Arsenic Induced Gallbladder Cancer Risk in Eastern Part of Indo-Gangetic Plains

BackgroundIn recent times Gallbladder cancer (GBC) incidences increased many folds in India. Majority of GBC cases are being reported from arsenic hotspots identified in Bihar. MethodsIn this prospective study volunteers were selected who underwent surgery in our cancer institute. There were 11 control benign gallbladder cases and 28 confirmed gallbladder cancer cases. Their biological samples such as blood, gallbladder tissue, gallbladder stone, bile and hair samples were collected for arsenic estimation. Moreover, n=512 gallbladder cancer patients blood samples were evaluated for the presence of arsenic to understand exposure level in the population. ResultsA significantly high arsenic concentration (p<0.05) was detected in the blood samples, gallbladder tissue, gallstones, bile and hair samples in comparison to the control group. Moreover, n=512 blood samples of GBC patients had significantly very high arsenic concentration. ConclusionsThe study shows very high arsenic concentration observed in the blood, gallbladder tissue, gallbladder stone, bile and hair samples in GBC cases in comparison to the benign control cases indicates the correlation between chronic arsenic exposure and gallbladder cancer incidences in eastern Indo-Gangetic plains region. The study also makes an attempt to establish the likely correlation/association between arsenic exposure and gallbladder cancer disease.

Morphology and Ecological Characteristics of Paracyclops Novenarius Reid, 1987: A Cyclopoid Copepod Inhabiting a Highly Contaminated Aquifer in Central-North of Mexico

This work reports the freshwater copepod Paracyclops novenarius, in a water body with high arsenic concentrations. Morphologic analysis, abundances, body size of the copepod and physical and chemical variables of the water (including arsenic concentrations) were evaluated in two different climatic seasons (rainy and dry). Morphological analysis showed that the high arsenic concentrations do not affect the morphology of P. novenarius, including all its development and adult instars. The highest abundances of this species were found in the dry season for all development stages, with values ​​of 1.51 and 1.50, 4.46, 0.21 ind/L-1, for nauplii, copepodites, females, and males, respectively. However, these values are lower than other aquatic systems of the region and the world, without polluting agents. The highest arsenic concentration was found in the dry season (58 mg/L-1) and the lowest during the rainy (54.5 mg/L-1). The body size of the analyzed organisms was larger in rainy compared to dry, with an average of 637.2 ± 42 µm for females and 650 ± 37 µm for males. A Mann-Whitney U test showed significant differences in lengths by season and by arsenic concentration (U = 1284.5, U = 1284.5; p < 0.05). The results of this study could provide information for environmental impact assessments on aquatic systems.

Influence of chemical fertilizers on arsenic mobilization in the alluvial Bengal delta plain: a critical review

Arsenic contamination of alluvial aquifers of the Bengal delta plain causes a serious threat to human health for over 75 million people. The study aimed to explore the impacts of chemical fertilizer on arsenic mobilization in the sedimentary deposition of the alluvial Bengal delta plain. It selected ten comparatively higher affected Districts and the least affected two Divisions as a referral study site. The countrywide pooled concentration of arsenic in groundwater was 109.75 μg/L (52.59, 166.91) at a 95% confidence interval, which was double the national guideline value (50 μg/L). The analysis results showed a strong positive correlation (r ≥ 0.5) of arsenic with NO3, NH4, PO4, SO4, Ca, and K, where a portion of those species originated from fertilizer leaching into groundwater. The results showed that PO4 played a significant influence in arsenic mobilization, but the role of NO3, SO4, and NH4 was not clear at certain lithological conditions. It also showed that clay, peat, silt-clay, and rich microbial community with sufficiently organic carbon loaded soils could lead to an increase in arsenic mobilization. Finally, the study observed that the overall lithological conditions are the main reason for the high arsenic load in the study area.