The Global Biogeochemical Cycle of Arsenic

Abstract

Direct exploitation and use of arsenic resources has diminished in recent years, but inadvertent mobilizations of As from mineral extractions (metal ores, coal, and phosphate rock) are now as much as ten‐fold greater (1,500–5,600 × 109 g/yr) than the As released by the natural rate of rock weathering at the Earth's surface (60–544 × 109 g/yr). Although some As from mining activities enters global cycling through leaching and spills, the amount of dissolved As in rivers (23 × 109 g/yr) is similar to the theoretical mobilization of As from chemical weathering. Anthropogenic emissions to the atmosphere (17–38 × 109 g As/yr) are double the natural background sources (10–25 × 109 g As/yr), largely as a result of the smelting of Cu and other non‐ferrous ores. This results in increased atmospheric deposition near regions with high mining and industrial activities, with potential consequences to human health, natural ecosystems and agriculture. Using median values for As, the ratio of anthropogenic to natural emissions to the atmosphere (1.57) suggests a human impact on the global As cycle that rivals those for V, Hg and Pb.

The Role of Trace Elements in Cardiovascular Diseases

“…Inorganic As is present in groundwater used for drinking in several countries all over the world, whereas organic As compounds are contaminants primarily found in fish, representing the most relevant source of human exposure [ 92 ]. In addition, energy production from fossil fuel as well as the smelting of non-ferrous metals are major industrial processes that ultimately lead to the contamination of the environment by As [ 93 ]. While the concentrations in rural areas range from <1 to 4 ng/m 3 , concentrations in cities can reach values of 200 ng/m 3 .…”

Adsorption Behavior of Organoarsenicals over MnFe2O4-Graphene Hybrid Nanocomposite: The Role of Organoarsenic Chemical Structures

“…The detrimental effects of arsenic contamination may take over a decade to become apparent, especially at low exposure levels. Therefore, when arsenic contamination arises in water, it has the potential to enter the human body via the food chain or biogeochemical cycle, posing a severe threat to human health [3].…”

Potential Use of Agricultural Waste—Carob Kibbles (Ceratonia siliqua L.) as a Biosorbent for Removing Boron from Wastewater

“…Boron traces are part of the vital functions of various life forms. For example, it is one of the essential elements for plants due to its key roles in plant growth and yield [9][10][11][12][13][14]. In the case of humans and other animals, boron is an essential element in the life cycle of zebrafish or frogs, and for higher animals, boron is required for the normal metabolism of specific biomolecules that include major minerals, glucose, lipids, hormones, and other nitrogen-containing compounds, as well as reactive oxygen species at physiological levels [15,16].…”