Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Arsenic distribution and metabolism genes abundance in Paddy soils from Punjab and Sindh provinces, Pakistan

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Arsenic (As) is naturally found in the Earth’s crust at certain concentration above which it refers as toxic. Due to various anthropogenic activities as well as natural processes, As concentration reaches the threshold level. The fate of As in soil is influenced by biotransformation, immobilization, confinement process, and soil properties. The aim of the present study was to examine the levels and species of As, metabolism genes, and correlation with paddy soils’ physico-chemical characteristics from Punjab and Sindh provinces, Pakistan. Results of the present study revealed the presence of significant levels of As and metabolism genes in different areas of Punjab and Sindh, Pakistan. The level of total As ranged 6–80 μg/kg, and relatively low levels of mono-As, di-As, and Tri-As were found in paddy soils. Higher abundance of arsM were recorded 1.5 × 104 (copy number/g) compared with other genes, suggesting arsM role in As biotransformation. Redundancy analysis (RDA) shows significant relationship of (i) aioA and arsM with Tri-As and organic matter (OM) and (ii) arrA with As and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). The results suggest that the occurrence of As-methylated species in paddy soils is due to microorganisms and greatly influenced by the physico-chemical properties of paddy soils. The results will be helpful to higher authorities for the management of As-contaminated paddy soils in Pakistan.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arain M, Kazi T, Baig J, Jamali M, Afridi H, Shah A, Jalbani N, Sarfraz R (2009) Determination of arsenic levels in lake water, sediment, and foodstuff from selected area of Sindh, Pakistan: estimation of daily dietary intake. Food Chem Toxicol 47:242–248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arao T, Kawasaki A, Baba K, Matsumoto S (2011) Effects of arsenic compound amendment on arsenic speciation in rice grain. Environ Sci Technol 45:1291–1297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baig JA, Kazi TG, Shah AQ, Afridi HI, Kandhro GA, Khan S, Kolachi NF, Wadhwa SK, Shah F, Arain MB (2011) Evaluation of arsenic levels in grain crops samples, irrigated by tube well and canal water. Food Chem Toxicol 49:265–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bibi M, Hashmi MZ, Malik RN (2015) Human exposure to arsenic in groundwater from Lahore district, Pakistan. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 39:42–52

  • Campbell KM, Nordstrom DK (2014) Arsenic speciation and sorption in natural environments. Rev Mineral Geochem 79:185–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen X, Zeng X-C, Wang J, Deng Y, Ma T, Guoji E, Mu Y, Yang Y, Li H, Wang Y (2017) Microbial communities involved in arsenic mobilization and release from the deep sediments into groundwater in Jianghan plain, Central China. Sci Total Environ 579:989–999

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duester L, Diaz-Bone RA, Kösters J, Hirner AV (2005) Methylated arsenic, antimony and tin species in soils. J Environ Monit 7:1186–1193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duxbury JM, Mayer AB, Lauren JG, Hassan N (2003) Food chain aspects of arsenic contamination in Bangladesh:Effects on quality and productivity of rice. J Environ Sci Health 38:61–69

  • Edvantoro BB, Naidu R, Megharaj M, Merrington G, Singleton I (2004) Microbial formation of volatile arsenic in cattle dip site soils contaminated with arsenic and DDT. Appl Soil Ecol 25:207–217

  • Farooqi A, Masuda H, Firdous N (2007) Toxic fluoride and arsenic contaminated groundwater in the Lahore and Kasur districts, Punjab, Pakistan and possible contaminant sources. Environ Pollut 145:839–849

  • Farooqi A, Masuda H, Siddiqui R, Naseem M (2009) Sources of arsenic and fluoride in highly contaminated soils causing groundwater contamination in Punjab, Pakistan. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 56:693–706

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hashmi MZ, Kanwal A, Murtaza R, Siddique S, Su X, Tang X, Afzaal M (2018) Arsenic in untreated and treated manure: sources, biotransformation, and environmental risk in application on soils: a review, environmental pollution of paddy soils. Springer, pp 179–195

  • Hossain M (2006) Arsenic contamination in Bangladesh—an overview. Agric Ecosyst Environ 113:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang J-H, Scherr F, Matzner E (2007) Demethylation of dimethylarsinic acid and arsenobetaine in different organic soils. Water Air Soil Pollut 182:31–41

  • Huang H, Jia Y, Sun G-X, Zhu Y-G (2012) Arsenic speciation and volatilization from flooded paddy soils amended with different organic matters. Environ Sci Technol 46:2163–2168

  • Huang K, Chen C, Zhang J, Tang Z, Shen Q, Rosen BP, Zhao F-J (2016) Efficient arsenic methylation and volatilization mediated by a novel bacterium from an arsenic-contaminated paddy soil. Environ Sci Technol 50:6389–6396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao S, Burau RG (1997) Environmental factors affecting rates of arsine evolution from and mineralization of arsenicals in soil. J Environ Qual 26:753–763

  • Javed A, Afzal B, Hussain I, Farooqi A (2016) Continuous use of arsenic contaminated irrigation water: A future threat to sustainable agriculture in Pakistan, Arsenic Research and Global Sustainability: Proceedings of the Sixth International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment (As2016), June 19-23, 2016. CRC Press, Stockholm, p 285

  • Jia Y, Sun G-X, Huang H, Zhu Y-G (2013) Biogas slurry application elevated arsenic accumulation in rice plant through increased arsenic release and methylation in paddy soil. Plant Soil 365:387–396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jia Y, Huang H, Chen Z, Zhu Y-G (2014) Arsenic uptake by rice is influenced by microbe-mediated arsenic redox changes in the rhizosphere. Environ Sci Technol 48:1001–1007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan ZI, Iqbal S, Batool F, Ahmad K, Elshikh MS, Al Sahli A, El-Zaidy M, Bashir H, Noorka IR, Sher M (2017) Evaluation of heavy metals uptake by wheat growing in sewage irrigated soil: relationship with heavy metal in soil and wheat grains

  • Kumpiene J, Lagerkvist A, Maurice C (2008) Stabilization of As, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn in soil using amendments–a review. Waste Manag 28:215–225

  • Oremland RS, Stolz JF (2003) The ecology of arsenic. Science 300:939–944

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Páez-Espino D, Tamames J, de Lorenzo V, Cánovas D (2009) Microbial responses to environmental arsenic. Biometals 22:117–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Podgorski JE, Eqani SAMAS, Khanam T, Ullah R, Shen H, Berg M (2017) Extensive arsenic contamination in high-pH unconfined aquifers in the Indus Valley. Sci Adv 3:e1700935

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qin J, Lehr CR, Yuan C, Le XC, McDermott TR, Rosen BP (2009) Biotransformation of arsenic by a Yellowstone thermoacidophilic eukaryotic alga. Proc Natl Acad Sci 106:5213–5217

  • Rahman MM, Ng JC, Naidu R (2009) Chronic exposure of arsenic via drinking water and its adverse health impacts on humans. Environ Geochem Health 31:189–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid MC, Maillard J, Bagnoud A, Falquet L, Le Vo P, Bernier-Latmani R (2017) Arsenic methylation dynamics in a rice paddy soil anaerobic enrichment culture. Environ Sci Technol 51:10546–10554

  • Rehman ZU, Khan S, Qin K, Brusseau ML, Shah MT, Din I (2016) Quantification of inorganic arsenic exposure and cancer risk via consumption of vegetables in southern selected districts of Pakistan. Sci Total Environ 550:321–329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanjrani M, Mek T, Sanjrani N, Leghari S, Moryani H (2017) Current situation of aqueous arsenic contamination in Pakistan, focused on Sindh and Punjab Province, Pakistan: a review. J Pollut Eff Cont 5:2

    Google Scholar 

  • Seyfferth AL, Webb SM, Andrews JC, Fendorf S (2010) Arsenic localization, speciation, and co-occurrence with iron on rice (Oryza sativa L.) roots having variable Fe coatings. Environ Sci Technol 44:8108–8113

  • Slyemi D, Bonnefoy V (2012) How prokaryotes deal with arsenic. Environ Microbiol Rep 4:571–586. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-2229.2011.00300.x

  • Stolz JF, Oremland RS (1999) Bacterial respiration of arsenic and selenium. FEMS Microbiol Rev 23:615–627

  • Styblo M, Del Razo LM, Vega L, Germolec DR, LeCluyse EL, Hamilton GA, Reed W, Wang C, Cullen WR, Thomas DJ (2000) Comparative toxicity of trivalent and pentavalent inorganic and methylated arsenicals in rat and human cells. Arch Toxicol 74:289–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi Y, Minamikawa R, Hattori KH, Kurishima K, Kihou N, Yuita K (2004) Arsenic behavior in paddy fields during the cycle of flooded and nonflooded periods. Environ Sci Technol 38:1038–1044

  • Thomas DJ, Waters SB, Styblo M (2004) Elucidating the pathway for arsenic methylation. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 198:319–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vahter M (2002) Mechanisms of arsenic biotransformation. Toxicology 181:211–217

  • Wang P, Sun G, Jia Y, Meharg AA, Zhu Y (2014) A review on completing arsenic biogeochemical cycle: microbial volatilization of arsines in environment. J Environ Sci 26:371–381

  • Xiao K-Q, Li L-G, Ma L-P, Zhang S-Y, Bao P, Zhang T, Zhu Y-G (2016) Metagenomic analysis revealed highly diverse microbial arsenic metabolism genes in paddy soils with low-arsenic contents. Environ Pollut 211:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamamura S, Watanabe K, Suda W, Tsuboi S, Watanabe M (2013) Effect of antibiotics on redox transformations of arsenic and diversity of arsenite-oxidizing bacteria in sediment microbial communities. Environ Sci Technol 48:350–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhai W, Wong MT, Luo F, Hashmi MZ, Liu X, Edwards EA, Tang X, Xu J (2017) Arsenic methylation and its relationship to abundance and diversity of arsM genes in composting manure. Sci Rep 7:42198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang S-Y, Zhao F-J, Sun G-X, Su J-Q, Yang X-R, Li H, Zhu Y-G (2015) Diversity and abundance of arsenic biotransformation genes in paddy soils from southern China. Environ Sci Technol 49:4138–4146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang S-Y, Williams PN, Luo J, Zhu Y-G (2017a) Microbial mediated arsenic biotransformation in wetlands. Front Environ Sci Eng 11:1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang SY, Su JQ, Sun GX, Yang Y, Zhao Y, Ding J, Chen YS, Shen Y, Zhu G, Rensing C (2017b) Land scale biogeography of arsenic biotransformation genes in estuarine wetland. Environ Microbiol 19:2468–2482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao F-J, Harris E, Yan J, Ma J, Wu L, Liu W, McGrath SP, Zhou J, Zhu Y-G (2013) Arsenic methylation in soils and its relationship with microbial arsM abundance and diversity, and as speciation in rice. Environ Sci Technol 47:7147–7154

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The research was sponsored by TWAS-COMSTECH Research Grant Award_15-384 RG/ENG/AS_C and HEC Start Up Research grant 21-700/SRGP/R&D/HEC/2015. Special thanks to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan NRPU projects 7958 and 7964. Further thanks to Pakistan Science Foundation project PSF/Res/CP/C-CUI/Envr (151).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi

  2. Department of Meteorology, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Aatika Kanwal

  3. School of Social and Environmental Development, National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), 118 Moo3, Sereethai Road, Klong-Chan, Bangkapi, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand

    Siwatt Pongpiachan

  4. College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Yingbin Road 688#, Jinhua, 321004, China

    Xiaomei Su

  5. Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB), Vehari, Punjab, Pakistan

    Wajid Nasim

  6. Department of Botany, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan

    Mumtaz Ali Saand

  7. Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari, Campus, Pakistan

    Muhammad Mubeen & Rida Akram

  8. School of Resource and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China

    Shuhong Wang & Zulkfil Ahmed

Authors
  1. Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Aatika Kanwal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Siwatt Pongpiachan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xiaomei Su
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wajid Nasim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Mumtaz Ali Saand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Muhammad Mubeen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Rida Akram
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Shuhong Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Zulkfil Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi, Shuhong Wang or Zulkfil Ahmed.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Haroun Chenchouni

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hashmi, M.Z., Kanwal, A., Pongpiachan, S. et al. Arsenic distribution and metabolism genes abundance in Paddy soils from Punjab and Sindh provinces, Pakistan. Arab J Geosci 13, 526 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05468-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05468-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation