title: Bioaccumulation, biotransformation and trophic transfer of arsenic in the aquatic food chain.
abstract: The occurrence, distribution, speciation, and biotransformation of arsenic in aquatic environment (marine and freshwater) have been studied extensively by several research groups during last couple of decades. However, most of those studies have been conducted in marine waters, and the results are available in a number of reviews. Speciation, bioaccumulation, and biotransformation of arsenic in freshwaters have been studied in recent years. Although inorganic arsenic (iAs) species dominates in both marine and freshwaters, it is biotransformed to methyl and organoarsenic species by aquatic organisms. Phytoplankton is considered as a major food source for the organisms of higher trophic levels in the aquatic food chain, and this autotrophic organism plays important role in biotransformation and distribution of arsenic species in the aquatic environment. Bioaccumulation and biotransformation of arsenic by phytoplankton, and trophic transfer of arsenic in marine and freshwater food chains have been important concerns because of possible human health effects of the toxic metalloid from dietary intake. To-date, most of the studies on arsenic biotransformation, speciation, and trophic transfer have focused on marine environments; little is known about these processes in freshwater systems. This article has been reviewed the bioaccumulation, biotransformation, and trophic transfer of arsenic in marine and freshwater food chain.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental Sustainability, School of the Environment, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia. Mohammad.Rahman@uts.edu.au
authors.forename: M Azizur
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Richard Peter
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D052818:Autotrophic Processes; D058448:Biota; D001711:Biotransformation; D020387:Food Chain; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical