The Effects Of Arsenic On The Human Health Risk Of Arsenic

Due to its physical characteristics (no odor, no color, and no flavor), arsenic exposure is often unnoticed, especially when ingested through drinking water. Therefore, the key to prevention of Dermatofibroma is understand the risk factors whether environment such as chronic arsenic exposure due to the ingestion of naturally-contaminated water, groundwater contamination due to leaching of arsenic from rocks and soil frequently results in concentrations above 50 mcg/L, which are associated with carcinogenesis in humans. Occupational exposure via inhalation of arsenic-containing vapors occurs during smelting, mining, refining, electroplating, and manufacturing of decorative-glass, pesticides, gallium arsenide computer microchips, and pressure-treated wood. Documented regions with natural groundwater arsenic contamination include Millard County, Utah; Lane County, Oregon; Lassen County, California; Fallon, Nevada; Fairbanks, Alaska; and New Hampshire, also persons living in the southwestern United States are at higher risk for being exposed to elevated levels of arsenic in drinking water. (Sarina B Elmariah MD PhD, Robert Anolik MD, Ruth F Walters MD, Karla Rosenman MD, Miriam K Pomeranz MD, Miguel R Sanchez MD, Dermatology Online Journal 14 (10): DOI: 10.1111/jdv.13092 24 19 July 2015, Invasive squamous-cell carcinoma and arsenical keratosis.). There currently is no concrete clinical-pathological evidence

There are three main mechanisms by which the chemical composition of groundwater, which is our natural source of drinking water, may be changed: by natural processes, by man's waste-disposal practices such as those for sanitary wastes, liquid industrial wastes, solid wastes, and radioactive wastes, and by spills, leaks, and agricultural activities and other sources unrelated to disposal. The degree of risk posed by contaminants varies according to many factors. These include the volume and toxicity of the contaminant, its concentration in the aquifer, its persistence in the environment, and the degree of human and environmental exposure to the contaminant. In addition, the number of persons affected, or likely to be affected, over time and the percentage of available groundwater both locally and regionally should be taken into consideration. If the contaminants in the groundwater exceed the standards set for drinking water by the federal government, for example, then the water is hazardous for the use for which it was designated under the standards. These standards include, however, only a limited number of chemicals, and thus they do not necessarily protect humans or the environment against either the short-term or the long-term effects of every contaminant that might be found in

While nitrates are one of the major contaminants in the area, San Joaquin Valley residents face drinking water pollution from many other sources including arsenic, coliform bacteria, and pesticides. Arsenic is a naturally occurring semi-metal element that is found in different types of rocks. While arsenic primarily occurs naturally, human activities impact the amount of arsenic in groundwater. Arsenic is not only toxic at high concentrations, but also harmful after prolonged exposure at moderately elevated levels. California recognizes arsenic as a human carcinogen and believes prolonged exposure to the element to be associated with various cancers, including skin, bladder, kidney, lung, and liver cancers. A study in Maine found a connection between water contaminated

Currently, I am working on an independent research project with Dr. Barbara Fishel regarding the possibility of reducing the toxicity levels of certain widespread chemicals that lead to deadly cancers and diseases. I am trying to replicate the effects on Cadmium on the human body by using Zinc on fruit flies and looking at effects on reproduction and behavior. Once I understand the effects of Zinc as well as how that is similar and different to the effects of Cadmium, I plan to find ways to reduce the toxicity of Cadmium. This independent study has instilled a lot of beneficial qualities in me. One of the most important would have to be focusing on the process rather than the goal. In the classroom, my primary focus is the goal partly due to

Arsenic (As) is a metalloid in group 15, period 4 of the periodic table. It is associated with the atomic number 33 and maintains an atomic weight of 74.92 (Gagnon). As a solid at room temperature, it is most likely to be found as a shiny grey element; however, it may also appear as yellow or black. It is also known to be quite brittle in its solid state (PubChem). There are three different categories that arsenic compounds may be identified as: Inorganic Arsenic compounds (i.e., arsenic trioxide (As2O3), and lead arsenate (PbHAsO4) are some of the more common ones), Organic Arsenic compounds (i.e., Arsanilic Acid (C6H8AsNO3), and Methylarsonic Acid (CH5AsO3) are the more common ones), and Arsine gas (AsH3) (NCBI). All of the aforementioned states, categories, and compounds have various toxicities- the most toxic and severe symptoms tend to result for the entrance of inorganic arsenic and arsine gas into the body.

Arsenic is a ubiquitous carcinogen that is both produced commercially and prevalent in nature. Its clinical harms to humans include hypertension, cardiovascular diseases (Chen 53; Chen 342; Tseng 15) and diabetes as well as typically skin, lung and bladder cancer (Rohan 7; IPCS 521). Given its toxicity and its potential to contaminate water, air, and soil from both geological and anthropogenic sources, it is therefore of significant environmental concern. This paper aims to discuss the harms and benefits of Arsenic by comparing Rachel Carson’s account of Arsenic in Silent Spring to modern research. It is noteworthy that although her findings are largely accurate, it fails to account for the benefits of Arsenic to human health as a form of specialized treatment. This paper will also present reasons as to why in spite of the rise of immunotherapy as an alternative treatment to Arsenic while avoiding risks of Arsenic, its prohibitive costs implies that Arsenic still has a role in making specialized medical treatment accessible to particular patients. Namely, the following questions will be answered:

Arsenic, element number thirty-three on the periodic table, is well known as a poison. There are two forms of arsenic, organic and inorganic, which is considered more toxic than its organic form itself. This element is a natural metal found along the earth’s crust. It is found in rock, soil, water, and air. Arsenic can enter the body through two ways: ingestion and inhalation. When arsenic is ingested it goes through the gastrointestinal tract where 95% of the arsenic dose is absorbed. When arsenic does come out of the body it is able to come out through some ways such as: feces, sweat, and urine. (Unknown, 2015)

Previous research has pointed out that the mechanism by which arsenic exerts its toxic effect is through impairment of cellular respiration by the inhibition of various mitochondrial enzymes, and the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. Most toxicity of arsenic results from its ability to interact with sulphydryl groups of proteins and enzymes, and to substitute phosphorous in a variety of biochemical reactions

The primary sources for arsenic in the general population include contaminated water, food, and soil. The two forms of inorganic arsenic include: trivalent arsenic (As III) and pentavalent arsenic (As V). The most common inorganic form of arsenic in the environment is pentavalent arsenic. When comparing toxicity, trivalent arsenic is approximately 2-10 times more toxic pentavalent arsenic. Arsenic poisoning produces effects on multiple body systems with the inorganic forms being highly toxic. Both trivalent arsenic and pentavalent arsenic have different mechanisms of action, which determines the effects they have on cells.

In the article, Contamination of drinking-water by Arsenic in Bangladesh: a public health emergency, Allan Smith et al. explain the history of arsenic in water, as well as, potential recommendations from improvement. Before moving further into the article, I would like to provide some brief background on Bangladesh. The authors describe Bangladesh as a place that is “grappling with the largest mass poisoning of a population in history because groundwater used for drinking has been contaminated with naturally occurring inorganic arsenic” (Smith 2000). This was identified in 1983 when multiple cases of skin lesions were identified and related back to the water coming from tube wells. In terms of prevalence of arsenic, they found that around 30 percent of the tube wells had high arsenic concentrations. However, a year later in 1997, they found that 91 percent of the well had high concentrations of arsenic. The authors found that “Based on population density measured in 1998, this group estimated that the number of people exposed to arsenic concentrations above 50 mg/l was about 21 million” (Smith 2000). As a result of this study and many others, the authors came up with some recommendations to put focus towards

Arsenic is a poison that interferes with ATP production. It is a metalloid that is found in our environment. Arsenic is toxic if inhaled and must be combined with another source for it to react and affect something. It comes in various forms such as crystalline, powder, vitreous and amorphous. Arsenic can be found in groundwater that people use for drinking. Groundwater contamination is usually occurring from a leak due to industrial exposure.

Inorganic arsenic, which is often metabolised in humans into toxic methylated arsenicals, is known to be a potential carcinogen that causes tumours of the lungs, skin, urinary bladder, and other non-cancer effects (Radosavljevic & Jakovljevic, 2008). Arsenic is a significant contaminant and its organic and inorganic occurrence in the environment results from both natural and anthropogenic activities. Humans are mainly exposed to the organic forms - arsenite, AsO33-, and arsenate, AsO43-. Large populations in North and South America, as well as Millions more in India, Bangladesh, , and China are exposed high concentrations of organic form of arsenic through drinking water from geogenic sources (Kumar, 2010). Even as some areas experience

At least 140 million people in Asia are drinking arsenic-contaminated water. It pours out of countless tube wells, hand-cranked pumps attached to plastic or metal pipes sunk into the earth. More than 18 million of these small wells have been dug across India alone, often by hand, over the past three decades, according to government census figures. They were sunk in an attempt to bypass surface waters teeming with illness-causing bacteria or infused with industrial runoff. But death also lays underground.The troubles in India date to the 1960s, when the country began drinking groundwater as an alternative to being poisoned by bacteria-infested surface water, often stagnant and unprotected from sewage or agricultural runoff. In 1969 India launched

Many scientific researchers have said that our environment has been filled with toxic chemicals, which us humans have had a part of. There are many different issues that should concern us surrounding these toxic chemicals. The major concern is that many of these toxic chemicals have been claimed to be causing damage to the health of humans and even other life forms. Another concern is that most of the theses toxic chemicals have just recently been produced; and by our environment changing everyday there is no telling what effects these toxic chemicals may have in the long run on the public 's health. Just about all of these toxic chemicals exist in the way they do because of humans. As humans we practice a lot of different activities that cause toxic chemicals to pollute our environment such as, agriculture, industrial, and many domestic activities as well. Many of the toxic chemicals that we produce and use don 't get used in a effective way, which causes them to be wasted, left abandoned, and disposed of. When toxic chemicals are not disposed of properly they effect the environment and the public 's health in a negative way.

Chlorine-36 groundwater ages increase progressively eastwards from Siwa to Qattara (Gara) ~ 114 kyr; and northeastwards form west Farafra to north Bahariya by ~ 640–715 kyr (Fig. 5). Their spatial distribution indicates relatively high flow velocities (~0.66 m/yr–2.09×10-8 m/s) from Siwa to Qattara (Gara), and from northwest Farafra to north Bahariya (~0.4 m/yr–1.27×10-8 m/s)