Ángel A. Carbonell-Barrachina

The influence of arsenic chemical form and concentration on Spartina patens and Spartina alterniflora growth and tissue arsenic concentration

Arsenic (As) uptake by two perennial coastal marsh grasses growing in hydroponic conditions was studied in relation to the chemical form and concentration of As added to nutrient solution. A 4×3×2 factorial experiment was conducted with treatments consisting of four As chemical forms [arsenite, As(III); arsenate, As(V); monomethyl arsonic acid, MMAA; and dimethyl arsinic acid, DMAA], three As concentrations (0.2, 0.8, and 2.0 mg As L-1) and two plant species (Spartina patens and Spartina alterniflora). Arsenic phytoavailability and phytotoxicity were primarily determined by the As chemical form present in the nutrient solution, though As concentration also influenced both As availability and toxicity. Application of As(V) increased root, shoot and total dry matter production; this positive plant growth response may be linked with P nutrition. Organic arsenicals and As(III) were the most phytotoxic species to both marsh grasses when plant growth was considered. Arsenic uptake and transport in plant were species-specific. Phytoavailability of As followed the trend DMAA ≪MMAA ≅ As(V) < As(III). Root and shoot As concentrations significantly increased with increasing As application rates to the rooting medium, regardless of the As chemical form. Upon absorption, inorganic arsenicals and MMAA were mainly accumulated in the root system, while DMAA was readily translocated to the shoot.

The influence of arsenite concentration on arsenic accumulation in tomato and bean plants

Abstract Arsenic (As) absorption by tomato ( Lycopersicum esculentum Mill) and bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as affected by arsenite concentration in nutrient solution was examined. The processes of As uptake and accumulation among roots, stems, leaves, and fruit were studied. Tomato and bean plants were grown in nutrient solution containing four levels of arsenite: 0, 2, 5, and 10 mg As 1 −1 . Arsenite was phytotoxic to both plant species; tomato plants, however, were more tolerant to As pollution than bean plants. Bean plants exhibited symptoms of As toxicity, and plants treated with 10 mg As 1 −1 were dead after 36 days of treatment. In tomato, As exposure resulted in a significant reduction in dry biomass production but tissue chlorosis or necrosis were not observed. The strategy developed by tomato plants to tolerate As was avoidance; limiting As transport to shoots and increasing As accumulation in the root system. Arsenic in tomato root tissue seemed to be so effectively compartmentalized that its impact in plant growth and metabolism was minimal. However, in bean plants upon uptake, As was readily transported to shoots and accumulated to high concentrations in leaf tissue. The observed differential absorption and translocation of arsenite or its metabolized species by tomato and bean plants were probably responsible for the different plant tolerance to As pollution.

Volatile composition and sensory quality of Spanish pomegranates (Punica granatum L.)

BACKGROUND Pomegranate is highly valued for its health-promoting effects. Fruits of nine pomegranate cultivars were analysed for volatile compounds, antioxidant activity and quality parameters, including maturity index and CIEL*a*b* colour. Volatile compounds were isolated from fresh juices using hydrodistillation; extracts were analysed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Fruit colour was influenced by cultivar and grouping of cultivars according to their taste (sweet, sour-sweet or sour), with sweet fruits having more intense red colour and higher lightness values. RESULTS A total of 18 compounds were found in pomegranate aroma profiles, including monoterpenes, aldehydes, alcohols, monoterpenoids and linear hydrocarbons. The most abundant compound were trans-2-hexenal, 3-carene, α-terpinene and α-terpineol. The total concentration of volatiles ranged from 1.7 to 10.9 g kg(-1) . Overall consumer liking of pomegranate juices was associated with the presence of monoterpenes such as α-pinene, β-pinene, β-myrcene, limonene and γ-terpinene. The presence of aldehydes such as hexanol, hexanal and cis-3-hexenol was correlated with poor overall consumer liking. CONCLUSION Fruits from the cultivar Mollar de Elche 2 were those most suited for juice processing because they had the highest total concentration of volatiles, which was related to high overall consumer liking, intense and acceptable fresh pomegranate odour and flavour (high scores of satisfaction degree), medium intensity of red colour and low sourness.

Arsenic Speciation in Food and Estimation of the Dietary Intake of Inorganic Arsenic in a Rural Village of West Bengal, India

Arsenic (As) species were quantified by HPLC-HG-AFS in water and vegetables from a rural area of West Bengal (India). Inorganic species predominated in vegetables (including rice) and drinking water; in fact, inorganic arsenic (i-As) represented more than 80% of the total arsenic (t-As) content. To evaluate i-As intake in an arsenic affected rural village, a food survey was carried out on 129 people (69 men and 60 women). The data from the survey showed that the basic diet, of this rural population, was mainly rice and vegetables, representing more than 50% of their total daily food intake. During the periods when nonvegetarian foods (fish and meat) were scarce, the importance of rice increased, and rice alone represented more than 70% of the total daily food intake. The food analysis and the food questionnaires administrated led us to establish a daily intake of i-As of about 170 microg i-As day (-1), which was above the tolerable daily intake of 150 microg i-As day (-1), generally admitted. Our results clearly demonstrated that food is a very important source of i-As and that this source should never be forgotten in populations depending heavily on vegetables (mainly rice) for their diet.

Volatile Composition of Pomegranates from 9 Spanish Cultivars Using Headspace Solid Phase Microextraction

Fruits of 9 Spanish pomegranate cultivars were analyzed for quality parameters, volatile composition, and sensory profile. Volatile compounds were extracted using headspace solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Twenty-one compounds were found in the headspace of fresh pomegranate juices, including aldehydes, monoterpenes, and alcohols. The most abundant compounds were hexanal, limonene, trans-2-hexenal, and cis-3-hexenol. Fruits from the cultivars Mollar Elche(ME) ME14, ME1, and ME2 presented the highest values of overall liking by the consumer panel; however, their total volatiles concentration were low compared to the other pomegranate cultivars and their color intensity was intermediate. Overall consumer liking of pomegranate juices was mainly associated with the presence of monoterpenes (α-terpineol); however, high aldehydes (trans-2-hexenal) concentrations were correlated with poor overall consumer liking. Fruits from sour-sweet cultivars (PTO7 and ADO4) could improve the quality of ME pomegranate juices due to their intense color, high monoterpenes concentrations, and their moderate sourness. Practical Application: The information provided in this study proves that sour-sweet pomegranate fruits can be used in the manufacturing of pomegranate juices and will improve the sensory quality and the volatile composition of this product.

The influence of redox chemistry and pH on chemically active forms of arsenic in sewage sludge-amended soil

Abstract Chemical fractionation procedures were used to quantify the effect of the sediment redox and pH conditions on the adsorption and solubility of arsenic (As) in municipal sewage sludge and sewage sludge-amended soil. Sludge and sludge-amended soil were incubated in microcosms in which Eh-pH conditions were controlled. Samples were sequentially extracted to determine As in various chemical forms (water soluble, exchangeable, bound to carbonates, bound to iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) oxides, bound to insoluble organics and sufides) and the chemically inactive fraction (mineral residues). In both sewage sludge and sludge-amended soil, As chemistry was governed by large molecular humic matter and sulfides and Fe and Mn-oxides. Solubility of As remained low and constant under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions in sludge-amended soil. After dissolution of Fe and Mn-oxides, As 5+ was released into sludge solution, reduced to As 3+ and likely precipitated as sulfide. Therefore, an organic amendment rich in sulfur compounds, such as sewage sludge, would drastically reduce the potential risks derived from As pollution under highly anoxic conditions by precipitation of this toxic metalloid as insoluble and immobile sulfides.

Sensory and physicochemical characterization of juices made with pomegranate and blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries.

UNLABELLED The quality parameters of 1 commercial pomegranate juice mixed with 5 different concentrations of blueberry, blackberry, or raspberry juices were studied. The pH, total soluble solids content, titratable acidity, and total phenolic content were determined. To understand the aroma differences of the juices, solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to determine the volatile compounds present in the mixtures. A consumer study also was carried out to relate consumer ratings to the instrumental data and to determine acceptance and possible modifications of the designed juices. Four juices received the highest scores in overall consumer liking: pomegranate/blueberry juice with 20% and 50% of blueberry, pomegranate/blackberry with 10% of blackberry, and pomegranate/raspberry with 10% of raspberry. The main characteristics in these juices were: a high maturity index (from 13.9 to 16.5), low acidity (0.79 to 1.09 g citric acid 100 per milliliter juice), and the presence of aromatic compounds typical in blueberries such as 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, α-terpineol, and E-nerol. The total phenolic content was significantly higher in the pomegranate/blackberry 90%/10% sample, raising around 3500 mg gallic acid equivalents per liter, and could be a positive determinant for consumers interested in purchasing healthful products. PRACTICAL APPLICATION The data presented in this article will help the juice industry, in the United States and elsewhere, to understand the consumers preferences for pomegranate blended juices. Pomegranate juices have high antioxidant content, which makes these juices more desirable for the health-conscious consumer of today.

Presence of arsenic in agricultural products from arsenic‐endemic areas and strategies to reduce arsenic intake in rural villages

About 100 million rural people in Asia are exposed to arsenic (As)-polluted drinking water and agricultural products. Total and inorganic arsenic (t-As and i-As) intake mainly depend on the quality of drinking and cooking waters, and amounts of seafood and rice consumed. The main problems occur in countries with poor water quality where the population depends on rice for their diet, and their t-As and i-As intake is high as a result of growing and cooking rice in contaminated water. Workable solutions to remove As from water and breeding rice cultivars with low As accumulation are being sought. In the meantime, simple recommendations for processing and cooking foods will help to reduce As intake. For instance, cooking using high volumes of As-free water may be a cheap way of reducing As exposure in rural populations. It is necessary to consider the effects of cooking and processing on t-As and i-As to obtain a realistic view of the risks associated with intake of As in As-endemic areas.

Contribution of water and cooked rice to an estimation of the dietary intake of inorganic arsenic in a rural village of West Bengal, India

Arsenic contamination of rice plants by arsenic-polluted irrigation groundwater could result in high arsenic concentrations in cooked rice. The main objective of the study was to estimate the total and inorganic arsenic intakes in a rural population of West Bengal, India, through both drinking water and cooked rice. Simulated cooking of rice with different levels of arsenic species in the cooking water was carried out. The presence of arsenic in the cooking water was provided by four arsenic species (arsenite, arsenate, methylarsonate or dimethylarsinate) and at three total arsenic concentrations (50, 250 or 500 µg l−1). The results show that the arsenic concentration in cooked rice is always higher than that in raw rice and range from 227 to 1642 µg kg−1. The cooking process did not change the arsenic speciation in rice. Cooked rice contributed a mean of 41% to the daily intake of inorganic arsenic. The daily inorganic arsenic intakes for water plus rice were 229, 1024 and 2000 µg day−1 for initial arsenic concentrations in the cooking water of 50, 250 and 500 µg arsenic l−1, respectively, compared with the tolerable daily intake which is 150 µg day−1.

Arsenic toxicity and accumulation in radish as affected by arsenic chemical speciation.

Arsenic (As) uptake by Rhapanus sativus L. (radish), cv. Nueva Orleans, growing in soil-less culture conditions was studied in relation to the chemical form and concentration of As. A 4 x 3 factorial experiment was conducted with treatments consisting of four As chemical forms [As(III), As(V), MMAA, DMAA] and three As concentrations (1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 mg As L-1). None of the As treatments were clearly phytotoxic to this radish cultivar. Arsenic phytoavailability was primarily determined by the As chemical form present in the nutrient solution and followed the trend DMAA < or = As(V) < or = As(III) << MMAA. Root and shoot As concentrations significantly increased with increasing As application rates. Monomethyl arsonic acid treatments caused the highest As accumulation in both roots and shoots, and this organic arsenical showed a higher uptake rate than the other As compounds. Inner root As concentrations were, in general, within the normal range for As contents in food crops but root skin As levels were close or above the maximum threshold set for As content in edible fruit, crops and vegetables. The statement that toxicity limits plant As uptake to safe levels was not confirmed in our study. If radish plants are exposed to a large pulse of As, as growth on contaminated nutrient solutions, they may accumulate residues which are unacceptable for animal and human consumption without exhibiting symptoms of phytotoxicity.