Arsenic Metabolism and Toxicity

Dear Colleagues,

Exposure to arsenic (As) affects people living in many regions of the world. This problem occurs not only in less affluent areas (such as Chile, Argentina, Bangladesh, and Mexico) but also in several hotspot regions of Europe (Poland, Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Czech Republic, Croatia, Finland, Greece, and Italy). The source of exposure to different chemical forms of As can be both environmental and occupational. Both kinds of exposure include inorganic as well as organic forms. Inorganic forms (such as As trioxide, As pentoxide, arsenous acid, and arsenic acid) are more toxic than organic forms (monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), arsenobetaine).

Inorganic arsenic (iAs) metabolism involves alternate reactions of methylation and reduction to MMA (monomethylarsonic acid) and DMA, and then these forms are excreted by the kidneys. In humans, iAs can be excreted unchanged and as MMA and DMA. The methylation reactions of iAs are catalyzed by the enzyme arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase. S-adenosyl-methionine, which is the donor of methyl groups, is important in the methylation process. S-adenosyl-methionine is synthesized in the one-carbon-metabolism (OCM) pathway. It has been shown that various dietary compounds are involved in the OCM, mainly as methyl group donors: methionine, choline, betaine, folic acid, and cofactors of the reaction, e.g., vitamin B2, B6, B12, and zinc. It has also been shown that dietary intake of these nutrients can improve iAs metabolism and consequently mitigate the adverse health effects of exposure to arsenic.

iAs has been classified as a carcinogenic compound. Epidemiological studies examining individuals exposed to As have shown an increased incidence of cancers including lung, kidney, liver, bladder, and skin cancers. Long-term exposure to As in adults increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, vascular disease, incidence of skin lesions, and impaired lung function. Exposure in children is associated with cognitive inabilities and neurological disorders.

Because many people are exposed to As, an in-depth analysis of its metabolism and the spectrum of adverse health effects is an important challenge for the world of science. This indicates the need to analyze the factors determining the efficiency of arsenic metabolism and the spectrum of adverse health effects associated with exposure to this element, which will be the basis for developing effective primary prevention.

Prof. Dr. Lucyna Kozlowska
Prof. Dr. Anna Skoczyńska
Guest Editors

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