US EPA

1070386 

Journal Article 

Review 

Bioaccumulation, biotransformation and trophic transfer of arsenic in the aquatic food chain 

Azizur Rahman, M; Hasegawa, H; Lim, RP 

In Press 

Yes 

Environmental Research
ISSN: 0013-9351
EISSN: 1096-0953 

116 

118-135 

English 

22534144 

10.1016/j.envres.2012.03.014 

WOS:000305306600013 

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. 

Arsenic speciation; Bioaccumulation; Biotransformation; Food chain; Marine and Freshwaters