University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

Arsenic speciation in the freshwater crayfish, Cherax destructor Clark

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 00:22 authored by G Williams, West, JM, Koch, I, Reimer, KJ, Elizabeth Snow
Arsenic is a proven carcinogen that is found in the soil in gold mining regions at concentrations that can be thousands of times greater than gold. During mining arsenic is released into the environment, easily entering surrounding water bodies. The yabby (Cherax destructor) is a common freshwater crustacean native to Australia's central and eastern regions. Increasing aquaculture and export of these animals has led us to question the effects of mine contamination on the yabbies themselves and to assess any potential risks to consumers. This study determined the species of arsenic present in a number of organs from the yabby. Several arsenic contaminated dam sites in the goldfields of western Victoria were sampled for yabby populations. Yabbies from these sites were collected and analysed for arsenic speciation using high performance liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HPLC–ICP-MS). Results showed that type of exposure influenced which arsenic species was present in each organ, and that as arsenic exposure increased the prevalence of inorganic arsenic species, mostly As(V), within the tissues increased. The bioaccessibility of the arsenic present in the abdominal muscle (the edible portion for humans) of the yabbies was assessed. It was found that the majority of the bioaccessible arsenic was present as inorganic As (III) and As(V). © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

History

Publication title

Science of The Total Environment: An International Journal for Scientific Research Into The Environment and Its Relationship With Man

Volume

407

Issue

8

Pagination

2650-2658

ISSN

0048-9697

Department/School

School of Health Sciences

Publisher

Elsevier Science Bv

Place of publication

Po Box 211, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1000 Ae

Rights statement

Copyright 2009 Elsevier

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Public health (excl. specific population health) not elsewhere classified

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC