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Arsenic: A Global Poison

ArsenicArsenic

Elemental: metalloid, solid, steel grayElemental: metalloid, solid, steel gray Considered Inorganic- combined with O, S, Considered Inorganic- combined with O, S,

and Cl. Organic-combined with C and H. and Cl. Organic-combined with C and H. Some organic forms less harmful than Some organic forms less harmful than inorganic forms.inorganic forms.

Forms white or colorless, odorless, and Forms white or colorless, odorless, and does not evaporate.does not evaporate.

Uses: metal alloys, semiconductors, auto Uses: metal alloys, semiconductors, auto batteries, pressure treating wood, mining, batteries, pressure treating wood, mining, fertilizer and insecticides of the pastfertilizer and insecticides of the past

Arsenic in the EnvironmentArsenic in the Environment

Widely distributed in Earth’s crust Widely distributed in Earth’s crust (3.4 ppm), naturally occurring, (3.4 ppm), naturally occurring, volcanic eruptions.volcanic eruptions.

Compounds can dissolve in water Compounds can dissolve in water and become airborne during natural and become airborne during natural processes and mining and smelting processes and mining and smelting of ores, burning of coal etc.of ores, burning of coal etc.

Can build up in fish and shellfish Can build up in fish and shellfish tissue but less harmful form.tissue but less harmful form.

Toxicology- Means and Toxicology- Means and Measures of ExposureMeasures of Exposure

Most exposure is from naturally contaminated Most exposure is from naturally contaminated water or soil. Common concentrations:water or soil. Common concentrations:– Natural Surface and Groundwater- 1-1000 ppbNatural Surface and Groundwater- 1-1000 ppb

80% of drinking water in the U.S.- 2ppb80% of drinking water in the U.S.- 2ppb MCL- 10ppbMCL- 10ppb

– Soil- 1-40 ppmSoil- 1-40 ppm– Air- 1-2,000 nanog/m^3Air- 1-2,000 nanog/m^3– Food- 20-140 ppbFood- 20-140 ppb

Latency of signs and symptoms of up to ten Latency of signs and symptoms of up to ten years.years.

CDC Report: Maximum Risk LevelsCDC Report: Maximum Risk Levels– 0.005 mg/Kg/day for acute (14 day) oral exposure to 0.005 mg/Kg/day for acute (14 day) oral exposure to

inorganic arsenicinorganic arsenic– 0.0003 mg/Kg/day for chronic duration (365 days or 0.0003 mg/Kg/day for chronic duration (365 days or

more) oral exposure to inorganic arsenic.more) oral exposure to inorganic arsenic.

Toxicology- Health EffectsToxicology- Health Effects

Damages body’s natural ability to repair Damages body’s natural ability to repair DNA worsening effects of exposure to DNA worsening effects of exposure to other toxins such as cigarette smoke.other toxins such as cigarette smoke.

Can affect cognitive development in Can affect cognitive development in children.children.

Long-term exposure: blackened hands and Long-term exposure: blackened hands and feet, open sores, gangrene, skin lesionsfeet, open sores, gangrene, skin lesions

Carcinogen: bladder, lungs, liver, kidneyCarcinogen: bladder, lungs, liver, kidney

PicturesPictures

Source: Bulletin of World Health Organization 2000

Areas in the World AffectedAreas in the World Affected

At least 70 countries, including the At least 70 countries, including the US.US.– India, West Bengal, Mongolia, MexicoIndia, West Bengal, Mongolia, Mexico

Most egregious in Bangladesh.Most egregious in Bangladesh. 150 million people estimated to have 150 million people estimated to have

chronic exposurechronic exposure

Source: Medical Geology Research Case 2007

Public Health Concern: USAPublic Health Concern: USA

Areas in US high in As concentration Areas in US high in As concentration in the geologic formations and with a in the geologic formations and with a high use in private wells which are not high use in private wells which are not regulated by the EPA.regulated by the EPA.

National Priority Lists maintained by National Priority Lists maintained by the EPA finds As in 50% of it’s 1662 the EPA finds As in 50% of it’s 1662 sites. (CDC)sites. (CDC)

Rice grown in former cotton fields Rice grown in former cotton fields contains 1.76 times as much As as contains 1.76 times as much As as that from CAthat from CA

Focus: BangladeshFocus: Bangladesh

One of the world’s poorest countries, One of the world’s poorest countries, with the most people affected by the with the most people affected by the contamination.contamination.

Naturally occurring in groundwater.Naturally occurring in groundwater. Most people drink from wells.Most people drink from wells. Rice paddies are irrigated with Rice paddies are irrigated with

contaminated water.contaminated water.

Focus: BangladeshFocus: Bangladesh

Source: World Health Bulletin 2000

Conclusions and Conclusions and RecommendationsRecommendations

Most crucial: Reduce arsenic Most crucial: Reduce arsenic exposureexposure

Determine the geology of rocks Determine the geology of rocks before attempting to build wells.before attempting to build wells.

Cheap solutions: rusty nails and coal Cheap solutions: rusty nails and coal ash as filtersash as filters

Conclusions and Conclusions and RecommendationsRecommendations

Folic acid reduced blood arsenic levels by Folic acid reduced blood arsenic levels by 14 percent in a 200 chronically-exposed 14 percent in a 200 chronically-exposed person study in Bangladesh by U. S. person study in Bangladesh by U. S. National Institute of Environmental Health National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.Sciences.

Found in leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, Found in leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, whole grains, beanswhole grains, beans

Can be taken in pill form or added to flourCan be taken in pill form or added to flour Selenium and Vitamin E also show Selenium and Vitamin E also show

promisepromise

ReferencesReferences Arsenic, Drinking Water, and DNAArsenic, Drinking Water, and DNA. . EnvironmentEnvironment, Jul/Aug2006, Vol. 48 Issue 6, p6-7, 2p; , Jul/Aug2006, Vol. 48 Issue 6, p6-7, 2p; Carol Potera (2007). U.S. Rice Serves Up Arsenic. Environmental Health Carol Potera (2007). U.S. Rice Serves Up Arsenic. Environmental Health

Perspectives, Perspectives, 115115(6), A296.  Retrieved October 11, 2007, from Research Library database. (6), A296.  Retrieved October 11, 2007, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 1294813541). (Document ID: 1294813541).

  FOLIC ACID LOWERS BLOOD ARSENIC LEVELS IN BANGLADESH. (2007, October 10). USFOLIC ACID LOWERS BLOOD ARSENIC LEVELS IN BANGLADESH. (2007, October 10). US Fed News Service, Including US State News,***[insert pages]***.  Retrieved Fed News Service, Including US State News,***[insert pages]***.  Retrieved October 11, 2007, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 1362264571).  October 11, 2007, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 1362264571).

Jorge L Rosado,  Dolores Ronquillo,  Katarzyna Kordas,  Olga Rojas,  et al. (2007). Arsenic Exposure Jorge L Rosado,  Dolores Ronquillo,  Katarzyna Kordas,  Olga Rojas,  et al. (2007). Arsenic Exposure and Cognitive Performance in Mexican Schoolchildren. Environmental Health and Cognitive Performance in Mexican Schoolchildren. Environmental Health Perspectives, Perspectives, 115115(9), 1371-1375.  Retrieved October 11, 2007, from Research Library database. (9), 1371-1375.  Retrieved October 11, 2007, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 1337615821).(Document ID: 1337615821).

Samuel Loewenberg (2007). Scientists tackle water contamination in Bangladesh. The Samuel Loewenberg (2007). Scientists tackle water contamination in Bangladesh. The Lancet, Lancet, 370370(9586), 471-472.  Retrieved October 11, 2007, from Research Library database. (9586), 471-472.  Retrieved October 11, 2007, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 1322000641).(Document ID: 1322000641).

Steven H Lamm,  Zhen-Dong Luo,  Fu-Bao Bo,  Ge-You Zhang,  et al. (2007). An Epidemiologic Steven H Lamm,  Zhen-Dong Luo,  Fu-Bao Bo,  Ge-You Zhang,  et al. (2007). An Epidemiologic Study of Arsenic-Related Skin Disorders and Skin Cancer and the Consumption of Arsenic-Study of Arsenic-Related Skin Disorders and Skin Cancer and the Consumption of Arsenic-Contaminated Well Waters in Huhhot, Inner Mongolia, China. Human and Ecological Risk Contaminated Well Waters in Huhhot, Inner Mongolia, China. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, Assessment, 1313(4), 713-746.  Retrieved October 11, 2007, from Research Library database. (4), 713-746.  Retrieved October 11, 2007, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 1320453431). (Document ID: 1320453431).

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Toxicological Profile for Arsenic. Sept. 2005. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Toxicological Profile for Arsenic. Sept. 2005. Downloaded October 11, 2007 from Downloaded October 11, 2007 from www.cdc.govwww.cdc.gov..

http://www.who.int/docstore/bulletin/pdf/2000/issue9/bu0751.pdfhttp://www.who.int/docstore/bulletin/pdf/2000/issue9/bu0751.pdf http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~asrg/00SmithContamDWBngldsh.pdfhttp://socrates.berkeley.edu/~asrg/00SmithContamDWBngldsh.pdf Gijsbert B Van der Voet,  Robert B Finkelman (2007). Global Impacts Of Geogenic Arsenic: A Gijsbert B Van der Voet,  Robert B Finkelman (2007). Global Impacts Of Geogenic Arsenic: A

Medical Geology Research Case. Retrieved October 11, 2007, from Research Library; database. Medical Geology Research Case. Retrieved October 11, 2007, from Research Library; database. (Document ID: 1246377391). (Document ID: 1246377391).

QuestionsQuestions

““No man (woman) is an island”No man (woman) is an island”~John Donne~~John Donne~