title: Arsenic contamination in sesame and possible mitigation through organic interventions in the lower Gangetic Plain of West Bengal, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The widespread geogenic arsenic contamination of groundwater in the Gangetic Delta of West Bengal, leading to toxicities through the food chain-principally through irrigated rice-drew due attention from researchers. Oilseeds such as sesame might be a remunerative alternative to rice and can be grown with small quantities of contaminated groundwater.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present study was conducted to explore the efficiency of organic matter in reducing arsenic accumulation in sesame. Accumulation of total arsenic in sesame seed and available arsenic in post-harvest soils varied from 0.08 to 0.58 mg kg(-1) and from 3.87 to 8.89 kg ha(-1) , respectively. The organic manures added as soil amendment significantly reduced the accumulation (concentration) of arsenic in sesame seed to a maximum extent of 65.5% (vermicompost), 50% (phosphocompost), 42% (mustard cake) and 40% (farmyard manure (FYM)) compared with the control counterpart. The risk associated with dietary exposure to arsenic-contaminated sesame oil reached a value of 15.55% of provisional tolerable weekly intake for arsenic at the maximum accumulation of arsenic in sesame oil.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Substantial accumulation of arsenic in the soil-plant system was found. Risks of exposure to arsenic-contaminated oil remained considerably high. Irrigation through surface water and organic amendments both significantly reduced arsenic accumulation in sesame.
authors: Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Directorate of Research, Kalyani-741235, Nadia, West Bengal, India. bishwajit007@gmail.com
authors: Bishwajit
authors: B
authors: Sinha
authors: Kallol
authors: K
authors: Bhattacharyya
authors: Pradip K
authors: PK
authors: Giri
authors: Supradip
authors: S
authors: Sarkar
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D004032:Diet; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005506:Food Contamination; D060587:Groundwater; D007194:India; D008372:Manure; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D012715:Sesame Oil / Q000737:chemistry*; D031685:Sesamum / Q000737:chemistry*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008372:Manure; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D012715:Sesame Oil; D001151:Arsenic