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Linking Arsenic Metabolism and Toxic Effects
Citation:
THOMAS, D. J. Linking Arsenic Metabolism and Toxic Effects. Presented at Aamerican Chemical Society (ACS) 242nd Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, August 28 - September 01, 2011.
Impact/Purpose:
This is an abstract for a talk for a symposium entitled "Human Exposure and Responses to Toxins from the Air and Water: Arsenic Metabolism and Health Effects". This talk will overview current research on parallel pathways for arsenic metabolism and relate this information to ongoing research on the actions of arsenic as a toxicant and carcinogen.
Description:
Although arsenic has been long recognized as a toxicant and a carcinogen, the molecular basis for few of its adverse effects are well understood. Like other metalloids, arsenic undergoes extensive metabolism involving oxidation state changes and formation of methyl-arsenic bonds which affects its kinetic behavior and inherent toxicity. Hence, factors that modify capacity for arsenic methylation likely account for some of the variability among individuals and species in susceptibility to arsenic-induced diseases. Arsenicals are interconverted between oxy-and thio-forms affecting kinetic behavior and toxicity and complicating dosimetric and mode of action studies. Thus, the research challenge is to develop analytical approaches that quantify relevant metabolites so accurate cellular budgets for arsenicals can be developed. Application of these analytical tools will support definitive studies of modes of actions of arsenicals and better estimation of risk associated with exposure to arsenic. (This abstract does not necessarily reflect US EPA policy.)