Changes in the Chemical Speciation of Arsenic Following Ingestion by Man
Year: 1977
Type: article
Abstract: The concentrations of four chemical species of arsenic in urine were observed with time, after ingestion of three different chemical species of arsenic. The arsenic-rich substances ingested, including arsenite-rich wine, arsenate-rich drinking water, and crab meat which contained organo-arsenic compounds. After ingestion of arsenite-rich wine, approximately 10% of the arsenic was excreted as arsenite, but the majority of the arsenic was methylated to methylarsonic acid and dimethylarsinic acid and excreted. After ingestion of arsenate-rich water, elevated levels of both arsenate and dimethylarsinic acid were observed. When crab meat was ingested, none of these four arsenic species were observed at elevated levels until the urine was heated in 2N NaOH. After the hot base digestion, high levels of dimethylarsinic acid were detected in these samples. The apparent biological half-lives were on the order of 10 hr for inorganic arsenic and 30 hr for the methylated arsenic forms.
DOI: 10.1289/ehp.7719147
Author: E A Crecelius
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Chemistry
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
OpenAlex ID: W1990887465