OBJECTIVE Arsenic concentrations in 25% of tube wells in Bangladesh exceed 50 microg/L, a level known to be hazardous. Levels in individual wells vary widely. We gathered data on arsenic exposure levels and skin lesion prevalence to address the lack of knowledge about risks where the average arsenic concentrations was lower. METHODS The nongovernmental organization Gonoshasthaya Kendra did th...

The conserved Target Of Rapamycin (TOR) growth control signaling pathway is a major regulator of genes required for protein synthesis. The ubiquitous toxic metalloid arsenic, as well as mercury and nickel, are shown here to efficiently inhibit the rapamycin-sensitive TORC1 (TOR complex 1) protein kinase. This rapid inhibition of the TORC1 kinase is demonstrated in vivo by the dephosphorylation ...

Organic brown rice syrup (OBRS) is a sweetener frequently used as an alternative to high-fructose corn syrup in organic and health food products. In a study of children’s foods, a team of researchers discovered high levels of arsenic in toddler formula products that contained OBRS. Given evidence that arsenic accumulates in rice at high levels, the researchers suspected OBRS was the source of t...

BACKGROUND Arsenic is a ubiquitous environmental toxicant, and abnormalities of the skin, lung, kidney, and liver are the most common outcomes of long-term arsenic exposure. This study was designed to investigate the possible mechanisms of genotoxicity induced by arsenic trioxide in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. METHODS AND RESULTS A mild cytotoxic response of arsenic trioxide was obs...

Concentrations of arsenic and other trace elements in groundwater were examined at three villages (PT, POT and CHL) in the Kandal Province of Cambodia. Concentrations of arsenic in the groundwater ranged from 6.64 (in POT village) to 1543 microg/L (in PT village), with average and median concentrations of 552 and 353 microg/L, respectively. About 86% out of fifteen samples contained arsenic con...

The question of the potential for exposure to inorganic arsenic in water through dermal contact is important when providing guidance about treatment options to private well owners. If dermal contact with the water is an exposure route of concern, then whole house treatment is required, while if only oral exposure is considered, then treatment at the kitchen tap will be sufficient. For this reas...

BACKGROUND Chronic exposure to high level of inorganic arsenic in drinking water has been associated with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Most research has been ecological in nature and has focused on high levels of arsenic exposure with few studies directly measuring arsenic levels in drinking water as an index of arsenic exposure. The effect of low to moderate levels of arsenic exposure on diabetes ri...

Zhu et al. (1) indicated that “As2O3 may prove useful in the treatment of malignant lymphoproliferative disorders” in general, and Kroemer and de Thé (2) concluded with the statement that “irrespective of the molecular details, it appears that arsenic constitutes a welcome addition to the clinician’s armamentarium for the chemotherapy of leukemia.” Their major theme centers on the mechanism of ...

Arsenic exposure to humans is pervasive, and, increasingly, studies are revealing adverse health effects at ever lower doses. Drinking water is the main route of exposure for many individuals; however, food can be a significant source of arsenic to an individual, especially if their diet is rice-based. Infants are particularly susceptible to dietary exposure, since many first foods contain rice...

Human activities and natural processes release arsenic into ground and surface waters creating potentially serious environmental problems for humans and other living organisms [1]. In recognition of this threat, a new arsenic limit of 10lg/l, lowered from the current 50g/l, will become effective in 2006 for drinking water systems in the United States. Consequently, there is an urgent demand for...