Arsenic and Arsenocosis
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| 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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