Organic metal and metalloid species in the environment : analysis, distribution, processes, and toxicological evaluation

Subsequent to the profiling of organometal(loid) compounds in important biogeogenic and anthropogenic deposits, the importance of this class of compounds for human health are evaluated by the analysis of both physicochemical and biological formation, distribution and transformation processes. Multidisciplinary articles written by experts from disciplines as diverse as biogeochemistry, ecotoxicology, analytical chemistry, microbiology and genetics estimate the global levels of biogeogenic and anthropogenic emissions of organometal(loid) compounds, and thus obtain an insight to processes which influence the genesis, as well as the distribution and stability of organometal(loid) species and their interaction with each other and other matrix compounds. The authors evaluate various environmentally relevant sources from a toxicological point of view, in order to identify potential "hot spots" of organometal(loid)s, which can negatively influence ecosystems and human health. Front Matter....Pages i-xviii Organometallic compounds in the environment: An overview....Pages 1-15 Advances in analytical methods for speciation of trace elements in the environment....Pages 17-40 Analytical strategies for arsenic speciation in environmental and biological samples....Pages 41-70 Occurrence and speciation of arsenic, antimony and tin in specimens used for environmental biomonitoring of limnic ecosystems....Pages 71-95 Methylated metal(loid) species in biological waste treatment....Pages 97-112 Volatile mercury species in environmental gases and biological samples....Pages 113-135 Biovolatilisation of metal(loid)s by microorganisms....Pages 137-153 The Effect of Phosphate on the Bioaccumulation and Biotransformation of Arsenic(V) by the Marine Alga Fucus gardneri ....Pages 155-166 Molecular modeling studies of specific interactions between organometallic compounds and DNA....Pages 167-180 Organometal(loid) compounds associated with human metabolism....Pages 181-203 Genotoxicity of organometallic species....Pages 205-219 Current aspects on the genotoxicity of arsenite and its methylated metabolites: Oxidative stress and interactions with the cellular response to DNA damage....Pages 221-233 Cytogenetic investigations in employees from waste industries....Pages 235-246 Neurotoxicity of metals....Pages 247-257 Actions of metals on membrane channels, calcium homeostasis and synaptic plasticity....Pages 259-281 Effects of organometal(loid) compounds on neuronal ion channels: possible sites for neurotoxicity....Pages 283-315 Panel discussion: Analytical aspects....Pages 317-318 Panel discussion: Toxicological Aspects....Pages 319-321 Resumé....Pages 323-323 Back Matter....Pages 325-328

This book presents contributions by experts from diverse disciplines, estimating the global levels of biogeogenic and anthropogenic emissions of organometal(loid) compounds, and thus presenting insight into processes which influence the genesis, as well as the distribution and stability of these species and their interaction with each other and other matrix compounds. The authors evaluate identify potential "hot spots" of organometal(loid)s, which can negatively influence ecosystems and human health.