Arsenic — toxicity, side effects, diseases and environmental impacts

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in minerals such as realgar and arsenopyrite. This crystalline metalloid gets its name from the Persian word “zarnikh” which means “yellow orpiment”. It was then adopted by the Greeks as “arsenikon”. Though already known of during the time of Aristotle, arsenic was first isolated in 1250 by German alchemist and philosopher Albertus Magnus, who is said to have done so by heating soap with arsenic trisulfide.

According to Healthline.com, arsenic is divided into two categories: organic and inorganic arsenic. Organic arsenic is largely present in animal and plant tissues. Inorganic arsenic, on the other hand, is usually found in soil and rocks, or dissolved in water; this is the type of arsenic known to be more toxic. In fact, there exist historical accounts going as far back as the age of the Roman Empire that detail the use of this odorless, tasteless element in assassinations.

List of known side effects

Also known as arsenicosis, arsenic poisoning occurs after the inhalation or ingestion of great amounts of arsenic. The symptoms of this conditions include:

• Abdominal pain
• Arrhythmia (Abnormal heart rhythm)
• Diarrhea
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea and vomiting
• Red skin
• Skin changes such as lesions or warts
• Tingling in the fingers and toes

Prolonged exposure to arsenic has been known to bring on more severe symptoms, like persistent digestive issues and a constantly sore throat. Moreover, long-term ingestion can result in the increased risk of many diseases and health complications, namely:

• Heart disease
• Hypertension
• Type-2 diabetes
• Various types of cancer, like skin, liver, bladder, and lung cancer
• Vascular disease

In addition to the being dangerous in its inorganic state, arsenic can be just can be just as harmful in other forms. Arsine, for example, is a gas consisting of arsenic and hydrogen, and one known to be highly toxic to humans. Abdominal pains, headaches, and vomiting have been observed in affected persons just a few hours after exposure.

Body systems affected by arsenic

As a corrosive and irritating element, arsenic can pose problems to the skin, eyes, respiratory and digestive systems. The inhalation or swallowing of arsenic has been found to lead to acute toxicity, while dermal and ocular exposure has been linked to skin corrosion or irritation and serious eye damage, respectively.

Arsenic can negatively impact the brain as well. This substance is known to be toxic to nerve cells. Furthermore, arsenic exposure has resulted in reduced intelligence, diminished social competence, impaired concentration, learning difficulties, and memory problems among children and teenagers.

Items that can contain arsenic

While present in soils and minerals, varying amounts of arsenic can be found in all kinds of foods and drinks. Most beverage and foods contain small traces of this element, but relatively high levels have been discovered in white wine, Brussels sprouts, drinking water, beer, and seafood like mussels, fish, shellfish, and shrimp. The biggest food source of inorganic arsenic, however, is said to be rice and a wide array of rice-based products, such as:

• Baby rice
• Brown rice syrup
• Cereal bars
• Rice bran
• Rice crackers
• Rice milk
• Rice-based cereals

Additionally, arsenic can also be found in:

• Arsenic-treated wood
• Bullets
• Car batteries
• Pesticides
• Pyrotechnics
• Transistors

How to avoid arsenic

Though staying away from arsenic-containing industrial products is relatively simple, avoiding arsenic in food can be more difficult, particularly for those who consume great quantities of rice on a daily basis. There are many ways to minimize the risk of arsenic through the consumption of food, however, and these are:

• Using plenty of water when cooking rice.
• Washing the rice prior to cooking.
• Opting for white rice over brown rice, as the latter is known to have higher amounts of arsenic.
• Opting for aromatic rices like jasmine or basmati.
• Opting for rices from Nepal, North Pakistan, and other areas from the Himalayan region.

Other precautionary steps include choosing organic foods to limit exposure to arsenic-containing pesticides, and testing the soil in back and front yards for arsenic contamination.

Where to learn more

• Arsenic in Contaminated Water Increases Susceptibility to H1N1 Influenza
• Arsenic in Water at EPA Approved Standards Linked to Heart Disease
• Arsenic in your chicken: Guess who is defending its use?
• Arsenic May Be Linked to Increased Diabetes Risk
• Arsenic shows promise as treatment for deadly brain tumors

Summary

Arsenic is an element that can cause a plethora of health problems with repeated or prolonged exposure. Arsenic poisoning, which is a medical condition resulting from elevated arsenic levels in the body, can lead to abdominal pains, diarrhea, and increased susceptibility to chronic diseases such as cancer and hypertension.

This toxic crystalline metalloid is known to be dangerous to the skin, eyes, brain, digestive, and respiratory systems too. More than just irritating the skin and eyes, or bringing about digestive or respiratory toxicity, arsenic can severely impair the brain development of teenagers and children, and has been connected with memory and learning problems.

Sources include:

LiveScience.com
Healthline.com 1
Healthline.com 2
PubChem.NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov
MedLinePlus.gov