Assessment of Arsenic Levels in Water, Sediment, and Human Hair around Ie Seu’um Geothermal Manifestation Area, Aceh, Indonesia

Determination and speciation of trace inorganic arsenic species in water samples by using metal organic framework mixed-matrix membrane and EDXRF spectrometry

A facile method to selectively determine trace As(V) species in the existence of As(III) one in water samples was developed, which was based on the batch adsorption process by using a miniaturized MIL-101(Fe) mixed-matrix membrane (MOF-MMM) followed by a direct determination through energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry. The quantitative adsorption of As(V) was achieved at pH (3-6) from 30 mL sample in 120 min of equilibrium time by employing the membrane with a monolayer adsorption capacity of Q_o = 1.953 mg g^-1. The direct determination of As(V) adsorbed on the membrane by EDXRF spectroscopy provided a method, not only easy-to-use and operable without elution stage, but also cost effective due to low gas consumption during the analysis. With a limit of detection of 0.094 μg L^-1, analytical performance of the method, which was evaluated on fortified real water samples with three levels of As(V) (5, 10 and 50 μg L^-1), demonstrated good recoveries in the range of 98(±3)-105(±10)%. Furthermore, the speciation of As(III) and As(V) in the fortified real samples containing other ionic species was also successfully achieved by described approach with characteristics of simple, cheap, viable and reproducible.

The Effect and Activity of Free Radical Enzymes Due to Arsenic Exposure Through the Vulva and Vagina

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY: Geogenic arsenic is ubiquitous, found in water and soil that is used daily, can be exposed to the female body through the genital organs. The vulva and vagina are open channels that allow toxic agents to enter the internal genitalia and distributed throughout the body. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigated the effects of vaginal arsenic exposure via vulvar immersion and vaginal douching in Rattus norvegicus on the damage of uterus and ovaries through oxidative mechanisms (MDA, SOD, and H₂O₂). METHODOLOGY: The experimental animals were divided into three treatment groups, i.e., K0 (control group), K1 (group treated with vulvar immersion in 0.8 mg/L arsenic solution), and K2 (group treated with vaginal douching using 0.5-mL of 0.8 mg/L arsenic solution). For each group, the treatment was repeated six times and carried out for fourteen days. Before the study, a seven-day acclimatization period was conducted for adaptation purposes. The experimental animals were euthanized using ketamine xylazine. The uterus and ovaries were collected for MDA, SOD, and H₂O analysis, as well as histopathology examination. RESULTS: The vaginal douching group had the highest MDA level both on the uterus (210.66±4.92μM) and the ovaries (214.67±2.50 μM). The immersion group also experienced an increase in MDA in the uterus (198.66±3.33μM) and ovaries (206.33± .21μM). However, a higher level of MDA was found in the ovaries. The highest H₂O₂ level was also found in the uterine and ovarian organs in the douching group. In contrast, the lowest SOD levels of uterine and ovarian were identified in the vaginal douching group. Arsenic exposure through vaginal immersion and douching affected the uterine MDA, SOD, and H₂O levels (Ρ<0.05). Arsenic exposure through vaginal douching also affected the ovarian MDA, SOD, and H₂O levels (Ρ<0.05). There was a significant difference in the mean of inflammatory cells (infiltrated neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes) in the uterus and ovaries in the control, immersion, and vaginal douching groups (Ρ<0.05). CONCLUSION: Exposure to 0.8 mg/L arsenic solution through vulvar immersion and vaginal douching can cause oxidative stress and trigger inflammation of the uterine and ovarian tissue.

Arsenic Exposure via Contaminated Water and Food Sources

Arsenic poisoning constitutes a major threat to humans, causing various health problems. Almost everywhere across the world certain “hotspots” have been detected, putting in danger the local populations, due to the potential consumption of water or food contaminated with elevated concentrations of arsenic. According to the relevant studies, Asia shows the highest percentage of significantly contaminated sites, followed by North America, Europe, Africa, South America and Oceania. The presence of arsenic in ecosystems can originate from several natural or anthropogenic activities. Arsenic can be then gradually accumulated in different food sources, such as vegetables, rice and other crops, but also in seafood, etc., and in water sources (mainly in groundwater, but also to a lesser extent in surface water), potentially used as drinking-water supplies, provoking their contamination and therefore potential health problems to the consumers. This review reports the major areas worldwide that present elevated arsenic concentrations in food and water sources. Furthermore, it also discusses the sources of arsenic contamination at these sites, as well as selected treatment technologies, aiming to remove this pollutant mainly from the contaminated waters and thus the reduction and prevention of population towards arsenic exposure.