Anthropogenic arsenic

Figure 9.1. Measured and fitted global annual industrial age As production, (a) by mining (b) released by coal burning (c) released by petroleum burning and (d) gross annual release into the environment (See explanations in the text) (after Han et al., 2003b. Reprinted from Naturwissenschaften, 90, Han F.X., Su Y., Monts D.L., Plodinec M.J., Banin A., Triplett G.B., Assessment of global industrial-age anthropogenic arsenic contamination, pp 396-397, Copyright (2003), with kind permission of Springer Science and Business Media)...

Han F.X., Su Y., Monts D.L., Plodinec M.J., Banin A., Triplett G.B. Assessment of global industrial-age anthropogenic arsenic contamination. Naturwissenschaften 2003b 90 395 101. 

Arsenic geochemistry in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, depends on anthropogenic inputs and phytoplankton species composition (Sanders 1985). Inputs of anthropogenic arsenic into Chesapeake Bay are estimated at 100 kg daily, or 39 tons/year — probably from sources such as unreported industrial discharges, use of arsenical herbicides, and from wood preservatives (Sanders 1985). The chemical form of the arsenic in solution varies seasonally and along the axis of the bay. Arsenic is present only as arsenate in winter, but substantial quantities of reduced and methylated forms are present in summer in different areas. The forms and distribution patterns of arsenic... 

The combination of kinetic single and steady-state sequential extraction methods has proved suitable for monitoring the fate of arsenic in slightly polluted soils through irrigation (Cornu et al., 2004). The EDTA-kinetic procedure confirmed that anthropogenic arsenic is fixed in soils mainly under labile forms and is easily... 

The ratio of total natural to anthropogenic arsenic emissions into the environment was estimated by Chilvers and Peterson (1987) to be 60 40, but more recent data have suggested some decline in anthropogenic emissions, at least into the atmosphere. 

The major sources of airborne anthropogenic arsenic are smelting of metals (mainly nonferrous metal production), burning of fossil fuels, and steel and cement production. The main natural emissions (possibly somewhat underestimated) are terrestrial volcanic exhalations and eruptions and submarine volcanism (Chilvers and Peterson 1987). Most trace metals are emitted on fine particles and thus can be... 

The developed assay was successfully applied for the arsenite and arsenate determination in contaminated waters of the gold recovery plant and in snow covers of the industrial anthropogenic sources vicinities as well. The data produced are in a good agreement with the results of independent methods atomic absorptioin and atomic emission spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis. 

Concerning anthropogenic sources, methyl arsenic compounds such as methyl arsonic acid and dimethylarsinic acid have been used as herbicides, and were once a significant source of environmental residues. Dimethyl-arsinic acid (Agent Blue) was used as a defoliant during the Vietnam War. 

Mercury, tin, lead, arsenic, and antimony form toxic lipophilic organometallic compounds, which have a potential for bioaccumulation/bioconcentration in food chains. Apart from anthropogenic organometallic compounds, methyl derivatives of mercury and arsenic are biosynthesized from inorganic precursors in the natural environment. 

Sanders, J.G. 1985. Arsenic geochemistry in Chesapeake Bay dependence upon anthropogenic inputs and phytoplankton species composition. Mar. Chem. 17 329-340. 

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