Arsenic contamination in the food chain: A threat to food security and human health

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dc.contributor.authorSingh, Sen_US
dc.contributor.authorYadav, Ren_US
dc.contributor.authorSharma, Sen_US
dc.contributor.authorSingh, AN.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2024-11-30T06:00:57Z
dc.date.available2024-11-30T06:00:57Z
dc.date.issued2023-07
dc.description.abstractArsenic is a toxic metalloid naturally found in the earth’s crust and released into the environment through natural and anthropogenic activities. Arsenic becomes exceptionally toxic even at low exposure levels because of its high water solubility and bioaccumulation tendency in different environmental matrices. Crops receiving arsenic contaminated irrigation water accumulate it in different degrees depending on the species and variety. Consumption of contaminated crops and drinking water has been identified as important routes for its transfer into the food chain. Besides, consuming seafood and livestock-based food products such as meat and milk from arsenic endemic regions also contributes to the food chain transfer and contamination. The literature clearly indicates that the toxic effect of arsenic in any food product is highly dependent on its chemical speciation. Inorganic arsenic compounds are generally more toxic than organic forms. On consumption of contaminated food products and water, only the bioavailable form of arsenic goes directly into human body and interferes with different metabolic pathways. Thus, prolonged arsenic toxicity leads to carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks such as arsenicosis, cancers, hepatotoxicity, kidney failure, and skin diseases. Therefore, this review highlights the distribution and mobility of arsenic in soil-plant system, its bioavailability in plant and livestock-based food products, arsenic transfer into the food chain, and human health risks. In the current state when arsenic has emerged as a worldwide threat, an integrated strategy is urgently required to combat arsenic contamination, mandating the creation of national and international action strategies for arsenic contamination mitigation.en_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, Punjab, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsSoil Ecosystem and Restoration Ecology Lab, Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, Punjab, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsSoil Ecosystem and Restoration Ecology Lab, Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, Punjab, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsSoil Ecosystem and Restoration Ecology Lab, Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, Punjab, India.en_US
dc.identifier.citationSingh S, Yadav R, Sharma S, Singh AN. . Arsenic contamination in the food chain: A threat to food security and human health. Journal of Applied Biology & Biotechnology. 2023 Jul; 11(4): 24-33en_US
dc.identifier.issn2549-7005
dc.identifier.issn2347-212X
dc.identifier.placeIndiaen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/236601
dc.languageenen_US
dc.publisherOpen Science Publishers LLPen_US
dc.relation.issuenumber4en_US
dc.relation.volume11en_US
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.7324/JABB.2023.69922en_US
dc.subjectArsenic toxicityen_US
dc.subjectDietary exposureen_US
dc.subjectFood chain contaminationen_US
dc.subjectHuman health risk.en_US
dc.titleArsenic contamination in the food chain: A threat to food security and human healthen_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
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