Arsenic contamination in radish tuber investigated by means of MRI and ICP OES

Marconi, Simona; Beni, Claudio; Ciampa, Alessandra; Diana, Giampietro; Neri, Ulderico; Aromolo, Rita; Sequi, Paolo; Valentini, Massimiliano

Arsenic contamination in radish tuber investigated by means of MRI and ICP OES

2010

Arsenic (As) is a highly toxic element and its presence in food is a matter of concern for the well-being of both animals and humans. Arsenic-contaminated groundwater is used in agriculture to irrigate crops for food and animal consumption with a potential contamination of the food chain. The purpose of this study was the evaluation of arsenic effect on radish tuber (Raphanus sativus L.). Experimental plots with sandy and clay-loamy soil were cultivated with radish and treated with three different concentrations of As water solution: 19, 44 and 104 μg/L. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to visualize the tuber structural changes, and the content of elements and the As amount were evaluated by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The data obtained demonstrate that As contamination in radish tuber is underlined with the dual approach. The scope of this research is the evaluation of the effects on the toxicology and the morphology because of the arsenic (As) uptake by edible plants. The focus is on the contamination of the plant, which has implications for food safety and human health. The results obtained by magnetic resonance imaging and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy show that several changes of the internal structure occurred and that some parameters can be used as indicators of the As contamination in food.

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