• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.36-44
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• 2008

Organic forms of arsenic (As) were determined through fractionation procedure of soil organic matter (SOM) in soil, sediments and mine tailing samples from the Myungbong, Dongil, and Okdong mining areas of southern Korea. An alkaline extraction method was applied to soil samples followed by the fractionation procedures of SOM by the DAX-8 and XAD-4 resin adsorption method. Major fraction of organic As species (42% to 98%) was found in acid-soluble fraction, whereas minor fraction (0.1 % to 67.8%) was present in the humic-associated As. In acid-soluble fractions, the transphillic- and hydrophilic-associated As were dominant in addition to As binding with humic and fulvic SOM. Arsenic binding was the strongest between pH 6 to 8 and reduced to about 70% at both low and high pH regions. The amount of both transphillic and hydrophillic associated As was less changed than humic and fulvic-associated As, in both low and high pH regions. This apparently indicates that As has stronger affinity towards hydrophillic rather than hydrophobic organics. From the experimental observation of As-binding SOM in natural soil, the ligand exchange model may be a feasible explanation of transphillic and hydrophillic affinity of As.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.6 s.181
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• pp.689-697
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• 2006

Distribution and speciation of arsenic in water resources was investigated in the Ulsan mine area. In 62% of uoundwater samples from the mine area, total As concentrations exceeded 0.05 mg/l, the Korean Drinking Water Standard. As(V) was the major type in groundwater with minor As(III). Arsenic species appeared to be in transition stages following redox changes after exposure to the air through the monitoring wells. In areas around the mine, the mine and Cheongog spring appeared to be the sources of arsenic contamination of water resources. The spring showed 0.345 mg/1-As, as much as seven times of the Korean standard. Groundwater and stream samples showed As-concentrations greater than 0.05 mg/l in 30% and 33% samples, respectively, and 60 and 67% of samples exceeded 0.01 mg/l of WHO guideline, respectively. Again, As(V) was a dominant species, however, several samples had As(III) in appreciable levels. In one stream sample, organic species including DMA and AsB were detected in low levels, probably resulted from transformation or related biogeochemical processes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.318-322
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• 2004

Arsenic is a toxic and carcinogenic metalloid, whose sources in nature include mineral dissolution and volcanic eruption. Abandoned mines and hazardous waste disposal sites are another major source of arsenic contamination of soil and aquatic systems. To predict concentrations of the toxic inorganic arsenic in aqueous phase. the biogeochemical redox processes and transport behavior need to be studied together and be coupled in a reactive transport model. A new reaction module describing the fate and transport of inorganic arsenic species (As(II)), dissolved oxygen, nitrate, ferrous iron, sulfate, and dissolved organic carbon are developed and incorporated into the RT3D code.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.655-666
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate urinary arsenic concentrations by arsenic species and to identify related factors among local residents near abandoned metal mines in Korea. Methods: Among the subjects of the Health Survey of Residents Near Abandoned Metal Mines for 2013-2017, 664 people were enrolled in this study. Urinary arsenic species analysis was performed using ICP/MS. Result: The geometric means (95% Confidence Interval) by urinary arsenic species were 0.15 (0.13-0.17) ㎍/L for AsIII, 0.64 (0.55-0.75) ㎍/L for AsV, and 1.21 (1.05-1.40) ㎍/L for inorganic arsenic. The geometric means of urinary MMA and DMA were 1.58 (1.35-1.86) ㎍/L and 77.93 (72.61-83.63) ㎍/L, respectively, and that of organic arsenic was 83.15 (77.80-88.88) ㎍/L. The concentration of inorganic arsenic in the group using groundwater as drinking water was 1.36 (1.13-1.64) ㎍/L, which was statistically significantly higher than the 1.00 (0.80-1.25) ㎍/L in the other drinking water groups. Regarding rice consumption, the concentration of inorganic arsenic in urine in the group whose consumption was more than half rice produced in the residential area was 1.32 ㎍/L, which was statistically significantly higher than that of the 1.12 ㎍/L for the group whose consumption was less than half. Conclusion: In the analysis of the factors affecting the urinary inorganic arsenic concentration of the residents of the abandoned metal mine area, the use of groundwater as drinking water and consumption of rice produced in the residential area were considered related factors.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate the effect of humic acid on the adsorption of arsenic onto hematite and its binding mechanism through the chemical speciation modeling in the binary system and the adsorption modeling in the ternary system. The complexation modeling of arsenic and humic acid was suitable for the binding model with the basis of the electrostatic repulsion and the effect of bridging metal. In comparison with the experimental adsorption data in the ternary system, the competitive adsorption model from the binary intrinsic equilibrium constants was consistent with the amount of arsenic adsorption. However, the additive rule showed the deviation of model in the opposite way of cationic heavy metals, because the reduced organic complexation of arsenic and the enhanced oxyanionic competition diminished the adsorption of arsenic. In terms of the reaction mechanism, the organic complex of arsenic, neutral As(III) and oxyanionic As(V) species were transported and adsorbed competitively to the hematite surface forming the inner-sphere complex in the presence of humic acid.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.135-142
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• 2023

The total arsenic and 6 arsenic species were investigated in 56 fish collagen products using ICP-MS (Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer) and HPLC-ICP-MS(High performance liquid chromatography-Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer). The mean concentrations of total arsenic and arsenic species were 40.103±81.133 ㎍/kg (N.D.~586.686) and 30.070±50.378 ㎍/kg (N.D.~313.871), respectively. The mean concentration of inorganic arsenic was 24.610±32.706 ㎍/kg (N.D.~129.331), and the As(V) (Arsenate) was the most dominant. The standards and specifications of arsenic have not been established for fish collagen products. Our study presents that arsenic levels are relatively safe compared with not only previous studies but also domestic and international standards. However, in one sample, the total arsenic concentration was 586.686 ㎍/kg, showing the inorganic was 8.119 ㎍/kg, and the DMA was 305.752 ㎍/kg, which was high than the Canadian standard for organic arsenic. In conclusion, it is necessary to monitor arsenic levels consistently and establish standards and specifications of arsenic in fish collagen products to assure consumer safety.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.266-272
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• 2010

The present study was carried out to assess exposure & risk for Korean by total and inorganic As intake through agricultural products. Total arsenic analysis was performed using microwave device and ICP-MS. 50% MeOH extraction and anion-exchange HPLC-ICP-MS method has been used to determine arsenic species. 329 samples covering 20 kinds of agricultural products were collected from various retail outlets and markets across Korea. The concentration of total As was in the range of 0.001~0.718 mg/kg, while inorganic and organic arsenic species in all samples was not determined. For risk assessment, probable daily intake was calculated and compared with provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI, 15 ${\mu}g$/kg b.w./week for inorganic arsenic) established by JECFA. The median daily exposure to total and inorganic As by intake of agricultural products except rice was ranged 0.0002~0.012, 0.0001~0.001 ${\mu}g$/kg b.w./day, corresponding to 0.01~0.5%, 0.002~0.1% of PTWI, respectively. The median level of total and inorganic As intake through rice was 0.603 and 0.041 ${\mu}g$/kg b.w./day, and 28.1% and 1.9% of PTWI, respectively. Therefore, the level of overall exposure to arsenic for Korean through agricultural products was below the recommended JECFA levels, indicating of least possibility of risk.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.385-393
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• 2022

The contamination level of inorganic arsenic, a human carcinogen, was investigated in 87 grains and 66 processed grain foods. Two inorganic arsenic species arsenite (As(III)) and arsenate (As(V)) and four organic arsenic monomethylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, arsenobetaine, arsenocholine were analyzed using HPLC-ICP/MS with high separation and sensitivity and ICP/MS was used to quantify total arsenic. Inorganic arsenic was detected in all grains. And the total arsenic in grains consists of about 70-85% inorganic arsenic and about 10-20% DMA. The concentration of inorganic arsenic was high in rice and black rice cultivated in paddy soil with irrigated water, while the miscellaneous grain in field was low. Mean concentration of inorganic arsenic in rice germ, brown rice and polished rice was 0.160 mg/kg, 0.135 mg/kg, 0.083 mg/kg, respectively, indicating that rice bran contains more arsenic. In processed grain foods, inorganic arsenic concentration varied according to the kind of ingredients and content, and the detection amount was high in processed food with brown rice and germ. The arsenic content of all samples did not exceed each standard, but the intake frequency is high and it is considered that continuous monitoring is necessary for food safety.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.530-539
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• 2021

Background: In South Korea, areas around abandoned metal mines are designated as regions with high arsenic (As) contamination. However, studies assessing urinary As exposure, As metabolism, and relevant genetic polymorphisms in residents of these metal mine areas are lacking. Objectives: To identify factors associated with As exposure and evaluate the effects of MTHFR, As3MT, and GSTO1 genetic polymorphisms on As metabolism in residents of abandoned metal mine areas by measuring urinary As species. Methods: Urinary As species (arsenite [As³⁺], arsenate [As⁵⁺], monomethyl arsonic acid, and dimethylarsinic acid) were isolated using high-performance liquid chromatography in combination with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS). Four genetic polymorphisms (MTHFR A222V, MTHFR E429A, GSTO1 A140D, As3MT M287T) were analyzed in 144 residents of four areas around abandoned metal mines. Results: The study sample was comprised of 34.7% men and 65.3% women, with a mean age of 70.7±10.9 years. The urinary inorganic As concentration was higher among those consuming more than half locally produced rice (0.31 ㎍/L) than those consuming less than half such rice (0.18 ㎍/L). The urinary dimethylarsinic acid concentration was higher in the group that had consumed seafood in the past day (31.68 ㎍/L) than in those who had not (22.37 ㎍/L). Furthermore, individuals heterozygous in the MTHFR A222V and GSTO1 A140D polymorphism had higher urinary arsenic species concentrations than did individuals with a wild type or homozygous for the variant allele. Conclusions: Consumption of locally produced rice was associated with inorganic As exposure, whereas seafood consumption was associated with organic As exposure among residents of abandoned metal mine areas. There was no clear association between MTHFR A222V and GSTO1 A140D polymorphisms and As metabolism.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.177-189
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• 2009

Iron (oxyhydr)oxides commonly form as secondary minerals of high reactivity and large surface area resulting from alteration and weathering of primary minerals, and they are efficient sorbents for inorganic and organic contaminants. Accordingly, they have a great potential in industrial applications and are also of substantial interest in environmental sciences. Goethite (${\alpha}$-FeOOH) is one of the most ubiquitous and stable forms of iron (oxyhydr)oxides in terrestrial soils, sediments, and ore deposits, as well as a common weathering product in rocks of all types. This study focused on adsorption reaction as a main mechanism in scavenging arsenic using goethite. Goethite was synthesized in the laboratory to get high purity, and a variety of mineralogical and physicochemical features of goethite were measured and related to adsorption characteristics of arsenic. To compare differences in adsorption reactions between arsenic species, in addition, a variety of experiments to acquire adsorption isotherm, adsorption edges, and adsorption kinetics were accomplished. The point of zero charge (PZC) of the laboratory-synthesized goethite was measured to be 7.6, which value seems to be relatively higher, compared to those of other iron (oxyhydr)oxides. Its specific surface area appeared to be $29.2\;m^2/g$ and it is relatively smaller than those of other (oxyhydr)oxides. As a result, it was speculated that goethite shows a smaller adsorption capacity. It is likely that the affinity of goethite is much more larger for As(III) (arsenite) than for As(V) (arsenate), because As(III) was observed to be much more adsorbed on goethite than As(V) in equivalent pH conditions. When the adsorption of each arsenic species onto goethite was characterized in various of pH, the adsorption of As(III) was largest in neutral pH range (7.0~9.0) and decreased in both acidic and alkaline pH conditions. In the case of As(V), the adsorption appeared to be highest in the lowest pH condition, and then decreased with an increase of pH. This peculiarity of arsenic adsorption onto goethite might be caused by macroscopic electrostatic interactions due to variation in chemical speciation of arsenic and surface charge of goethite, and also it is significantly affected by change in pH. Parabolic diffusion model was adequate to effectively evaluate arsenic adsorption on goethite, and the regression results show that the kinetic constant of As(V) is larger than that of As(III).