Cd, Hg and As Concentrations in Fish Caught in the North Adriatic Sea

Bioaccumulation of arsenic species in rays from the northern Adriatic Sea

The difference in arsenic concentration and speciation between benthic (Pteromylaeus bovinus, Myliobatis aquila) and pelagic rays (Pteroplatytrygon violacea) from the northern Adriatic Sea (Gulf of Trieste) in relation to their size (age) was investigated. High arsenic concentrations were found in both groups with tendency of more efficient arsenic accumulation in benthic species, particularly in muscle (32.4 to 362 µg·g⁻¹ of total arsenic). This was attributed to species differences in arsenic access, uptake and retention. In liver most arsenic was present in a form of arsenobetaine, dimethylarsinic acid and arsenoipids, whereas in muscle mainly arsenobetaine was found. The good correlations between total arsenic/arsenobetaine and size reflect the importance of accumulation of arsenobetaine with age. Arsenobetaine is an analogue of glycine betaine, a known osmoregulator in marine animals and both are very abundant in mussels, representing an important source of food for benthic species P. bovinus and M. aquila.

A study of factors influencing urinary arsenic excretion in exposed workers

This study was designed to evaluate the influence of occupational and non-occupational factors on urinary arsenic excretion in workers exposed to iAs (inorganic arsenic) in the dismantlement of a factory which once produced fertilisers. We measured iAs and its methylated metabolites in 108 urinary samples of workers exposed to iAs in July 2006. A total of 13.9% of the samples showed levels higher than the Biological Exposure Index (BEI) of 35 microg/l (mean value 23.9 microg/l). After the improvement of working conditions, in August-October 2006 we collected urinary samples from each of the 108 workers enrolled. We also administrated a questionnaire, in order to investigate the influence of occupational and non-occupational factors on the urinary arsenic excretion. A significant difference was observed in relation with seafood consumption and age stratification. We have found a significant reduction of urinary arsenic excretion between the two phases of biological monitoring, probably due to appropriate hygiene work-related interventions.

Arsenic in various foods: Cumulative data

Data for the arsenic content in various foods were collated. The number of collected values was about 2500 columns, which enables an estimation of the range of arsenic contents in each food group. Data were categorized into six groups (crops, milk/meat/egg, fish, algae, seafood, others) and expressed as a percentile graph. In addition, the inorganic arsenic ratio of each food group was estimated. This approach enabled the authors to understand the arsenic contents of some food groups at a glance. The intake of inorganic arsenic seems to be mostly from seafood. The contribution from other categories of food is small.