Identification of extracellular arsenical metabolites in the growth medium of the microorganisms apiotrichum humicola and scopulariopsis brevicaulis

The separation and identification of some of the arsenic species produced in cells present in the growth medium when the microorganisms Apiotrichum humicola (previously known as Candida humicola) and Scopulariopsis brevicaulis were grown in the presence of arsenicals were achieved by using hydride generation–gas chromatography–atomic absorption spectrometry methodology (HG GC AA). Arsenite, monomethylarsonate, dimethylarsinate and trimethylarsine oxide were detected following incubation with arsenate. With arsenite as a substrate, the metabolites were monomethylarsonate, dimethylarsinate and trimethylarsine oxide; monomethylarsonate afforded dimethylarsinate and trimethylarsine oxide, and dimethylarsinate afforded trimethylarsine oxide. Trimethylarsine was not detected when the arsenic concentration was 1 ppm.     

Hydride generation-flame atomic-absorption spectrometry as an arsenic detector for high-performance liquid chromatography

Hydride generation-flame atomic-absorption spectrometry (HG-FAAS) was used as a continuous detection system for arsenic in the eluate from high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Four arsenic species (arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonate and dimethylarsinate) were detected separately with the HPLC-HG-FAAS system equipped with an anion-exchange column. When hijiki (Hizikia fusiforme) extract was examined, arsenate was found predominantly and arsenite and dimethylarsinate were also detected. Liver supernatant fraction obtained from mice administered orally with arsenite was also studied with the HPLC-HG-FAAS system equipped with a gel permeation column. In addition to free or low-molecular-weight ligand-bound arsenic, high-molecular-weight protein-bound arsenic fractions were also detected.     

Separation of arsenic species by ion-pair and ion exchange high performance liquid chromatography

Arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonate, dimethylarsinate, arsenobetaine, arsenocholine and the tetramethylarsonium ion were subjected to ion-exchange and ion-pair reversed phase HPLC. The ion exchange method was superior in selectivity and time of analysis for the arsenic anions. The ammonium ions used for the ion-pair method only resulted in separation of some of the anionic arsenic compounds. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry was used for on-line arsenic-specific detection.     

Tissue accumulation and distribution of arsenic compounds in three marine fish species: relationship to trophic position

In this study the accumulation and distribution of arsenic compounds in marine fish species in relation to their trophic position was investigated. Arsenic compounds were measured in eight tissues of mullet Mugil cephalus (detritivore), luderick Girella tricuspidata (herbivore) and tailor Pomatomus saltatrix (carnivore) by high performance liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry. The majority of arsenic in tailor tissues, the pelagic carnivore, was present as arsenobetaine (86–94%). Mullet and luderick also contained high amounts of arsenobetaine in all tissues (62–98% and 59–100% respectively) except the intestines (20% and 24% respectively). Appreciable amounts of dimethylarsinic acid (1–39%), arsenate (2–38%), arsenite (1–9%) and trimethylarsine oxide (2–8%) were identified in mullet and luderick tissues. Small amounts of arsenocholine (1–3%), methylarsonic acid (1–3%) and tetramethylarsonium ion (1–2%) were found in some tissues of all three species. A phosphate arsenoriboside was identified in mullet intestine (4%) and from all tissues of luderick (1–6%) except muscle. Pelagic carnivore fish species are exposed mainly to arsenobetaine through their diet and accumulate the majority of arsenic in tissues as this compound. Detritivore and herbivore fish species also accumulate arsenobetaine from their diet, with quantities of other inorganic and organic arsenic compounds. These compounds may result from ingestion of food and sediment, degradation products (e.g. arsenobetaine to trimethylarsine oxide; arsenoribosides to dimethylarsinic acid), conversion (e.g. arsenate to dimethylarsinic acid and trimethylarsine oxide by bacterial action in digestive tissues) and/or in situ enzymatic activity in liver tissue. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Observations on toxicologically relevant arsenic in urine in adult offspring of families with Balkan Endemic Nephropathy and controls by batch hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry

The aim of this study was to develop a method for the characterization of internal exposure to arsenic, which is thought to play a role in the development of a kidney disease, known as Balkan Endemic Nephropathy, typical for a district in Bulgaria, and to investigate whether the As body burden differs in the offspring versus control individuals. For this case study, an analytical procedure for the determination of toxicologically relevant arsenic (the sum of arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonate, and dimethylarsinate) in urine by batch-type hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry was developed. Optimization experiments for levelling off the sensitivity of inorganic arsenic and its mono- and dimethylated species in dilute HCl–L-cysteine medium were performed. The limit of detection for hydride forming arsenic fraction was 0.5?ng As, i.e. 0.25?µg?L^?1 in 10?mL of 1?+?4 v/v diluted urine. The relative standard deviation was typically 1.5–1.8% for aqueous solution and 2–6% for urine samples at 1.0?µg?L^?1 As. The sample throughput rate was 15?h^?1. No statistical correlation and cross-correlation between individuals case-control and sex at 95% confidence were found: controls (n?=?99), mean 3.5?±?2.1 (SD), range 0.9–10.4, median 3.0?µg?L^?1 As and cases (n?=?102), mean 3.6?±?2.2 (SD), range 0.5–11.0, median 3.2?µg?L^?1 As. On the basis of this study, arsenic can be excluded as a factor involved in BEN development.     

Ubiquity of arsenobetaine in marine animals and degradation of arsenobetaine by sedimentary micro-organisms

Arsenic compounds were extracted with chloroform/methanol/water from tissues of marine animals (four carnivores, five herbivores, five plankton feeders). The extracts were purified by cation and anion exchange chromatography. Arsenobetaine [(CH₃)₃As⁺CH₂COO^?], dimethylarsinic acid [(CH₃)₂AsOOH], trimethylarsine oxide [(CH₃)₃AsO] and arsenite, arsenate, and methylarsonic acid [(CH₃)AsO(OH)₂] as a group with the same retention time were identified by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Arsenic was determined in the collected fractions by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Arsenobetaine found in all the animals was almost always the most abundant arsenic compound in the extracts. These results show that arsenobetaine is present in marine animals independently of their feeding habits and trophic levels. Arsenobetaine-containing growth media (ZoBell 2216E; solution of inorganic salts) were mixed with coastal marine sediments as the source of microorganisms. Arsenobetaine was converted in both media to trimethylarsine oxide and trimethylarsine oxide was converted to arsenite, arsenate or methylarsonic acid but not to dimethylarsinic acid. The conversion rates in the inorganic medium were faster than in the ZoBell medium. Two dominant bacterial strains isolated from the inorganic medium and identified as members of the Vibro–Aeromonas group were incapable of degrading arsenobetaine.     

Speciation of arsenic in water samples by high-performance liquid chromatography-hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry at trace levels using a post-column reaction system

Anion-exchange HPLC has been combined with hydride generation – atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS) for the routine speciation of arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsenic acid and dimethylarsinic acid. The sensitivity of the AAS-detection was increased by a post-column reaction system to achieve complete formation of volatile arsines from the methylated species and arsenate. The system allows the quantitative determination of 0.5 g/l of each arsenic compound in water samples. The stability of synthetical and natural water containing arsenic at trace levels was investigated. To preserve stored water samples, a method for quantitative separation of arsenate at high pH-values with the basic anion-exchange resin Dowex 1×8 was developed.     

Evaluation of atomic fluorescence spectrometry as a sensitive detection technique for arsenic speciation

The potential of coupling anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography, hydride generation and atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HPLC–HG–AFS) for arsenic speciation is considered. The effects of hydrochloric acid and sodium tetrahydroborate concentrations on signal-to-background ratio, as well as argon and hydrogen flow rates, were investigated. Detection limits for arsenite, dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and arsenate were 0.17, 0.45, 0.30 and 0.38 μg l⁻¹, respectively, using a 20-μl loop. Linearity ranges were 0.1–500 ng for As(III) and MMA (as arsenic), and 0.1–800 ng for DMA and As(V) (as arsenic). Arsenobetaine (AsB) was also determined by introducing an on-line photo-oxidation step after the chromatographic separation. In this case the limits of detection and linear ranges for the different species studied were similar to the values obtained previously for As(V). The technique was tested with a human urine reference material and a volunteer's sample. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Arsenic speciation by capillary gas-liquid chromatography

Specific environmentally significant arsenic compounds are determined by capillary gas-liquid chromatography. Inorganic (arsenite, arsenate) and organic (monomethylarsonate, dimethylarsinate) arsenicals are measured as the corresponding methylthioglycolate derivatives, which are simultaneously separated on wide-bore borosilicate glass and fused-silica columns under conditions of temperature programming. Inorganic arsenate and arsenite cannot be differentiated by the derivatization technique. Flame-ionization and electron-capture detection are evaluated. A simple and rapid sample preparation procedure is used for water, urine, blood, and tissue.     

Speciation of arsenic in water samples by high-performance liquid chromatography-hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry at trace levels using a post-column reaction system

Anion-exchange HPLC has been combined with hydride generation - atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS) for the routine speciation of arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsenic acid and dimethylarsinic acid. The sensitivity of the AAS-detection was increased by a post-column reaction system to achieve complete formation of volatile arsines from the methylated species and arsenate. The system allows the quantitative determination of 0.5 microg/l of each arsenic compound in water samples. The stability of synthetical and natural water containing arsenic at trace levels was investigated. To preserve stored water samples, a method for quantitative separation of arsenate at high pH-values with the basic anion-exchange resin Dowex 1x8 was developed.     

Transformation of arsenic(V) by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum melonis isolated from the alga Fucus gardneri

A fungus isolated from the macroalga Fucus gardneri was identified by using 28S rDNA sequence analysis, 99% similarity match, as Fusarium oxysporum meloni. The fungus was exposed to arsenic(V) (500 ppb) in artificial seawater to investigate the possibility that the fungus is the source of the metabolic activity that results in the presence of arsenosugars in the macroalga. High‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to identify the arsenic species in the fungus, and in the growth medium. The fungus was able to accumulate arsenic(V) and an increase in arsenite and dimethylarsinate was also observed. Some reduction of arsenate led to a small increase of arsenite in the growth medium. The fungus does not seem to be involved with the accumulation of arsenosugars by the Fucus. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biodegradation of arsenosugars in marine sediment

In the marine environment, arsenic accumulates in seaweed and occurs mostly in the form of arsenoribofuranosides (often called arsenosugars). This study investigated the degradation pathways of arsenosugars from decaying seaweed in a mesocosm experiment. Brown seaweed (Laminaria digitata) was placed on top of a marine sediment soaked with seawater. Seawater and porewater samples from different depths were collected and analysed for arsenic species in order to identify the degradation products using high‐performance liquid chomatography–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. During the first 10 days most of the arsenic found in the seawater and the shallow sediment is in the form of the arsenosugars released from the seaweed. Dimethylarsenoylethanol (DMAE), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA(V)) and, later, monomethylarsonic acid (MMA(V)) and arsenite and arsenate were also formed. In the deeper anaerobic sediment, the arsenosugars disappear more quickly and DMAE is the main metabolite with 60–80% of the total arsenic for the first 60 days besides a constant DMA(V) contribution of 10–20% of total soluble arsenic. With the degradation of the soluble DMAE the solubility of arsenic decreases in the sediment. The final soluble degradation products (after 106 days) were arsenite, arsenate, MMA(V) and DMA(V). No arsenobetaine or arsenocholine were identified in the porewater. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Speciation of arsenic compounds by HPLC with hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detection

An arsenic specific detection system utilizing on-line microwave digestion and hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (MD/HGAAS) is described for arsenic speciation by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Both ion exchange chromatography and ion pair chromatography have been studied for the separation of arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic acid (MMAA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA), and arsenobetaine (AB). When the commonly used mobile phases, phosphate and carbonate buffers at pH 7.5, are used on an anion exchange column, arsenite and AB co-elute. However, selective determination of these two arsenic compounds can be achieved by using the new detection system. Partial separation between arsenite and AB can be achieved by increasing the mobile phase pH to 10.3 and by using a polymer based anion exchange column. The detection limit obtained by using anion exchange chromatography with MD/HGAAS detection is approximately 10 ng/ml (or 200 pg for a 20-mul sample injection) for arsenite, DMAA and AB, 15 ng/ml (or 300 pg) for MMAA, and 20 ng/ml (or 400 pg) for arsenate. Complete separation of the five arsenic compounds is achieved on a reversed phase C18 column by using sodium heptanesulfonate as ion pair reagent. Comparable resolution between chromatographic peaks is obtained by using MD/HGAAS detection and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) detection.     

Speciation of arsenic and selenium compounds by ion-pair reversed-phase chromatography with electrothermic atomic absorption spectrometry. Application of experimental design for chromatographic optimisation

An off-line system is proposed consisting of ion-pair reversed-phase liquid chromatography, collections of fractions at the outflow of the column and furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The so-called system allowed determination of both arsenic and selenium species mainly found in the environment and in mammals (arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonate, dimethylarsinate, selenite, selenate, selenocystamine, selenocystine, selenomethionine and selenoethionine). In order to study the retention behaviour of these compounds and to estimate the optimal conditions for the chromatographic separation, central composite designs were used to evaluate the influence of the eluent parameters such as pH, tetrabutylammonium phosphate (TBA) concentration and sodium hydrogenphosphate amounts. The retention factors of each species and the selectivity were established as response criteria. Response surfaces and isoresponse curves were drawn from the mathematical models and enabled one to determine the optimal conditions and to visualise the method robustness. The predicted optimal zone was situated at pH 5.5-6.5, 4.0 mM Na2HPO4 and 3.0-4.0 mM TBA. Regression models suggested linearity for the studied compounds in the range 25-200 microg selenium and arsenic per litre investigated.     

Determination of arsenic species in marine organisms by HPLC-ICP-OES and HPLC-HG-QFAAS

Separation and quantification of six arsenic species have been performed in cod, tuna and mussel samples by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and hydride generation-quartz furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-QFAAS) as detection techniques. It has been shown that arsenic extraction with a water-methanol (11) mixture is sufficiently quantitative for the cod and tuna, in which arsenic is mainly present as arsenobetaine (about 90% of total As extracted). In contrast, only 60% of the element is extracted from the mussels and the chromatograms obtained reveal the presence of an unknown compound. Detection limits are in the g ml^–1 range for the HPLC-ICP-OES technique (quantification of arsenobetaine and arsenocholine) and in the ng ml^–1 range for the HPLC-HG-QFAAS system (quantification of arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic and dimethylarsinic acids).     

The effect of arsenicals on cell suspension cultures of the Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)

Catharanthus roseus cells were grown in the presence of arsenite, arsenate, methylarsonate and dimethylarsinate. Cell growth and arsenical uptake were monitored. Reduction of arsenate, methylation of arsenic and demethylation of methylarsenic species are described. Alkaloid production by the cells is dramatically influenced by the presence of arsenicals. ¹H NMR studies of methylarsonate uptake by whole cells of C. roseus are reported.     

Arsenic speciation in marine organisms: from the analytical methodology to the constitution of reference materials

An analytical procedure for total arsenic and arsenic species quantification in marine organisms has been developed. Fresh materials are freeze-dried and reduced to powders before analysis. Arsenic is determined either by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) directly or by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP/OES) after microwave digestion. Arsenic speciation is performed on the extracted sample using liquid chromatography coupled to ICP/OES for arsenobetaine and arsenocholine determination and to the hydride generation-quartz furnace atomic absorption spectrometric technique for arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic and dimethylarsinic acids quantification. Special precautions are taken to avoid losses or contaminations as well as to prevent analytical errors during the quantification stage. Other methods are applied and the corresponding results compared for each step of the procedure. The method is finally validated by means of intercomparison studies within the Measurements and Testing Programme of the European Community (formely BCR).     

Continuous flow hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometric determination and speciation of arsenic in wine

Methods for the atomic fluorescence spectrometric (AFS) determination of total arsenic and arsenic species in wines based on continuous flow hydride generation (HG) with atomization in miniature diffusion flame (MDF) are described. For hydride-forming arsenic, l-cysteine is used as reagent for pre-reduction and complexation of arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonate and dimethylarsinate. Concentrations of hydrochloric acid and tetrahydroborate are optimized in order to minimize interference by ethanol. Procedure permits determination of the sum of these four species in 5–10-fold diluted samples with limit of detection (LOD) 0.3 and 0.6 μg l^− 1 As in white and red wines, respectively, with precision between 2% and 8% RSD at As levels within 0.5–10 μg l^− 1.Selective arsine generation from different reaction media is used for non-chromatographic determination of arsenic species in wines: citrate buffer at pH 5.1 for As(III); 0.2 mol l^− 1 acetic acid for arsenite + dimethylarsinate (DMA); 8 mol l^− 1 HCl for total inorganic arsenic [As(III) + As(V)]; and monomethylarsonate (MMA) calculated by difference. Calibration with aqueous and ethanol-matched standard solutions of As(III) is used for 10- and 5-fold diluted samples, respectively. The LODs are 0.4 μg l^− 1 for As(III) and 0.3 μg l^− 1 for the other three As species and precision is within 4–8% RSDs.Arsenic species in wine were also determined by coupling of ion chromatographic separation on an anion exchange column and HG-flame AFS detection. Methods were validated by means of recovery studies and comparative analyses by HG-AFS and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave digestion. The LODs were 0.12, 0.27, 0.15 and 0.13 μg l^− 1 (as As) and RSDs were 2–6%, 5–9%, 3–7% and 2–5% for As(III), As(V), MMA and DMA arsenic species, respectively. Bottled red and white wines from Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia and Italy were analyzed by non-chromatographic and chromatographic procedures and the As(III), arsenite, has been confirmed as major arsenic species.     

Arsenic Speciation in Water by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Detection

A procedure was developed for determining arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonate, and dimethylarsinite ions in natural waters in concentrations 0.05–0.07 mg/L. The procedure involved separation by high-performance liquid chromatography and off-line determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The procedure was used to study arsenic transformations in the aquatic ecosystem of a tailing pit of an ore-dressing industrial plant.     

Organoarsenic compounds in plants and soil on top of an ore vein

Plants and soil collected above an ore vein in Gasen (Austria) were investigated for total arsenic concentrations by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). Total arsenic concentrations in all samples were higher than those usually found at non‐contaminated sites. The arsenic concentration in the soil ranged from ∼700 to ∼4000 mg kg⁻¹ dry mass. Arsenic concentrations in plant samples ranged from ∼0.5 to 6 mg kg⁻¹ dry mass and varied with plant species and plant part. Examination of plant and soil extracts by high‐performance liquid chromatography–ICP‐MS revealed that only small amounts of arsenic (<1%) could be extracted from the soil and the main part of the extractable arsenic from soil was inorganic arsenic, dominated by arsenate. Trimethylarsine oxide and arsenobetaine were also detected as minor compounds in soil. The extracts of the plants (Trifolium pratense, Dactylis glomerata, and Plantago lanceolata) contained arsenate, arsenite, methylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, trimethylarsine oxide, the tetramethylarsonium ion, arsenobetaine, and arsenocholine (2.5–12% extraction efficiency). The arsenic compounds and their concentrations differed with plant species. The extracts of D. glomerata and P. lanceolata contained mainly inorganic arsenic compounds typical of most other plants. T. pratense, on the other hand, contained mainly organic arsenicals and the major compound was methylarsonic acid. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.