• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.101-109
• /
• 2003

Humans are exposed to toxic element arsenic (As) from air, food and water The current study was performed to investigate the levels of arsenic in the internal organs (liver, kidney cortex, lung, cerebrum. abdominal muscle and abdominal skin) and to find out correlation with age and interrelationship between tissues in Korean human bodies who had lived in Seoul or Gyeonggi Province and Honam district. The tissues from 43 Korean cadavers were digested with microwave digestion system and arsenic was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The mean recovery percentages of arsenic In liver were about 80％ and artenic concentrations in human tissues were almost uniform. The mean level of arsenic in internal tissues were at follow ; liver 44.556${\pm}$25.199 ppb, kidney cortex 42.652${\pm}$22.082 pub, lung 31.020 ${\pm}$ 17.504 ppb. cerebrum 35.703 ${\pm}$22.191 ppb, muscle 43.413${\pm}$26.619 ppb and skin 42.106${\pm}$25.8,11 ppb. No significant difference was found in the levels of arsenic between sexes. Meanwhile significant differences between districts where they had lived were found in all tissues tested. The levels of arsenic in the tissues of cadavers who had lived in Seoul Gyeonggi Province were higher than those of Honam district. In addition a positive correlation between As concentration and age was observed only in the cerebrum (p < 0.05). A significantly high correlations between tissues were observed in all tissues tested. This result also shows that the distribution of arsenic is uniform in internal tissues.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.89-97
• /
• 2017

In this study, we evaluated effect of particle size on arsenic solid-state speciation and bioaccessibility in soils highly contaminated with arsenic from smelting and mining. Soils were partitioned into six particle size fractions ($2000-500{\mu}m$, $500-250{\mu}m$, $250-150{\mu}m$, $150-75{\mu}m$, $75-38{\mu}m$, <$38{\mu}m$), and arsenic solid-state speciation and bioaccessibility were characterized in each particle size fraction. Arsenic solid-state speciation was characterized via sequential extraction and XRD analysis, and arsenic bioaccessibility was evaluated by SBRC (Solubility Bioaccessibility Research Consortium) method. In smelter site soil, arsenic was mainly present as arsenic bound to amorphous iron oxides. Fine particle size fractions showed higher arsenic concentration, but lower arsenic bioaccessibility. On the other hand, arsenic in mine site soil showed highest concentration in largest particle size fraction ($2000-500{\mu}m$), while higher bioaccessibility was observed in smaller particle size fractions. Arsenic in mine site soil was mainly present as arsenolite ($As_2O_3$) phase, which seemed to affect the distribution of arsenic and arsenic bioaccessibility in different particle size fractions of the mine soil.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2003.04a
• /
• pp.163.1-163.1
• /
• 2003

Arsenic is a ubiquitous element that ranks 20th in abundance in the earth's crust, 14th in the sea water, and is a component of several hundred minerals. Arsenic and its compounds are mobile in the environment. Groundwater contamination by arsenic is a serious threat to mankind all over the world and it can also enter food chain. Humans are exposed to this toxic arsenic from air, food and water. (omitted)

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.176-183
• /
• 2013

The variation of the stable region of arsenic compounds in aqueous environment with temperature has been investigated by constructing the Pourbaix diagram of arsenic at different temperatures. The standard potential corresponding to the boundary between arsenic compounds with different charge valence was estimated to be decreased with temperature, which means the stability of arsenic compound with +5 charge valence increases. The distribution diagram of the most highly oxidized arsenic compound showed that arsenic acid is formed at higher pH and arsenate is generated at lower pH as temperature rises. The aquatic toxicity due to arsenic compounds was considered to be decreased with temperature in the neutral pH condition based on the $LD_T$ value defined in this study.

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

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.17-25
• /
• 2018

The Boroo area in Mongolia is known to have been contaminated with heavy metals due to irregular gold mining activities and the release of mercury from gold extraction process. Soil and mine tailings were collected to analyze contamination patterns of heavy metals in the Boroo area. Analyses revealed that mercury, arsenic and cadmium concentrations exceeded the regulatory standard of the nation (Mongolia National Standard). In case of mercury, about 80% of the survey area was over the limit and the concentration distribution heavily influenced by influx of mercury through water transport. Soil contamination by arsenic was most severe that the concentration exceeded the regulatory limit in almost entire survey area, showing peak concentrations at nearby streams and river along with ore processing facilities. For cadmium, about 20% of the survey area was over the limit with the concentration distribution similar to that of arsenic.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.137-140
• /
• 2009

Chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a long history of successful preservative, have raised environmental concerns. Adsorption characteristics of domestic soils for chromium, copper, and arsenic were assessed by measuring distribution coefficient ($K_d$) values of these metal components in a laboratory scale. The results revealed that $K_d$ values were higher in chromium, followed by arsenic and copper in soil matrix. Different soil matrixes resulted in varying mobilities of CCA components. The values of $K_d$ for all three metals increased with organic matter contents. The results suggest that the mobility of metal components may be very limited to the surface area adjacent to CCA-treated wood due to their fairly large distribution coefficient ($K_d$). However, the metal components would be persistent and accumulated in the soil, resulting in high chemical concentration in service area of treated wood.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.377-383
• /
• 2006

The purpose of the present study was to examine the pharmacokinetic characteristics of arsenic hexaoxide($As_4O_6$), a novel anticancer compound, after i.v. bolus and oral administration in rats. We developed an ICP-Mass based method to analyze arsenic hexaoxide levels in plasma, bile, urine, feces, and tissue and validated the method. Arsenic hexaoxide rapidly disappeared from the plasma by 10 min($\alpha$ phase) after i.v. administration, which was followed by the late disappearance in the $\beta$ phase. The mean plasma half-lives($t_{1/2}$) of arsenic hexaoxide at the a and $\beta$ phase when administered at a dose of 5 mg/kg were 1.57 and 29.8 min, respectively. The maximum plasma concentration($C_{max}$) was 230 ng/mL, after oral administration of arsenic hexaoxide at a dose of 50 mg/kg. The bioavailability, which was calculated from the dose-adjusted ratio, of the oral administered arsenic hexaoxide was 1.61%. Of the various tissues tested, arsenic hexaoxide was mainly distributed in the spleen, lung, liver and kidney after oral administration. Arsenic hexaoxide levels in the spleen or lung at 24 hr after oral administration were higher than those of maximum plasma concentration($C_{max}$). The cumulative amounts of arsenic hexaoxide found in the urine by 48 hr after the administration of 50 mg/kg were 5-fold higher than those in the bile. However, the cumulative amounts in the feces were 10-fold higher compared with those of urine, suggesting that arsenic hexaoxide is mostly excreted in the feces. In conclusion, our observations indicated that arsenic hexaoxide was poorly absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract to the blood circulation and transferred to tissues such as the spleen and lung at 24 hr after oral administration. Moreover, the majority of arsenic hexaoxide appears to be excreted in the feces by 48 hr after oral administration.

• 한국연소학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 1997.06a
• /
• pp.61-68
• /
• 1997

The morphology and size distribution of chromium oxides and the concentration measurement of atomic arsenic have been studied in laminar diffusion flames. Nitrogen was added to vary flame temperatures in hydrogen flames. Ethene flames were used in order to investigate the potential for interaction between the soot aerosol that is formed in these flames and the chromium aerosol. Two sources of chromium compounds were introduced: chromium nitrate and chromium hexacarbonyl. A detailed investigation of the morphology was carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The amounts of Cr(VI) and total Cr were determined by a spectrophotometric method and by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, respectively. Also, LIF was used for the measurement of atomic arsenic, which was excited at 197.2 nm and was detected at 249.6 nm. Results showed that the morphology of the particles varied with the flame temperature and with the chromium source. The particles were characterized by porous structures, cenospheres and agglomerated dense particles when chromium nitrate solution was added to the flames. At low to moderate temperatures, porous sintered cenospheric structures were formed, in some cases with a blow hole. At higher temperatures, an agglomerated cluster which was composed of loosely sintered submicron particles was observed. It was also found that the emission of Cr(VI) from the undiluted $H_2$ flame was more than 10 times larger than in the 50% $H_2$ / 50% $N_2$ flame on a mass basis. Single point LIF measurement of atomic arsenic indicated that arsenic exist only in the low temperature, fuel rich region.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.589-601
• /
• 2010

Recently it has been frequently reported arsenic contamination of geologic origin in groundwater. The iron-impregnated ranular activated carbon (Fe-GAC) was developed for effective removal of arsenic from groundwater n the study. Fe-GACs were prepared by impregnating iron compounds into a supporting medium (GAC) with 0.05 M iron nitrate solution. The materials were used in arsenic adsorption isotherm tests to know the effect of iron impregnation time, batch kinetic tests to understand the influence of pH, and column tests to evaluate for the preliminary operation of water treatment system. The results showed that the minimum twelve hours of impregnation time were required for making the Fe-GAC with sufficient iron content for arsenic removal, confirmed by a high arsenic adsorption capacity evaluated in the isotherm tests. Most of the impregnated iron compounds were iron hydroxynitrate $Fe_4(OH)_{11}NO_3{\cdot}2H_2O$ but a mall quantity of hematite was also identified in X-ray diffraction(XRD) analysis. The batch isotherms of Fe-GAC for arsenic adsorption were well explained by Langmuir than Freundlich model and the iron contents of Fe-GAC have positive linear correlations on logarithmic plots with Freundlich distribution coefficients ($K_F$ and Langmuir maximum adsorption capacities ($Q_m$. The results of kinetic experiments suggested hat Fe-GAC had he excellent arsenic adsorption capacities regardless of all pH conditions except for pH 11 and could be used a promising adsorbents for groundwater arsenic removal considering the general groundwater pH range of 6-8. The pseudo-second order model, based on the assumption that the ate-limiting step might be chemisorption, provided the best correlation of the kinetic experimental data and explained the arsenic adsorption system f Fe-GAC. The column test was conducted to valuate the feasibility of Fe-GAC use and the operation parameters in arsenic groundwater treatment system. The parameters obtained from the column test were the retardation actor of 482.4 and the distribution coefficient of 581.1 L/mg which were similar values of 511.5-592.5 L/mg acquired from Freundlich batch isotherm model. The results of this study suggested that Fe-GAC could be used as promising adsorbent of arsenic removal in a small groundwater supply system with water treatment facility.