A modified in-vitro method to assess bioavailable arsenic in pesticide-applied soils

An incubation study was designed to modify the existing in vitro methods to increase the accuracy in estimation of bioavailable arsenic in pesticide-applied soils. In addition to simulating arsenic dissolution in gastric and intestinal solutions, absorbtion by the intestinal membrane was also mimicked using iron-oxide coated filter paper strips inserted in nylon bags. The in vitro experiments were sequentially performed in two phases, namely, the stomach phase and the absorbed-intestinal phase. Arsenic extraction in the in vitro absorbed intestinal phase increased, thereby making it more comparable to the potential in vivo arsenic pool. While animal studies are needed to verify the in vitro results, preliminary data indicate that this modified method may be able to improve site-specific bioavailability predictions in arsenic-contaminated soils.