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Background: Arsenic toxicity in humans is well recognized. It has been classified as a class I human carcinogen by the International Agency of Research on Cancer. Arsenic enters the human body mainly through drinking water, dermal contact, food chain, and inhalation. The Gangetic belt of India is considered as one of the most arsenic-affected sites in India. Health risk assessment of the human population exposed to arsenic in drinking water is important. The present study was conducted to assess the groundwater quality and associated health risks on the people of Samastipur district in the middle Gangetic belt of Bihar. Groundwater samples from 40 different study sites were collected and analyzed for various physico-chemical properties of water. Results: Arsenic (> 0.01 mg/L) was present in 33% of the water samples analyzed. Subsequently, an assessment for carcinogenic risk and non-carcinogenic health risk (HQ) for children, females, and males in the study area was performed. Risk assessment showed that 100% of the population may be at carcinogenic health risk and 35% may be at non-carcinogenic health risk, and among these, children were at maximum risk. Furthermore, the computational assessment of the arsenic–protein interactome revealed the enrichment of cancer-related pathways. Conclusions: It is recommended to provide arsenic-free alternate sources of water in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater contamination in India exposes an estimated 70 million people to arsenic. Over 10 million people in the state of Bihar (India) are at risk of arsenic poisoning. As reported 27 districts of the state's thirty-eight districts are under a state of catastrophe. Symptoms noticed by those who have been exposed to the arsenic caused disease are-lack of appetite, neurobehavioral problems, hyperkeratosis, and melanosis on the skin. So, this study's primary objective is to find novel approaches to treat arsenic poisoning in rats using the Charles Foster model. Following permission from the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee, the animals were divided into three groups: one group served as a control, the second group received arsenic treatment, and the third group received Ganoderma lucidum extract after arsenic treatment. For the arsenic group, the rats were given 8 mg/kg body weight of sodium arsenite orally every day for 90 days, and then for 60 days, they were given 80 mg/Kg body weight of Ganoderma lucidum extract via gavage. Their biochemical values, including those of the liver and kidneys, were found to be increased. In addition, their levels of free radicals, including lipid peroxidation, were measured and found to be substantially higher. In addition, the levels of arsenic in the kidney and liver tissue were very high. However, biochemical and lipid peroxidation levels were significantly restored after administration of Ganoderma lucidum ethanolic extract. Arsenic levels in rat liver and kidney tissues were also found to be reduced. Ganoderma lucidum has a therapeutic impact against arsenicinduced toxicity, according to the present research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic contamination of water is now a global problem. More than 100 countries, including India, are facing the problem of a high level of arsenic in the groundwater. There is a wide range of negative impacts of arsenic contamination on society and the economy, threatening sustainability in the contaminated areas. To examine the magnitude and effects of arsenic in the Shahpur block of the Bhojpur district, Bihar, India, we tested groundwater samples from many different locations. Household surveys and personal interviews were conducted to find out the societal response to this problem. Sample testing results confirm a high rate of arsenic contamination in the area. Our study found that; the low education level of the area is hampering the sustainable solution to the problem. We came to know that people who are suffering from arsenic diseases are discriminated against the society. Further, we have also found that the economic burdens of arsenic contamination are more on the marginalized section of the community. Since crops are irrigated with high arsenic concentrated water, soil quality is degrading, responsible for poor agriculture output and economic loss. It has also been found that most of the mitigation measures employed are not sustainable in the long term. Awareness regarding arsenic toxicity is needed for the sustainable intervention of this problem. After examining all the mitigation measures, we concluded that rainwater harvesting and rooftop rain harvesting is the most sustainable and cost-effective measure to tackle this menace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic poisoning has recently resulted in significant health problems in the exposed population. In India, the Indo-Gangetic plains are the region where the arsenic threat has increased. In Bihar, it is estimated that 10 million people are exposed to arsenic poisoning. The present study aims to develop a novel drug as an antidote against arsenic-induced toxicity in rats. In the present study, arsenic in sodium arsenite at a dose of 8 mg/kg body weight per day was induced (Group-II) in Charles Foster rats at 2 or 6 months to observe chronic exposure. In the arsenic pretreated group (Group-III), Asparagus racemosus was administered at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight per day for 8 weeks. Normal control group (Group I) was taken without any treatment. After completion of the entire experiment, the animals were sacrificed, and their blood samples were obtained for hematological and biochemical evaluation. At the same time, vital tissues, such as the liver and kidney, were fixed in preservatives for the histopathological study. The study showed that the hematological levels, such as RBC, WBC, platelet counts and hemoglobin percentage, were significantly restored by administering A. racemosus (Group-III), against the arsenic-exposed group. Furthermore, biochemical parameters such as SGPT, SGOT, ALP, bilirubin, urea, uric acid and creatinine were significantly recovered (p<0.05) against arsenic-induced toxicity. The histopathological study also showed remarkable restoration in hepatocytes and nephrocytes by A. racemosus against arsenic-induced toxicity. Therefore, it can be concluded from the entire study that A. racemosus has a significant antidote effect against arsenic-induced toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Arsenic transforming bacterial strains belong to genus Pseudomonas sp.AK9 (KY569424), were isolated from the middle Gangetic plains of Bihar, India. • The presence of different arsenic resistance genes (aoxB , arsB , acr3 and aoxAB) were observed in isolated strain. • Cloning and functional characterization of arsenite oxidase (aoxB) gene was carried out in present investigation. • The presence of aoxB gene in Pseudomonas sp. AK9 genome is mitigates the arsenic poisoning. Arsenic transforming bacterial strains belong to genus Pseudomonas sp.AK9 (KY569424), were isolated from the middle Gangetic plains of Bihar, India. The Pseudomonas sp. AK9 strains were able to transform toxic arsenite to a less toxic arsenate. In the present work, the presence of different arsenic resistance genes (aoxB , arsB , acr3 and aoxAB) were observed in isolated strain. Furthermore, the aoxB gene was amplified from genomic DNA of AK9, cloned in E.coli /DH5αcells, and sequenced. The BLASTn results and phylogenetic study of the aoxB gene showed 95.32 % and 90.07 % identity with the large subunit of aoxB gene of previous reported Thiomonas arsenivorans strain DSM16361 and Thiomonas arsenivorans strain b6, respectively. Further overhang primers were designed for amplifications of full length aoxB gene (∼1200 bp), and cloned in to the expression vector and host E.coli /BL21 cells. The GST- aoxB gene was expressed in BL21 cells, and a profound expression product of ∼ 72 kDa was observed in SDS PAGE. The detection of a large subunit (aoxB) of arsenate oxidase protein in western blotting assay affirmed the expression of aoxB gene in recombinant E.coli /BL21 clone. Further, the recombinant E.coli /BL21cells showed increased growth than the normal E.coli /BL21 cells against As (III). Thus, this study showed the presence of aoxB gene in Pseudomonas sp. AK9 genome which regulates the resistant ability to arsenic toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the author discusses the issue regarding arsenic groundwater contamination in some parts of middle Ganga plain in Bihar, India. It states that the contamination problem has been experienced by the area for more than 20 years and was only recognized in 1984 when there were reported 16 patients with arsenicosis. The author cites the aquifer-specific groundwater analysis which showed a rapid decline in arsenic load.