Molecular mechanisms of the diabetogenic effects of arsenic: inhibition of insulin signaling by arsenite and methylarsonous acid

BACKGROUND

Increased prevalences of diabetes mellitus have been reported among individuals chronically exposed to inorganic arsenic (iAs). However, the mechanisms underlying the diabetogenic effects of iAs have not been characterized. We have previously shown that trivalent metabolites of iAs, arsenite (iAs(III)) and methylarsonous acid (MAs(III)) inhibit insulin-stimulated glucose uptake (ISGU) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by suppressing the insulin-dependent phosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt).

OBJECTIVES

Our goal was to identify the molecular mechanisms responsible for the suppression of PKB/Akt phosphorylation by iAs(III) and MAs(III).

METHODS

The effects of iAs(III) and MAs(III) on components of the insulin-activated signal transduction pathway that regulate PKB/Akt phosphorylation were examined in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

RESULTS

Subtoxic concentrations of iAs(III) or MAs(III) had little or no effect on the activity of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K), which synthesizes phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate (PIP(3)), or on phosphorylation of PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten), a PIP(3) phosphatase. Neither iAs(III) nor MAs(III) interfered with the phosphorylation of 3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK-1) located downstream from PI-3K. However, PDK-1 activity was inhibited by both iAs(III) and MAs(III). Consistent with these findings, PDK-1-catalyzed phosphorylation of PKB/Akt(Thr308) and PKB/Akt activity were suppressed in exposed cells. In addition, PKB/Akt(Ser473) phosphorylation, which is catalyzed by a putative PDK-2, was also suppressed. Notably, expression of constitutively active PKB/Akt restored the normal ISGU pattern in adipocytes treated with either iAs(III) or MAs(III).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that inhibition of the PDK-1/PKB/Akt-mediated transduction step is the key mechanism for the inhibition of ISGU in adipocytes exposed to iAs(III) or MAs(III), and possibly for impaired glucose tolerance associated with human exposures to iAs.

Heavy metal, total arsenic, and inorganic arsenic contents of algae food products

The total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury contents of 18 algae food products currently on sale in Spain were determined. The suitability of the analytical methodologies for this type of matrix was confirmed by evaluating their analytical characteristics. The concentration ranges found for each contaminant, expressed in milligrams per kilogram of dry weight, were as follows: total arsenic, 2.3-141; inorganic arsenic, 0.15-88; lead, < 0.05-1.33; cadmium, 0.03-1.9; and mercury, 0.004-0.04. There is currently no legislation in Spain regarding contaminants in algae food products, but some of the samples analyzed revealed Cd and inorganic As levels higher than those permitted by legislation in other countries. Given the high concentrations of inorganic As found in Hizikia fusiforme, a daily consumption of 1.7 g of the product would reach the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake recommended by the WHO for an average body weight of 68 kg. A more comprehensive study of the contents and toxicological implications of the inorganic As present in the algae food products currently sold in Spain may be necessary, which might then be the basis for the introduction of specific sales restrictions.

Metabolism and toxicity of arsenic in human urothelial cells expressing rat arsenic (+3 oxidation state)-methyltransferase

The enzymatic methylation of inorganic As (iAs) is catalyzed by As(+3 oxidation state)-methyltransferase (AS3MT). AS3MT is expressed in rat liver and in human hepatocytes. However, AS3MT is not expressed in UROtsa, human urothelial cells that do not methylate iAs. Thus, UROtsa cells are an ideal null background in which the role of iAs methylation in modulation of toxic and cancer-promoting effects of this metalloid can be examined. A retroviral gene delivery system was used in this study to create a clonal UROtsa cell line (UROtsa/F35) that expresses rat AS3MT. Here, we characterize the metabolism and cytotoxicity of arsenite (iAs(III)) and methylated trivalent arsenicals in parental cells and clonal cells expressing AS3MT. In contrast to parental cells, UROtsa/F35 cells effectively methylated iAs(III), yielding methylarsenic (MAs) and dimethylarsenic (DMAs) containing either As(III) or As(V). When exposed to MAs(III), UROtsa/F35 cells produced DMAs(III) and DMAs(V). MAs(III) and DMAs(III) were more cytotoxic than iAs(III) in UROtsa and UROtsa/F35 cells. The greater cytotoxicity of MAs(III) or DMAs(III) than of iAs(III) was associated with greater cellular uptake and retention of each methylated trivalent arsenical. Notably, UROtsa/F35 cells were more sensitive than parental cells to the cytotoxic effects of iAs(III) but were more resistant to cytotoxicity of MAs(III). The increased sensitivity of UROtsa/F35 cells to iAs(III) was associated with inhibition of DMAs production and intracellular accumulation of MAs. The resistance of UROtsa/F35 cells to moderate concentrations of MAs(III) was linked to its rapid conversion to DMAs and efflux of DMAs. However, concentrations of MAs(III) that inhibited DMAs production by UROtsa/F35 cells were equally toxic for parental and clonal cell lines. Thus, the production and accumulation of MAs(III) is a key factor contributing to the toxicity of acute iAs exposures in methylating cells.

Endogenous Reductants Support the Catalytic Function of Recombinant Rat Cyt19, an Arsenic Methyltransferase

The postulated scheme for the metabolism of inorganic As involves alternating steps of oxidative methylation and of reduction of As from the pentavalent to the trivalent oxidation state, producing methylated compounds containing AsIII that are highly reactive and toxic. S-Adenosyl-L-methionine:AsIII methyltransferase purified from rat liver catalyzes production of methyl and dimethyl arsenicals from inorganic As. This protein is encoded by the cyt19 gene orthologous with cyt19 genes in mouse and human. The reductants dithiothreitol or tris(2-carboxylethyl)phosphine support catalysis by recombinant rat cyt19 (rrcyt19). Coupled systems containing an endogenous reductant (thioredoxin/thioredoxin reductase/NADPH, glutaredoxin/glutathione/glutathione reductase/NADPH, or lipoic acid/thioredoxin reductase/NADPH) support inorganic As methylation by rrcyt19. Although glutathione alone does not support rrcyt19's catalytic function, its addition to reaction mixtures containing other reductants increases the rate of As methylation. Aurothioglucose, an inhibitor of thioredoxin reductase, reduces the rate of As methylation by rrcyt19 in thioredoxin-supported reactions. Addition of guinea pig liver cytosol, a poor source of endogenous As methyltransferase activity, to reaction mixtures containing rrcyt19 shows that endogenous reductants in cytosol support the enzyme's activity. Methylated compounds containing either AsIII or AsV are detected in reaction mixtures containing rrcyt19, suggesting that cycling of As between oxidation states is a component of the pathway producing methylated arsenicals. This enzyme may use endogenous reductants to reduce pentavalent arsenicals to trivalency as a prerequisite for utilization as substrates for methylation reactions. Thus, cyt19 appears to possess both AsIII methyltransferase and AsV reductase activities.

Accumulation of heavy metals and As in wetland birds in the area around Doñana National Park affected by the Aznalcollar toxic spill

The impact of the spill from the mine in Aznalcollar (Seville, Spain) on waterfowl in the Doñana National Park is assessed. The concentrations of Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn nd As in the liver and eggs of 16 species of waterfowl found dead in the Park between April and November 1998 were determined. The highest levels were found for Zn, followed by Cu, Pb, Cd and As. The main parameters related to the accumulation of these elements in the waterfowl studied were species and trophic level. The other variables studied--distance from the spill, days of exposure, sex, size, and age--are important, although this depends on the element studied. Zn and Cu from the spill have entered the food chain of the aquatic birds studied, but Cd, Pb and As have not. There is currently no evidence to suggest that the trace element concentrations measured have reached toxic levels.

Total and inorganic arsenic in fresh and processed fish products

Total arsenic and inorganic arsenic contents were determined in 153 samples of seafood products consumed in the Basque Country (Spain): fish (white fish and blue fish), mollusks, crustaceans, and preserved fish. White fish presented higher levels of total arsenic and lower levels of inorganic arsenic than the blue fish, indicating possible differences in the metabolization of inorganic arsenic. For total arsenic, 66% of the samples exceeded the maximum permitted level by the strictest international legislation in seafood products [1 microg g(-)(1), wet weight (ww)]. The levels of inorganic arsenic were considerably lower than the maximum authorized in New Zealand (2 microg g(-)(1), ww), the only country with legislation for inorganic arsenic in fish and fish products. It is recommended that legislation based on levels of inorganic arsenic should be established.

Contribution of water, bread, and vegetables (raw and cooked) to dietary intake of inorganic arsenic in a rural village of Northern Chile

Total and inorganic As contents of cooked vegetables obtained from an arsenic endemic area of Chile were analyzed. Inorganic As intake from those foods, bread, and water was estimated. The study was performed in two different periods, in which the water used by the population for drinking and cooking purposes contained 0.572 (first period) or 0.041 microg mL(-)(1) (second period). In the first period, the FAO/WHO reference intake was exceeded by all of the persons interviewed. In the second period, the reference intake was exceeded by all of the persons interviewed ages 13-15. The foods studied contributed 4% (first period) or 25% (second period) of the inorganic As intake. The results show the contribution of food to inorganic As intake and the risk to which those ages 15 or younger are exposed.

Glutathione modulates recombinant rat arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase-catalyzed formation of trimethylarsine oxide and trimethylarsine

Humans and other species enzymatically convert inorganic arsenic (iAs) into methylated metabolites. Although the major metabolites are mono- and dimethylated arsenicals, trimethylated arsenicals have been detected in urine following exposure to iAs. The AS3MT gene encodes an arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase, which catalyzes both the oxidative methylation of trivalent arsenicals and the reduction of pentavalent arsenicals. In reaction mixtures containing recombinant rat AS3MT (rrAS3MT) and radiolabeled arsenite, mono- and dimethylated arsenicals and a third radiolabeled product can be resolved by thin-layer chromatography. Hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry identified the third reaction product as trimethylarsine oxide. The addition of glutathione to reaction mixtures containing radiolabeled arsenite and rrAS3MT increased the yield of methylated and dimethylated arsenicals but suppressed the formation of trimethylarsine oxide. Although a dimethylarsenic-glutathione complex was rapidly converted to trimethylarsine oxide, the addition of a molar excess of glutathione to dimethylarsenic suppressed the production of trimethylarsine oxide. The nonquantitative recovery of radioarsenic from reaction mixtures suggested that AS3MT catalyzed the formation of a volatile arsenical. This volatile species was identified as trimethylarsine. Thus, AS3MT catalyzes the formation of all products in a reaction sequence leading from an inorganic to a volatile methylated arsenical. The regulation of this pathway by intracellular glutathione may be an important determinant of the pattern and extent of formation of arsenicals.

Vegetables collected in the cultivated Andean area of northern Chile: total and inorganic arsenic contents in raw vegetables

High levels of arsenic are found in the soil and water of the Second Region in Chile as a result of natural causes. Total and inorganic arsenic contents were analyzed in the edible part of 16 agricultural products (roots, stems, leaves, inflorescences, and fruits) grown in this area. The total arsenic contents varied in the range 0.008-0.604 microg g(-1) of wet weight (ww), below the maximum level allowed by Chilean legislation (1 microg(-1) of ww). Inorganic arsenic contents (range = 0.008-0.613 microg(-1) of ww) represented between 28 and 114% of total arsenic. The concentrations of total and inorganic arsenic found in edible roots and leaves were higher than those found in fruit. The highest concentrations were found in a sample of spinach. High quantities of this vegetable would have to be consumed (250 g/day) to reach the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake for inorganic arsenic. The vegetable group may make a considerable contribution to the total intake of inorganic arsenic.

Tissue dosimetry, metabolism and excretion of pentavalent and trivalent monomethylated arsenic in mice after oral administration

Exposure to monomethylarsonic acid (MMA(V)) and monomethylarsonous acid (MMA(III)) can result from their formation as metabolites of inorganic arsenic and by the use of the sodium salts of MMA(V) as herbicides. This study compared the disposition of MMA(V) and MMA(III) in adult female B6C3F1 mice. Mice were gavaged p.o. with MMA(V), either unlabeled or labeled with 14C at two dose levels (0.4 or 40 mg As/kg). Other mice were dosed p.o. with unlabeled MMA(III) at one dose level (0.4 mg As/kg). Mice were housed in metabolism cages for collection of excreta and sacrificed serially over 24 h for collection of tissues. MMA(V)-derived radioactivity was rapidly absorbed, distributed and excreted. By 8 h post-exposure, 80% of both doses of MMA(V) were eliminated in urine and feces. Absorption of MMA(V) was dose dependent; that is, there was less than a 100-fold difference between the two dose levels in the area under the curves for the concentration-time profiles of arsenic in blood and major organs. In addition, urinary excretion of MMA(V)-derived radioactivity in the low dose group was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than in the high dose group. Conversely, fecal excretion of MMA(V)-derived radioactivity was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the high dose group than in the low dose group. Speciation of arsenic by hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry in urine and tissues of mice administered MMA(V) or MMA(III) found that methylation of MMA(V) was limited while the methylation of MMA(III) was extensive. Less than 10% of the dose excreted in urine of MMA(V)-treated mice was in the form of methylated products, whereas it was greater than 90% for MMA(III)-treated mice. In MMA(V)-treated mice, 25% or less of the tissue arsenic was in the form of dimethylarsenic, whereas in MMA(III)-treated mice, 75% or more of the tissue arsenic was in the form of dimethylarsenic. Based on urinary analysis, administered dose of MMA(V) did not affect the level of its metabolites excreted. In the tested range, dose affects the absorption, distribution and route of excretion of MMA(V) but not its metabolism.

Arsenic in cooked seafood products: study on the effect of cooking on total and inorganic arsenic contents

Total and inorganic arsenic contents were analyzed in cooked seafood products consumed in Spain during the period July 1997-June 1998: hake, meagrim, small hake, anchovy, Atlantic horse mackerel, sardine, bivalves, crustaceans, squid, and salted cod. Various cooking treatments were used (grilling, roasting, baking, stewing, boiling, steaming, and microwaving). The results obtained were compared statistically with those found previously in the same products raw, and they showed that after cooking there was a significant increase in the concentration of total arsenic for salted cod and bivalves, and in the concentration of inorganic arsenic for bivalves and squid. The mean content of inorganic arsenic was significantly higher in bivalves than in any other type of seafood. For the Spanish population, the mean intake of total arsenic estimated on the basis of the results obtained in this study is 245 microg/day. The intake of inorganic arsenic (2.3 microg/day) represents 1.7% of the World Health Organization provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), leaving an ample safety margin for this population, which has a very high consumption of seafood.

Arsenicals in maternal and fetal mouse tissues after gestational exposure to arsenite

Exposure of pregnant C3H/HeNCR mice to 42.5- or 85-ppm of arsenic as sodium arsenite in drinking water between days 8 and 18 of gestation markedly increases tumor incidence in their offspring. In the work reported here, distribution of inorganic arsenic and its metabolites, methyl arsenic and dimethyl arsenic, were determined in maternal and fetal tissues collected on gestational day 18 of these exposure regimens. Tissues were collected from three females and from associated fetuses exposed to each dosage level. Concentrations of total speciated arsenic (sum of inorganic, methyl, and dimethyl arsenic) were higher in maternal tissues than in placenta and fetal tissues; total speciated arsenic concentration in placenta exceeded those in fetal tissues. Significant dosage-dependent (42.5 ppm versus 85 ppm of arsenite in drinking water) differences were found in total speciated arsenic concentrations in maternal lung (p<0.01) and liver (p<0.001). Total speciated arsenic concentrations did not differ significantly between dosage levels for maternal blood or for fetal lung, liver, and blood, or for placenta. Percentages of inorganic, methyl, or dimethyl arsenic in maternal or fetal tissues were not dosage-dependent. Over the range of total speciated arsenic concentrations in most maternal and fetal tissues, dimethyl arsenic was the most abundant arsenical. However, in maternal liver at the highest total speciated arsenic concentration, inorganic arsenic was the most abundant arsenical, suggesting that a high tissue burden of arsenic affected formation or retention of methylated species in this organ. Tissue concentration-dependent processes could affect kinetics of transfer of inorganic arsenic or its metabolites from mother to fetus.

Total and inorganic arsenic in the fauna of the Guadalquivir estuary: environmental and human health implications

To evaluate the impact on fauna of the release of toxic waste from the tailings dam operated by the Boliden Apirsa S.L company at Aznalcóllar, Seville (Spain) a study was carried out of total and inorganic arsenic contents in 164 samples from six different estuary species, including molluscs, crustaceans and fish, collected at six sampling stations distributed along the estuary and mouth of the River Guadalquivir. The contents found, expressed in micrograms per gram wet weight, were as follows. Total arsenic: Crassostrea angulata--giant cupped oyster (2.44 +/- 0.45); Scrobicularia plana--peppery furrow (2.50 +/- 0.73); Palaemon longirostris--delta prawn (1.33 +/- 0.54); Uca tangeri--AfroEuropean fiddler crab (1.76 +/- 0.08); Melicertus kerathurus--shrimp (3.60 +/- 1.92); and Liza ramada--mullet (0.65 +/- 0.38). Inorganic arsenic: C. angulata (0.09 +/- 0.02); S. plana (0.38 +/- 0.23); P. longirostris (0.04 +/- 0.01); U. tangeri (0.22 +/- 0.03); M. kerathurus (0.03 +/- 0.01); and L. ramada (0.03 +/- 0.03). The levels of total As are comparable to those obtained by other authors. With respect to inorganic arsenic, only S. plana and U. tangeri present high levels of inorganic arsenic. This may be due to the fact that these organisms live in estuary sediments, reservoirs of inorganic arsenic, and ingest particles of sediments during feeding. Because of the lack of information for this area concerning previous levels of total and inorganic arsenic in the species analysed, it was not possible to establish the impact on the fauna of the River Guadalquivir estuary of the toxic spill resulting from the failure of the mine tailings dam at Aznalcóllar. With respect to the implications to human health as a result of consumption of species from the Guadalquivir estuary, only with the species Scrobicularia plana, as a high consumption of this mollusc might, in some cases, exceed the maximum tolerable intake for inorganic arsenic indicated by the FAO/WHO. Consumption of the liver of L. ramada does not appear to present problems to human health.

Use of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts to reduce exposure to chemical food contaminants and toxicity

Chemical contaminants that are present in food pose a health problem and their levels are controlled by national and international food safety organizations. Despite increasing regulation, foods that exceed legal limits reach the market. In Europe, the number of notifications of chemical contamination due to pesticide residues, mycotoxins and metals is particularly high. Moreover, in many parts of the world, drinking water contains high levels of chemical contaminants owing to geogenic or anthropogenic causes. Elimination of chemical contaminants from water and especially from food is quite complex. Drastic treatments are usually required, which can modify the food matrix or involve changes in the forms of cultivation and production of the food products. These modifications often make these treatments unfeasible. In recent years, efforts have been made to develop strategies based on the use of components of natural origin to reduce the quantity of contaminants in foods and drinking water, and to reduce the quantity that reaches the bloodstream after ingestion, and thus, their toxicity. This review provides a summary of the existing literature on strategies based on the use of lactic acid bacteria or yeasts belonging to the genus Saccharomyces that are employed in food industry or for dietary purposes.

Arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase and the inorganic arsenic methylation phenotype

Inorganic arsenic is enzymatically methylated; hence, its ingestion results in exposure to the parent compound and various methylated arsenicals. Both experimental and epidemiological evidences suggest that some of the adverse health effects associated with chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic may be mediated by these methylated metabolites. If iAs methylation is an activation process, then the phenotype for inorganic arsenic methylation may determine risk associated with exposure to this metalloid. We examined inorganic arsenic methylation phenotypes and arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase genotypes in four species: three that methylate inorganic arsenic (human (Homo sapiens), rat (Rattus norwegicus), and mouse (Mus musculus)) and one that does not methylate inorganic arsenic (chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes). The predicted protein products from arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase are similar in size for rat (369 amino acid residues), mouse (376 residues), and human (375 residues). By comparison, a 275-nucleotide deletion beginning at nucleotide 612 in the chimpanzee gene sequence causes a frameshift that leads to a nonsense mutation for a premature stop codon after amino acid 205. The null phenotype for inorganic arsenic methylation in the chimpanzee is likely due to the deletion in the gene for arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase that yields an inactive truncated protein. This lineage-specific loss of function caused by the deletion event must have occurred in the Pan lineage after Homo-Pan divergence about 5 million years ago.

Trivalent arsenic species induce changes in expression and levels of proinflammatory cytokines in intestinal epithelial cells

Chronic arsenic (As) toxicity in humans has been documented in many countries where exposure mostly occurs through drinking water. The As immunotoxic effects have been demonstrated in animal models as well as in humans. The studies of the immunotoxicity of As have centered on organs related to immune response or target organs, with few data being available at intestinal level. The present study has evaluated the changes in the expression and release of cytokines in Caco-2 cells, widely used as an intestinal epithelial model. Differentiated cells were exposed to 1 μM of As(III), 0.1 μM of monomethylarsonous acid [MMA(III)] and 1 μM of dimethylarsinous acid [DMA(III)] during 2, 4, 6 and 24 h. Additionally, the effect of As coexposure with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 ng/mL) has been evaluated. The results show trivalent species to induce increases in the expression and release of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), IL6, IL8 - the magnitude and time of response being different for each As species. The response of greatest magnitude corresponds to DMA(III), followed by As(III), while MMA(III) generates a limited response. Furthermore, the presence of LPS in the co-exposed cells could affect the expression and secretion of cytokines compared with individual exposure to arsenicals, especially for As(III)/LPS and DMA(III)/LPS.

In vitro study of intestinal transport of inorganic and methylated arsenic species by Caco-2/HT29-MTX cocultures

This study characterizes intestinal absorption of arsenic species using in vitro system Caco-2/HT29-MTX cocultures in various proportions (100/0 to 30/70). The species assayed were As(V), As(III), monomethylarsonic acid [MMA(V)], monomethylarsonous acid [MMA(III)], dimethylarsinic acid [DMA(V)], and dimethylarsinous acid [DMA(III)]. The results show that the apparent permeability (P(app)) values of pentavalent species increase significantly in the Caco-2/HT29-MTX cocultures in comparison with the Caco-2 monoculture, probably because of enhancement of paracellular transport. For MMA(III) and DMA(III), P(app) decreases in the Caco-2/HT29-MTX cell model, and for As(III), there is no change in P(app) between the two culture models. Transport studies of arsenic solubilized from cooked foods (rice, garlic, and seaweed) after applying an in vitro gastrointestinal digestion showed that arsenic absorption also varies with the model used, increasing with the incorporation of HT29-MTX in the culture. These results show the importance of choosing a suitable in vitro model when evaluating intestinal arsenic absorption processes.

Effect of cooking temperatures on chemical changes in species of organic arsenic in seafood

The concentrations of arsenobetaine (AB), tetramethylarsonium ion (TMA(+)), and trimethylarsine oxide (TMAO) were determined in samples of sole, dory, hake, and sardine, raw and after being subjected to cooking processes--baking, frying, and grilling--at various temperatures. In all cases, the temperature attained inside the product during the cooking process was measured. The arsenic species extracted from the samples with methanol/water were separated by means of a column switching technique between a PRP-X100 column and a PRP-X200 column. AB was detected by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry, whereas TMA(+) and TMAO were detected by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The results obtained showed that, in all of the types of seafood studied, TMA(+) appeared after cooking, possibly because heating facilitates decarboxylation of AB to TMA(+).

Is it possible to agree on a value for inorganic arsenic in food? The outcome of IMEP-112

Two of the core tasks of the European Union Reference Laboratory for Heavy Metals in Feed and Food (EU-RL-HM) are to provide advice to the Directorate General for Health and Consumers (DG SANCO) on scientific matters and to organise proficiency tests among appointed National Reference Laboratories. This article presents the results of the 12th proficiency test organised by the EU-RL-HM (IMEP-112) that focused on the determination of total and inorganic arsenic in wheat, vegetable food and algae. The test items used in this exercise were: wheat sampled in a field with a high concentration of arsenic in the soil, spinach (SRM 1570a from NIST) and an algae candidate reference material. Participation in this exercise was open to laboratories from all around the world to be able to judge the state of the art of the determination of total and, more in particular, inorganic arsenic in several food commodities. Seventy-four laboratories from 31 countries registered to the exercise; 30 of them were European National Reference Laboratories. The assigned values for IMEP-112 were provided by a group of seven laboratories expert in the field of arsenic speciation analysis in food. Laboratory results were rated with z and ζ scores (zeta scores) in accordance with ISO 13528. Around 85 % of the participants performed satisfactorily for inorganic arsenic in vegetable food and 60 % did for inorganic arsenic in wheat, but only 20 % of the laboratories taking part in the exercise were able to report satisfactory results in the algae test material.

Tissue dosimetry, metabolism and excretion of pentavalent and trivalent dimethylated arsenic in mice after oral administration

Dimethylarsinic acid (DMA(V)) is a rat bladder carcinogen and the major urinary metabolite of administered inorganic arsenic in most mammals. This study examined the disposition of pentavalent and trivalent dimethylated arsenic in mice after acute oral administration. Adult female mice were administered [(14)C]-DMA(V) (0.6 or 60 mg As/kg) and sacrificed serially over 24 h. Tissues and excreta were collected for analysis of radioactivity. Other mice were administered unlabeled DMA(V) (0.6 or 60 mg As/kg) or dimethylarsinous acid (DMA(III)) (0.6 mg As/kg) and sacrificed at 2 or 24 h. Tissues (2 h) and urine (24 h) were collected and analyzed for arsenicals. Absorption, distribution and excretion of [(14)C]-DMA(V) were rapid, as radioactivity was detected in tissues and urine at 0.25 h. For low dose DMA(V) mice, there was a greater fractional absorption of DMA(V) and significantly greater tissue concentrations of radioactivity at several time points. Radioactivity distributed greatest to the liver (1-2% of dose) and declined to less than 0.05% in all tissues examined at 24 h. Urinary excretion of radioactivity was significantly greater in the 0.6 mg As/kg DMA(V) group. Conversely, fecal excretion of radioactivity was significantly greater in the high dose group. Urinary metabolites of DMA(V) included DMA(III), trimethylarsine oxide (TMAO), dimethylthioarsinic acid and trimethylarsine sulfide. Urinary metabolites of DMA(III) included TMAO, dimethylthioarsinic acid and trimethylarsine sulfide. DMA(V) was also excreted by DMA(III)-treated mice, showing its sensitivity to oxidation. TMAO was detected in tissues of the high dose DMA(V) group. The low acute toxicity of DMA(V) in the mouse appears to be due in part to its minimal retention and rapid elimination.