Thomas David J, Bradham Karen
Pharmacokinetics Branch, Integrated Systems Toxicology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
Public Health Chemistry Branch, Exposure Methods and Measurements Division, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
J Environ Sci (China). 2016 Nov;49:86-96. doi: 10.1016/j.jes.2016.06.005. Epub 2016 Jun 25.
For much of the world's population, food is the major source of exposure to arsenic. Exposure to this non-essential metalloid at relatively low levels may be linked to a wide range of adverse health effects. Thus, evaluating foods as sources of exposure to arsenic is important in assessing risk and developing strategies that protect public health. Although most emphasis has been placed on inorganic arsenic as human carcinogen and toxicant, an array of arsenic-containing species are found in plants and animals used as foods. Here, we 2evaluate the contribution of complex organic arsenicals (arsenosugars, arsenolipids, and trimethylarsonium compounds) that are found in foods and consider their origins, metabolism, and potential toxicity. Commonalities in the metabolism of arsenosugars and arsenolipids lead to the production of di-methylated arsenicals which are known to exert many toxic effects. Evaluating foods as sources of exposure to these complex organic arsenicals and understanding the formation of reactive metabolites may be critical in assessing their contribution to aggregate exposure to arsenic.
对世界上大部分人口而言，食物是接触砷的主要来源。在相对较低水平接触这种非必需类金属可能与多种不良健康影响有关。因此，评估食物作为砷暴露源对于评估风险和制定保护公众健康的策略至关重要。尽管大多数重点都放在无机砷作为人类致癌物和有毒物质上，但在用作食物的动植物中发现了一系列含砷物种。在此，我们评估食物中发现的复杂有机砷化合物（砷糖、砷脂和三甲基砷化合物）的贡献，并考虑它们的来源、代谢和潜在毒性。砷糖和砷脂代谢的共性导致二甲基化砷的产生，已知二甲基化砷会产生许多毒性作用。评估食物作为这些复杂有机砷暴露源以及了解活性代谢物的形成对于评估它们对砷总暴露的贡献可能至关重要。
