Arsenic exposure of child populations in Northern Argentina.

Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic (As) is associated with numerous adverse effects. Argentina is one of the countries affected by arsenicism; however, there are few studies that evaluate inorganic As exposure and its effects on child population. The aim of this study is to evaluate exposure to As through water and food in child populations living in the provinces of Santiago del Estero and Chaco (n = 101), and to determine the impact of this exposure analysing biomarkers of exposure (urine and hair As contents) and effect [8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)]. The populations selected live in three areas with different levels of As in the drinking water (Santa Teresa de Carballo, 0.925 mg/L; Taco Pozo, 0.210 mg/L; Jumi Pozo, 0.016 mg/L). The As intakes through water and food are especially high in the areas with the greatest As exposure (Santa Teresa de Carballo, 1575 ±â€¯8 µg/day; Taco Pozo, 386 ±â€¯8 µg/day; Jumi Pozo, 39 ±â€¯1 µg/day). The total As contents in most of the samples of hair (0.11-13.11 mg/kg) and urine (31-4258 µg/g creatinine) are higher than the reference values (hair: 1 mg/kg; urine: 50 µg/g creatinine). The increase in the level of As exposure alters the profile of metabolites in urine, with a decrease of dimethylarsinic acid (10%) and an increase in the percentages of monomethylarsonic acid (4%) and inorganic As (6%). The results also show high values of 8-OHdG (3.7-37.8 µg/g creatinine), a oxidative DNA damage marker, in the two areas with greater As exposure.

Levels of essential and toxic elements in Porphyra columbina and Ulva sp. from San Jorge Gulf, Patagonia Argentina.

Baseline concentration levels of As, B, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Co, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, P, Pb, Se, V, and Zn were determined for Porphyra columbina and Ulva sp. collected from three locations along San Jorge Gulf, in Patagonia Argentina. Elements were quantified by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry, with the exception of lead and cadmium in some samples which were determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Three stations with different exposure degree to human activities, Bahía Solano, the mouth of Arroyo La Mata stream and Punta Maqueda, were selected as sampling points. The results showed a wide range of metal retention capacity between the two studied species. Regarding the levels of pollutants found in the researched sites, Punta Maqueda seemed to be less influenced by anthropogenic activities than the other two sites except for Cd. Taking into account their toxicities seasonal variations in Pb and Cd levels were studied in both algae in Punta Maqueda. Maximum concentrations of Cd (9.8 microg g(-1) dry wt.) were observed in P. columbina during winter, and maximum levels of Pb (0.82 microg g(-1) dry wt.) were detected in Ulva sp. during summer. Legislative and health safety aspects were evaluated for Cd and Pb.