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CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Arsenic in Soil: A Critical and Scoping Review of Exposure Pathways and Health Impacts
Environments (Basel, Switzerland), Vol.12(5), 161
2025
Abstract
Arsenic (As) in soil, such as mining waste, is a concern for communities with legacy contamination. While the chronic health effects of As exposure through drinking water are well documented, the association between As in soil and population-wide health impacts is complex, involving factors like soil accessibility, soil properties, and exposure modes. This review summarizes evidence of associations between As in soil and human health, as well as biomarker and bioaccessibility evidence of exposure pathways. Fourteen studies were included in the final analysis. Reviewed studies reported associations between As in soil and birth outcomes, neurological effects, DNA damage, and cancer. Some of these health outcomes are not known to be linked to As in drinking water and were reported over a range of soil concentrations, indicating inconsistencies. Higher soil As concentrations are associated with higher As in human biospecimens, suggesting direct and indirect soil ingestion as primary exposure pathways. The subpopulations more likely to be exposed include younger children and those involved in soil-based activities. Future research should focus on standardized epidemiological studies, longitudinal studies, soil exposure and mitigating factors, combined exposure biomarker studies, the behavior of the different As species, soil dose related to bioavailability/bioaccessibility, and effects with other elements.
Details
- Title
- Arsenic in Soil: A Critical and Scoping Review of Exposure Pathways and Health Impacts
- Authors/Creators
- Catherine Irwin - ITERSajni Gudka - The University of Western AustraliaSofie De Meyer - Urban Impact Project, Fremantle, WA 6160, AustraliaMartine Dennekamp - ITERPacian Netherway - ITERMaryam Moslehi - LevelTimothy Chaston - ITERAntti Mikkonen - ITERJen Martin - ITERMark Patrick Taylor - ITERSuzanne Mavoa - Murdoch Children's Research Institute
- Publication Details
- Environments (Basel, Switzerland), Vol.12(5), 161
- Publisher
- MDPI
- Number of pages
- 21
- Grant note
- Victorian Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions Victorian Health and Medical Research Workforce Action Plan on behalf of the Victorian Government Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Program EPA Victoria, Australia
- Identifiers
- 991005779512807891
- Copyright
- © 2025 by the authors.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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