Arsenic microdistribution and speciation in toenail clippings of children living in a historic gold mining area

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dc.contributor.authorPearce, DCen_AU
dc.contributor.authorDowling, Ken_AU
dc.contributor.authorGerson, ARen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSim, MRen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSutton, SRen_AU
dc.contributor.authorNewville, Men_AU
dc.contributor.authorRussell, RAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMcOrist, GDen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2010-06-15T03:03:02Zen_AU
dc.date.available2010-06-15T03:03:02Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2010-05-15en_AU
dc.date.statistics2010-05-15en_AU
dc.description.abstractArsenic is naturally associated with gold mineralisation and elevated in some soils and mine waste around historical gold mining activity in Victoria, Australia. To explore uptake, arsenic concentrations in children's toenail clippings and household soils were measured, and the microdistribution and speciation of arsenic in situ in toenail clipping thin sections investigated using synchrotron-based X-ray microprobe techniques. The ability to differentiate exogenous arsenic was explored by investigating surface contamination on cleaned clippings using depth profiling, and direct diffusion of arsenic into incubated clippings. Total arsenic concentrations ranged from 0.15 to 2.1 µg/g (n = 29) in clipping samples and from 3.3 to 130 µg/g (n = 22) in household soils, with significant correlation between transformed arsenic concentrations (Pearson's r = 0.42, P = 0.023) when household soil was treated as independent. In clipping thin sections (n = 2), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) mapping showed discrete layering of arsenic consistent with nail structure, and irregular arsenic incorporation along the nail growth axis. Arsenic concentrations were heterogeneous at 10 × 10 µm microprobe spot locations investigated (< 0.1 to 13.3 µg/g). X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra suggested the presence of two distinct arsenic species: a lower oxidation state species, possibly with mixed sulphur and methyl coordination (denoted As≈ III(–S, –CH3)); and a higher oxidation state species (denoted As≈ V(–O)). Depth profiling suggested that surface contamination was unlikely (n = 4), and XRF and XANES analyses of thin sections of clippings incubated in dry or wet mine waste, or untreated, suggested direct diffusion of arsenic occurred under moist conditions. These findings suggest that arsenic in soil contributes to some systemic absorption associated with periodic exposures among children resident in areas of historic gold mining activity in Victoria, Australia. Future studies are required to ascertain if adverse health effects are associated with current levels of arsenic uptake. © 2009, Elsevier Ltd.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationPearce, D. C., Dowling, K., Gerson, A. R., Sim, M. R., Sutton, S. R., Newville, M., Russel, R., & McOrist, G. (2010). Arsenic microdistribution and speciation in toenail clippings of children living in a historic gold mining area. Science of the Total Environment, 408(12), 2590-2599. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.12.039en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc1763en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0048-9697en_AU
dc.identifier.issue12en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleScience of the Total Environmenten_AU
dc.identifier.pagination2590-2599en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.12.039en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/1701en_AU
dc.identifier.volume408en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherElsevieren_AU
dc.subjectArsenicen_AU
dc.subjectChildrenen_AU
dc.subjectNailsen_AU
dc.subjectGolden_AU
dc.subjectMiningen_AU
dc.subjectVictoriaen_AU
dc.titleArsenic microdistribution and speciation in toenail clippings of children living in a historic gold mining areaen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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