uncertainties in the available data; calculations of inAs dietary intake should be tailored to the study population of interest and should consider study quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Exposure to inorganic Arsenic (iAs) through drinking water is a major public health problem affecting most countries. iAs has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as Group 1: “Carcinogenic to humans”. Although numerous studies have shown the related adverse effects of iAs, sensitive appropriate biomarkers for studies of environmental epidemiology are still required. The present work aims at investigate the role of microRNAs (miRNAs), powerful negative regulators of gene expression, playing a key role in many physiological and pathological cellular processes, in iAs exposure. To this end, we analyzed miRNA changes in expression profile triggered by iAs exposure in Jurkat cell line. We used microarray technology to profile the expression of miRNAs following 2μmol/L sodium arsenite treatment at different time points. Moreover, we performed phenotypic analysis of iAs treated cells. Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was used to validate miRNA microarray data and to assay expression modulation of selected relevant mRNAs. Finally, bioinformatics techniques were applied to reconstruct iAs-relevant molecular pathways and miRNA regulatory networks from the expression data. We report miRNAs modulated after iAs treatment in Jurkat cells. In particular, we highlight 36 miRNAs exhibiting consistent dysregulation and particularly a panel of 8 miRNAs which we also validated by RT-PCR analysis. Computational analysis of lists of putative target genes for these 8 miRNAs points to an involvement in arsenic-response pathways, for a subset of them, that were analyzed by RT-PCR. Furthermore, iAs exposure reveals induction of cell cycle progression and the failure of apoptosis, supporting the idea of iAs carcinogenic activity. Our study provides a list of miRNAs whose expression levels are affected by iAs treatment, corroborating the importance of proceeding with the hunt for specific subset of miRNAs, which can serve as potential biomarkers of iAs effects with useful diagnostic value. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Rice is the staple food for the people of arsenic endemic South (S) and South-East (SE) Asian countries. In this region, arsenic contaminated groundwater has been used not only for drinking and cooking purposes but also for rice cultivation during dry season. Irrigation of arsenic-contaminated groundwater for rice cultivation has resulted high deposition of arsenic in topsoil and uptake in rice grain posing a serious threat to the sustainable agriculture in this region. In addition, cooking rice with arsenic-contaminated water also increases arsenic burden in cooked rice. Inorganic arsenic is the main species of S and SE Asian rice (80 to 91% of the total arsenic), and the concentration of this toxic species is increased in cooked rice from inorganic arsenic-rich cooking water. The people of Bangladesh and West Bengal (India), the arsenic hot spots in the world, eat an average of 450g rice a day. Therefore, in addition to drinking water, dietary intake of arsenic from rice is supposed to be another potential source of exposure, and to be a new disaster for the population of S and SE Asian countries. Arsenic speciation in raw and cooked rice, its bioavailability and the possible health hazard of inorganic arsenic in rice for the population of S and SE Asia have been discussed in this review. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study estimated the human health risk associated with ingesting inorganic arsenic through consumption of farmed oysters in Taiwan. Two hundred fifty-four samples of oyster (Crassostrea gigas) were collected from four townships in southwest coastal areas, where 90% of Taiwan''s oysters are produced. The concentrations of total arsenic and arsenic species including As(V), As(III), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) were analyzed. The analytical results reveal that the ratio of mean concentration among the four townships of inorganic As to total concentration of As in oysters is approximately 1.64%. The mean concentrations of As(III) and As(V) in oysters from the four townships range from 0.071 to 0.145 μg/g, and 0.032 to 0.062 μg/g respectively. The estimated target cancer risks (TR), based on a 95% occurrence probability from ingesting inorganic As by consuming oysters at a rate of 18.6–56 g/day, range from 1.26×10−5 to 3.82×10−5. The probabilities of TR fell within the range 10−6–10−4, suggesting that inorganic As uptake from farmed oysters is associated with a potential cancer risk. Moreover, a target hazard quotient (THQ) was used to evaluate the non-carcinogenic risk associated with ingesting inorganic As through oyster consumption at a rate of 18.6–56 g/day. The THQ values based on a 95% probability of exposure range from 0.071 to 0.214. All THQ values are below unity, indicating that farmed oyster consumption contributes only a little to the non-carcinogenic risk. Based on the estimation of the TR model, an ingestion rate of 1.6 g/day is recommended to meet the 95th percentile of carcinogenic risk, 10−6, for exposure to inorganic As through the consumption of oysters in Taiwan. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The health risks associated with ingestion of arsenic (As) via consumption of rice are a global concern. This study investigated the effects of integrated biochar (BC)-water management approaches to As stress and to associated health risks in rice. Rice cultivars, Jayanthi and Ishikari , were grown, irrigated with As-containing water (1 mg L−1), under the following treatments: (1) birnessite-modified rice hull biochar (Mn-RBC)-flooded water management, (2) Mn-RBC-intermittent water management, (3) conventional flooded water management, and (4) intermittent water management. Rice yield in both rice varieties increased by 10%–34% under Mn-RBC-flooded and Mn-RBC-intermittent treatments compared to the conventional flooded treatment. In most cases, inorganic As concentration in rice roots, shoots, husks, and unpolished grains in both rice varieties was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lowered by 20%–81%, 6%–81%, 30%–75%, and 18%–44%, respectively, under Mn-RBC-flooded, Mn-RBC-intermittent, and intermittent treatments over flooded treatment. Incremental lifetime cancer risks associated with consumption of both rice varieties were also lowered from 18% to 44% under Mn-RBC-flooded, Mn-RBC-intermittent, and intermittent treatments compared to flooded treatment. Overall, the integrated Mn-RBC-intermittent approach can be applied to As-endemic areas to produce safer rice grains and reduce the incremental lifetime cancer risk through rice consumption. Unlabelled Image • Birnessite modified rice hull biochar (Mn-RBC) has increased rice yield by 10%–34% in both rice varieties. • Mn-RBC supplementation has increased Mn content in root plaque. • There is no significant difference in total As in grains between rice varieties. • Mn-RBC-water management has decreased cancer risks via rice consumption. • Mn-RBC-intermittent treatment is proposed for producing safer rice grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) and fluoride (F−) and their collective actions on cardiovascular systems have been recognized as a global public health concern. Emerging studies suggest an association between the perturbation of gut bacterial microbiota and adverse cardiovascular effects (CVEs), both of which are the consequence of iAs and F− exposure in human and experimental animals. The aim of this study was to fill the gap of understanding the relationship among co-exposure to iAs and F−, gut microbiota perturbation, and adverse CVEs. We systematically assessed cardiac morphology and functions (blood pressure, echocardiogram, and electrocardiogram), and generated gut microbiota profiles using 16S rRNA gene sequencing on rats exposed to iAs (50 mg/L NaAsO 2), F− (100 mg/L NaF) or combined iAs and F− (50 mg/L NaAsO 2 + 100 mg/L NaF), in utero and during early postnatal periods (postnatal day 90). Correlation analysis was then performed to examine relationship between significantly altered microbiota and cardiac performance indices. Our results showed that co-exposure to iAs and F− resulted in more prominent effects in CVEs and perturbation of gut microbiota profiles, compared to iAs or F− treatment alone. Furthermore, nine bacterial genera (Adlercreutzia , Clostridium sensu stricto 1 , Coprococcus 3 , Romboutsia , [Bacteroides] Pectinophilus group , Lachnospiraceae NC2004 group , Desulfovibrio , and two unidentified genera in Muribaculaceae and Ruminococcaceae family), which differed significantly in relative abundance between control and iAs and F− co-exposure group, were strongly correlated with the higher risk of CVEs (correlation coefficient = 0.70–0.88, p < 0.05). Collectively, these results suggest that co-exposure to iAs and F− poses a higher risk of CVEs, and the part of the mode of action is potentially through inducing gut microbiota disruption, and the strong correlations between them indicate a high potential for the development of novel microbiome-based biomarkers of iAs and/or F− associated CVEs. Unlabelled Image • Co-exposure to arsenic and fluoride leads to adverse cardiovascular effects. • Co-exposure to arsenic and fluoride results in gut microbiota perturbations. • Co-exposure causes more prominent effects than arsenic or fluoride alone. • Strong correlations are identified between cardiovascular effects and significantly altered genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a group 1 carcinogen, and consumption of rice can be a significant pathway of iAs exposure in the food chain. Although there are regulations in place to control iAs for marketed rice in some countries, additional measures are explored to remove arsenic from rice. Due to the surface-bound and soluble nature of iAs, previous studies have shown that it can be removed to a significant extent using different cooking methods. Towards this goal we modified and tested the absorption method in combination with four home-friendly cooking treatments (UA = unwashed and absorbed, WA = washed and absorbed, PSA = pre-soaked and absorbed, and PBA = parboiled and absorbed) using both brown and white rice (3 types each). The nutrient elements were measured using ICP-MS and arsenic speciation was carried out using LC-ICP-MS. Overall, our results show that PBA was the optimum approach assessed, removing 54% and 73% of inorganic arsenic (iAs) for brown and white rice respectively, raising the margin of exposure (MOE) by 3.7 for white rice and 2.2 times for brown rice, thus allowing the consumption of rice more safely for infants, children and adults. Other cooking treatments were effective in reducing the iAs concentration from white rice only. Here we also report changes in selected nutrient elements (P, K, Mg, Zn and Mn) which are relatively abundant in rice. In general, the treatments retained more nutrients in brown rice than white rice. No significant loss of Zn was observed from both rice types and the loss of other nutrients was similar or less than in comparison to reported losses from rice cooked in excess water in the literature. We conclude that PBA is a promising technique and further research is needed by including different regional rice types and water quality levels. Unlabelled Image • Parboiled and absorbed (PBA) method removed 54% & 73% iAs from brown & white rice. • Washing and pre-soaking prior to absorption cooking reduced iAs in white rice only. • PBA raised MOE by 3.7 and 2.2 times for white and brown rice, respectively. • Brown rice retained more nutrients than white rice under absorption methods. • Absorption methods preserved micronutrient such as Zn in brown & white rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse health outcomes, including death from cardiovascular disease (CVD), arising from chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) are well documented. Consumption of rice is a major iAs exposure route for over 3 billion people, however, there is still a lack of epidemiological evidence demonstrating the association between iAs exposure from rice intake and CVD risks. We explored this potential association through an ecological study using data at local authority level across England and Wales. Local authority level daily per capita iAs exposure from rice (E-iAs ing,rice) was estimated using ethnicity as a proxy for class of rice consumption. A series of linear and non-linear models were applied to estimate the association between E-iAs ing,rice and CVD age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), using Akaike's Information Criterion as the principle model selection criterion. When adjusted for significant confounders, notably smoking prevalence, education level, employment rate, overweight percentage, PM2.5, female percentage and medical and care establishments, the preferred non-linear model indicated that CVD risks increased with iAs exposure from rice at exposures above 0.3 μg/person/day. Also, the best-fitted linear model indicated that CVD ASMR in the highest quartile of iAs exposure (0.375–2.71 μg/person/day) was 1.06 (1.02, 1.11; p-trend <0.001) times higher than that in the lowest quartile (<0.265 μg/person/day). Notwithstanding the well-known limitations of ecological studies, this study further suggests exposure to iAs, including from rice intake, as a potentially important confounder for studies of the factors controlling CVD risks. Unlabelled Image • Ecological study of health impacts associated with exposure to inorganic arsenic in rice • Increased risk of cardiovascular mortality associated with increased inorganic arsenic exposure • Non-linear models of the association were better than linear no-threshold models. • More health-protective ways of selecting and cooking rice are indicated. • Exposure to inorganic arsenic is a confounder for studies of other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

p ara-arsanilic acid (p -ASA), as a major phenylarsonic feed additive, was used annually in many countries. Once it enters the water environment, p -ASA would be transformed into hypertoxic inorganic arsenic species, causing severe arsenic pollution. In this study, magnetic copper ferrite (CuFe 2 O 4) was applied to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for p -ASA removal and synchronous control of the released inorganic arsenic species. Results showed that CuFe 2 O 4 /PMS system presented favorable oxidation ability and close to 85% of 10 mg/L p -ASA was eliminated under the condition of simultaneous dosing 0.2 g/L CuFe 2 O 4 and 1 mM PMS. The rapid decomposition of p -ASA resulted from homogeneous PMS oxidation and the attack of reactive oxygen species (i.e., SO 4 −, HO and O 2 −), which was involved the heterogeneous PMS activation through the cycles between Fe(II)/Fe(III) and Cu(II)/Cu(I). Meanwhile, the released inorganic arsenic species during p -ASA degradation were found to be controllable via the adsorption on CuFe 2 O 4 surface and metal hydroxyl groups played the crucial role. CuFe 2 O 4 /PMS system exhibited the stable and efficient performance within the broad range of pH 3.0–11.0. The existence of common anions (Cl−, NO 3 −, HCO 3 −, SO 4 2−) and humic acid presented the slight inhibition for p -ASA degradation. The reduction of initial p -ASA concentration favored the p -ASA removal. Besides, the catalyst retained a favorable reactivity and stability even after four successive cycles and almost no metal leaching was observed. The rational degradation pathway was mainly involved in the cleavage of As C bond, oxidation of amino group, substitution and oxidation of hydroxyl group. The transformation of arsenic species could be divided into the release of inorganic arsenic species, the oxidation of As(III) into As(V) and the adsorption of As(V) by CuFe 2 O 4. Unlabelled Image • CuFe 2 O 4 /PMS process achieved the simultaneous removal of p -ASA and the released inorganic arsenic species. • Removal of p -ASA resulted from homogeneous PMS oxidation and the attack of ROSs (i.e., SO 4 −, HO and O 2 −). • Metal hydroxyl groups play the crucial role in the immobilization of inorganic arsenic species. • CuFe 2 O 4 /PMS process presented wide pH range suitability, excellent reusability and long-term stability. • Rational degradation pathway was proposed via LC-TOF-MS analysis and DFT calculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, resin-based hydrated iron oxide (HFOR) composites were prepared and used as a functional adsorbent for the simultaneous removal of p-Arsanilic acid (p-ASA) and arsenate (As (V)). The effects of solution pH and coexisting substances on the adsorption of different arsenic species were also investigated. Results showed that the coexisting substances slightly affected the adsorption process of two arsenic species. Analysis of the adsorption behavior, isotherm equilibrium, and adsorption kinetics, as well as that results of the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, zeta potential, and other analytical methods revealed that the satisfactory adsorption performance of HFOR can be attributed to the electrostatic interactions induced by the positively charged groups and the coordination of the hydrated iron oxide nanoparticles, which exhibited excellent specific adsorption for both arsenic species. Moreover, HFOR showed high acid and alkali resistance and reusability, as well as a constant co-removal performance for different arsenic species in five consecutive operating cycles (55 mg As/g of As(V) and 18 mg/g of p-ASA). Results of continuous running fixed-bed column experiments confirmed that HFOR enabled excellent simultaneous adsorption for p-ASA and As(V). Unlabelled Image • Resin-based hydrated iron oxide (HFOR) composites were prepared with functional structure. • Simultaneous removal of organic and inorganic arsenic pollutants by HFOR was achieved. • The simultaneous adsorption capacity of As(V) and pAA by HFOR reached 1140 BV. • HFOR exhibited excellent acid and alkali resistance and reusability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]