The Tidewater Communities Project
Resource Page
ARSENIC*
R. Weller, Cochise College
Arsenic
Characteristics
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element widely distributed in the earth's crust. In the environment, arsenic is combined with oxygen, chlorine, and sulfur to form inorganic arsenic compounds. Arsenic in animals and plants combines with carbon and hydrogen to form organic arsenic compounds, which generally considered to be less harmful to humans.
Inorganic arsenic compounds are mainly used to preserve wood. Copper chromated arsenate (CCA) is used to make "pressure-treated" lumber. CCA is no longer used in the U.S. for residential uses; it is still used in industrial applications. Organic arsenic compounds are used as pesticides, primarily on cotton fields and orchards.
Sources of Exposure
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Ingesting small amounts present in your food and water or breathing air containing arsenic.
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The predominant dietary source of arsenic is seafood, followed by rice / rice cereal, mushrooms, and poultry.
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Breathing sawdust or burning smoke from wood treated with arsenic.
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Living in areas with unusually high natural levels of arsenic in rock.
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Working in a job that involves arsenic production or use, such as copper or lead smelting, wood treating, or pesticide application.
Effects on Health
Breathing high levels of inorganic arsenic can give you a sore throat or irritated lungs. Ingesting very high levels of arsenic can result in death. Exposure to lower levels can cause nausea and vomiting, decreased production of red and white blood cells, abnormal heart rhythm, damage to blood vessels, and a sensation of "pins and needles" in hands and feet.
Ingesting or breathing low levels of inorganic arsenic for a long time can cause a darkening of the skin and the appearance of small "corns" or "warts" on the palms, soles, and torso.
Skin contact with inorganic arsenic may cause redness and swelling.
Arsenic is also a known carcinogen, and has been reported to increase the risk of cancer in the skin, liver, bladder and lungs.
Almost nothing is known regarding health effects of organic arsenic compounds in humans. Studies in animals show that some simple organic arsenic compounds are less toxic than inorganic forms. Ingestion of methyl and dimethyl compounds can cause diarrhea and damage to the kidneys.
Effects on Children
There is some evidence that long-term exposure to arsenic in children may result in lower IQ scores. There is also some evidence that exposure to arsenic in the womb and early childhood may increase mortality in young adults.
There is some evidence that inhaled or ingested arsenic can injure pregnant women or their unborn babies, although the studies are not definitive. Studies in animals show that large doses of arsenic that cause illness in pregnant females, can also cause low birth weight, fetal malformations, and even fetal death. Arsenic can cross the placenta and has been found in fetal tissues. Arsenic is found at low levels in breast milk.
Recommendations
The EPA has set limits on the amount of arsenic that industrial sources can release to the environment and has restricted or cancelled many of the uses of arsenic in pesticides. EPA has set a limit of 0.01 parts per million (ppm) for arsenic in drinking water.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 10 micrograms of arsenic per cubic meter of workplace air (10 μg/m3) for 8 hour shifts and 40 hour work weeks.
Source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 2007
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* Compiled by Elizabeth Limbrick, New Jersey Institute of Technology Technical Assistance to Brownfield Communities (TAB) Program.