Arsenic is a toxin, ranking first on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the Environmental Protection Agency Priority List of Hazardous Substances. Chronic exposure increases the risk of a broad range of human illnesses, most notably cancer; however, there is significant variability in arsenic‐induced disease among exposed individuals. Human genetics is a known component, but it alone cannot account for the large inter‐individual variability in the presentation of arsenicosis symptoms. Each part of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) may be considered as a unique environment with characteristic pH, oxygen concentration, and microbiome. Given the well‐established arsenic redox transformation activities of microorganisms, it is reasonable to imagine how the GIT microbiome composition variability among individuals could play a significant role in determining the fate, mobility and toxicity of arsenic, whether inhaled or ingested. This is a relatively new field of research that would benefit from early dialogue aimed at summarizing what is known and identifying reasonable research targets and concepts. Herein, we strive to initiate this dialogue by reviewing known aspects of microbe–arsenic interactions and placing it in the context of potential for influencing host exposure and health risks. We finish by considering future experimental approaches that might be of value.

中文翻译：

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砷和胃肠道微生物组。

砷是一种毒素，在有毒物质和疾病管理局和环境保护局的有害物质优先清单中排名第一。长期暴露会增加罹患各种人类疾病（尤其是癌症）的风险；然而，砷暴露引起的个体间疾病差异很大。人类遗传学是已知的组成部分，但仅靠它本身并不能解决砷中毒症状表现中个体之间的巨大差异。胃肠道（GIT）的每个部分都可以被视为具有特征性pH，氧气浓度和微生物组的独特环境。鉴于微生物已确立的砷氧化还原转化活性，可以合理地想象个体之间的GIT微生物组组成变异如何在决定砷的命运，迁移性和毒性（吸入或摄入）中起重要作用。这是一个相对较新的研究领域，它将受益于旨在总结已知知识并确定合理研究目标和概念的早期对话。在此，我们通过回顾微生物与砷相互作用的已知方面并将其置于可能影响宿主暴露和健康风险的背景下，努力启动这种对话。最后，我们考虑可能有价值的未来实验方法。这是一个相对较新的研究领域，它将受益于旨在总结已知知识并确定合理研究目标和概念的早期对话。在本文中，我们通过回顾微生物与砷相互作用的已知方面并将其置于可能影响宿主暴露和健康风险的背景下，努力启动这种对话。最后，我们考虑可能有价值的未来实验方法。这是一个相对较新的研究领域，它将受益于旨在总结已知知识并确定合理研究目标和概念的早期对话。在此，我们通过回顾微生物与砷相互作用的已知方面并将其置于可能影响宿主暴露和健康风险的背景下，努力启动这种对话。最后，我们考虑可能有价值的未来实验方法。