A large-scale field investigation revealing the distribution characteristics of arsenic in earthworm tissues

The total arsenic (As) and As species of earthworm body tissues and surrounding soils were investigated in 47 locations (16 forested lands and 31 agricultural lands) at a national scale across China using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (HPLC-ICP-MS). Earthworm body tissues had an average total As concentration of 6.21 mg kg−1, significantly lower than the soil As concentration of 12.99 mg kg−1. The ratio of arsenite to arsenate (AsIII/AsV ratio) in earthworm body tissues (67