| Biomarkers of Exposure: A Case Study with Inorganic Arsenic Michael F. Hughes National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA Abstract
The environmental contaminant inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a human toxicant and carcinogen. Most mammals metabolize iAs by reducing it to trivalency, followed by oxidative methylation to pentavalency. iAs and its methylated metabolites are primarily excreted in urine within 4–5 days by most species and have a relatively low rate of bioaccumulation. Intra- and interindividual differences in the methylation of iAs may affect the adverse health effects of arsenic. Both inorganic and organic trivalent arsenicals are more potent toxicants than pentavalent forms. Several mechanisms of action have been proposed for arsenic-induced toxicity, but a scientific consensus has not been achieved. Biomarkers of exposure may be used to quantify exposure to iAs. The most common biomarker of exposure for iAs is the measurement of total urinary arsenic. However, consumption of seafood containing high concentrations of organic arsenic can confound estimation of iAs exposure. Because these organic species are thought to be relatively nontoxic, their presence in urine may not represent increased risk. Speciation of urinary arsenic into inorganic and organic forms, and even oxidation state, gives a more definitive indication of the exposure to iAs. Questions still remain, however, as to how reliably the measurement of urinary arsenic, either total or speciated, may predict arsenic concentrations at target tissues as well as how this measurement could be used to assess chronic exposures to iAs. Key words: arsenic, biomarker, biomonitoring, exposure, risk assessment. Environ Health Perspect 14:1790–1796 (2006) . [Online 12 June 2006]
This article is part of the mini-monograph "Use of Biomonitoring Data in Exposure and Human Health Risk Assessments." Address correspondence to M.F. Hughes, U.S. EPA, MD B143-01, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 USA. Telephone: (919) 541-2160. Fax: (919) 541-4284. E-mail: hughes.michaelf@epa.gov I thank L. Birnbaum, E. Faustman, J. Mumford, S. Robison, D. Thomas, and K. Thomas for their helpful comments. This article has been reviewed in accordance with the policy of the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. EPA, and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. The author declares he has no competing financial interest. Received 1 February 2006 ; accepted 10 May 2006.
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