Arsenic and Arsenocosis

Arsenic shown on Periodic Table

Arsenic

Definition: A natural semi-metallic chemical that is found all over the world in groundwater. [chemical formula: As]


Natural Source:

• Earth crust
• Volcanic materials
• Rock and mineral erosion
• Forest fires
• Sulfur-bearing mineral deposits (like gold and copper)
• Strong affinity to pyrites and iron oxides

Notes about Inorganic Arsenic:

• These are harmful.
• They combine very well with Oxygen, Chlorine and Sulfur to form inorganic compounds.
• These are toxic.
• Prominently used to preserve wood.

Notes about Organic Arsenic:

• Arsenic in animals and plants combine with Carbon and Nitrogen to form organic compounds.
• They are used as pesticides on cotton plants.
• Fishes and shellfish can accumulate organic forms.

Exposure to Arsenic:

• Eating food, drinking water or breathing air that contain Arsenic.
• Breathing sawdust or burning wood treated with Arsenic.
• Living near uncontrolled hazardous waste sites containing Arsenic.
• Living in areas with unusually high levels of Arsenic in rock.

Maximum contaminant level: 0.01 mg/L=10ppb

Health effects of Arsenic exposure unrelated to Cancer:

• Long exposure to Arsenic is found to be associated to cardiovascular effects. (example: Utah and Taiwan)
• Hypertension
• Anemia
• Liver disorders
• Kidney damage
• Headache
• Delirium
• Intellectual impairment among children
• Diabetes mellitus
• Elevated risk of keratosis

Health effects of Arsenic exposure related to Cancer:

• Skin cancer
• Keratosis and Hyperpigmentation
• Blackfoot disease
• Lung Cancer
• Bladder Cancer

Early symptoms of Arsenic poisoning:

• Skin discoloration
• Skin lesions
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Increased risk of Arsenic poisoning:

• Kidney disease
• Heart disease
• Liver disease
• Lung Cancer
• Skin Cancer
• Bladder Cancer
• Diabetes
• Paralysis

Arsenocosis: A condition caused by the ingestion, absorption or inhalation of dangerous levels of Arsenic.

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