Arsenic
See History of Pharmacy for its common household usage in Victorian England
VIDEOS:
Arsenic, chemistry & history
Where Does the Arsenic in Rice, Mushrooms, and Wine Come From?
Cancer Risk from Arsenic in Rice and Seaweed
Warning: Arsenic in Your Bottled Water
Arsenic in Rice Milk, Rice Krispies, and Brown Rice Syrup
Human and Ecosystem Health Arsenic in Food, Water, Plants and Animals
What to do about high arsenic.
Identify Arsenic Poisoning Through Your Nails
Benefits of Turmeric for Arsenic Exposure
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in the Earth's crust. It is known for its toxic properties and has been a subject of concern due to its presence in water, soil, and air.
Characteristics of Arsenic
Arsenic is a metalloid, which means it has properties of both metals and non-metals. It is represented by the symbol As and has an atomic number of 33. In its pure form, arsenic is a gray, brittle crystalline solid. However, it is more commonly found in combination with other elements, forming compounds such as arsenic trioxide and arsenic sulfide.
Sources of Arsenic
Arsenic is released into the environment through both natural and anthropogenic activities. Some of the primary sources include:
- Natural Sources:
* Volcanic eruptions
* Weathering of arsenic-containing minerals and ores
* Forest fires
- Human Activities:
* Mining and smelting of metals
* Use of arsenic-based pesticides and herbicides
* Industrial processes such as glass manufacturing and wood preservation
Uses of Arsenic
Despite its toxicity, arsenic has been used in various applications:
- Agriculture: Historically, arsenic compounds were used as pesticides and herbicides. However, due to health concerns, their use has significantly declined.
- Medicine: Arsenic trioxide is used in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).
- Industry: Arsenic is used in the production of semiconductors, lead-acid batteries, and as an alloying agent in the manufacturing of certain metals.
Health Implications
Arsenic exposure poses significant health risks, particularly when it contaminates drinking water. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a guideline limit of 10 micrograms per liter for arsenic in drinking water. Health effects of arsenic exposure include:
- Acute Effects: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
- Chronic Effects: Long-term exposure can lead to skin lesions, developmental effects, cardiovascular disease, neurotoxicity, and an increased risk of cancer, particularly skin, bladder, and lung cancers.
Detection and Mitigation
Detecting arsenic in the environment is crucial for preventing exposure. Several methods are used for arsenic detection:
- Field Test Kits: Portable kits that provide quick results for arsenic levels in water.
- Laboratory Analysis: More accurate methods such as atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
Mitigation strategies include:
- Water Treatment: Technologies such as reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and adsorption using activated alumina or iron-based materials can effectively remove arsenic from water.
- Regulation and Policy: Governments and organizations have established regulations to limit arsenic emissions and promote safe water practices.
- Public Awareness: Educating communities about the risks of arsenic and safe water practices is essential for reducing exposure.
Articles/Studies
- Combined effect of arsenic and polystyrene-nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations in mice liver.
- Nanoplastics and arsenic co-exposures exacerbate oncogenic biomarkers under an in vitro long-term exposure scenario.
Bioremediation
- Arsenic Uptake and Accumulation in Fern Species Growing at Arsenic-Contaminated Sites of Southern China: Field Surveys
- Moss capable of removing arsenic from drinking water discovered
- Phytoremediation potential of Arundo donax in arsenic-contaminated synthetic wastewater
Health Effects
- Arsenic exposure alters the gut microbiome at the abundance level and also substantially disturbs its metabolic profiles at the function level.
- This population based study that shows the relationship between arsenic intoxication and non-melanoma skin cancers.
- Genetic variation in NOTCH2 increased the susceptibility to T2DM among people exposed to inorganic arsenic.
Protective:
Protective potential of thymoquinone against cadmium, arsenic, and lead toxicity.
Sulforaphane ameliorate Arsenic induced cardiotoxicity.
Influence of folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation on arsenic methylation.
Investigating the effect of myricetin against arsenic-induced cardiac toxicity.
The co-treatment of melatonin and arsenic reversed the changes caused by arsenic.
Strategies for safe and effective therapeutic measures for chronic arsenic and lead poisoning.
Evaluation of the possible protective role of nobiletin against arsenic-induced liver damage.
Salvianolic acid A attenuates arsenic-induced ferroptosis and kidney injury.
Alpha-mangostin protects PC12 cells against neurotoxicity induced by cadmium and arsenic.
Immunomodulatory effects of nanocurcumin in arsenic-exposed rats.
Urolithin A attenuates arsenic-induced gut barrier dysfunction.
Folic acid supplementation lowers blood arsenic
Rosa roxburghii Tratt can alleviate coal-burning arsenic-induced liver damage.
Fisetin attenuates arsenic-induced hepatic damage.
Ameliorative effect of two Ayurvedic herbs on experimentally induced arsenic toxicity in calves. The human being may also be affected by the exposed cattle from the affected area by consuming milk, egg, meat and others. In Ayurveda, several herbs like Haridra (turmeric), Shunthi (dried ginger root) and others are used for the management of arsenic poisoning. Conclusion of the study: The test drugs are found significantly effective not only to eliminate arsenic from the body but also give protection from possible damage caused by arsenic exposure, it may be concluded from the present study that turmeric and ginger can be helpful in the therapy of chronic arsenic toxicity in calves.
Protective effects of *Moringa oleifera* Lam. leaves against arsenic-induced toxicity in mice
Spirulina ameliorates arsenic induced reproductive toxicity in male rats.
Moringa oleifera may be useful in reducing the effects of arsenic-induced toxicity.
Phloretin ameliorates arsenic trioxide induced mitochondrial dysfunction.
Pterostilbene activates the Nrf2 pathway to alleviate arsenic-induced dermal damage.
Turmeric's curcumin helps reduce oxidative stress caused by arsenic and it also seems to chelate (bind up) heavy metals.
Thymoquinone supplementation mitigates arsenic-induced cytotoxic and genotoxic alterations.
Arsenic in Fluoridation Chemicals
The level of arsenic found in fluoridation chemicals is not trivial. According to a review in the American Water Works Association’s publication Opflow, the amount of arsenic that fluoridation adds to finished water “is hardly a minimal amount.”
The arsenic problem is unique to fluoridation chemicals as no other water treatment chemical has a problem with arsenic contamination. As demonstrated in the Opflow review, “about 90 percent of the arsenic . . . contributed by treatment chemicals is attributable to fluoride addition.”
So, how much arsenic do fluoridation chemicals contain? It depends on who you ask, and when you ask them.
In 2000, the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) released the results of its tests that showed fluoridation chemicals can add as much as 1.66 ppb arsenic to the finished water. NSF found that about 40% of the fluoridation chemicals it tested were contaminated with detectable levels of arsenic. Fluoridating water with these contaminated samples, the NSF stated, would add 0.43 ppb arsenic to the finished water.
To put these figures in perspective, 1 ppb arsenic is the maximum level of arsenic that water departments can add to the water under a standard known as the “Single Product Allowable Concentration” or SPAC. The premise of the SPAC is that water departments should not use any chemical that contributes more than 10% of the EPA’s “Maximum Contaminant Level” (MCL). Thus, since the EPA’s MCL for arsenic is 10 ppb, the addition of any fluoridation chemical that adds more than 1 ppb arsenic violates the SPAC and is deemed a “product failure.” In practice, however, there is no practical way for water departments to know if a batch of fluoridation chemical exceeds the SPAC. This is because very few batches (far less than 1%) of fluoridation chemicals are actually ever tested. It is almost certain, therefore, that “product failures” have been, and will continue to be, unknowingly added to drinking water.
Per Duke Database
Biological Activities
Anorexic Reference: FHN
Plant species with highest amount
Isatis tinctoria L. -- Dyer's Woad; 132 ppm in Root;
Fucus vesiculosus L. -- Bladderwrack, Kelp; 68 ppm in Plant;
Rhodymenia palmata -- Dulse; 33 ppm in Plant;
Chondrus crispus (L.) STACKH. -- Irish Moss; 10 ppm in Plant;
Cynanchum atratum BUNGE -- Bai-Wei, Pai-Wei; 4.85 ppm in Root;
Citrus paradisi MacFAD. -- Grapefruit; 0.001 - 4.4 ppm in Fruit;
Nardostachys chinensis BATALIN -- Chinese Spikenard; 2.11 ppm in Rhizome;
Taraxacum mongolicum HAND.-MAZZ. -- Mongoloid Dandelion; 1.95 ppm in Plant;
Plantago asiatica L. -- Asian Plantain; 1.71 ppm in Plant;
Citrus medica L. -- Citron; 1.64 ppm in Fruit;
Vicia faba L. -- Broadbean, Faba Bean, Habas; 0.2 - 1.4 ppm in Fruit;
Bletilla striata (THUNB.) REICHB. f. -- Bletilla, Chinese Ground Orchid, Dai Chi (Chin.), Hardy Orchid, Hyacinth Bletilla, Hyacinth Orchid, Shiran (Jap.); 1.35 ppm in Tuber;
Lygodium japonicum (THUNB.) SW. -- Climbing Fern; 1.17 ppm in Pollen Or Spore;
Pulsatilla chinensis (BUNGE) REGEL -- Chinese Anemone; 1.14 ppm in Root;
Acorus calamus L. -- Calamus, Flagroot, Myrtle Flag, Sweet Calamus, Sweetflag, Sweetroot; 1.13 ppm in Rhizome;
Rubia cordifolia L. -- Madder; 1.1 ppm in Root;
Gentiana scabra BUNGE -- Japanese Gentian; 1.06 ppm in Root;
Daucus carota L. -- Carrot; 0.003 - 1 ppm in Root;
Jussiaea repens L. -- Jussiaeae Herba, Pond Dragon; 1 ppm in Plant;
Vitis vinifera L. -- European Grape, Grape, Grapevine, Parra (Sp.), Vid (Sp.), Vigne Vinifere (Fr.), Weinrebe (Ger.), Wine Grape; 0.001 - 0.889 ppm in Fruit;
Aconitum carmichaelii DEBX. -- Aconite, Fu-Tsu; 0.77 ppm in Tuber;
Lycium chinense MILL. -- Chinese Boxthorn, Chinese Matrimony Vine, Chinese Wolfberry, Chinesischer Bocksdorn (Ger.), Daun Koki (Indones.), Gou Qi (Chin.), Kaukichai (Malays.), Kuko (Jap.), Lyciet de Chine (Fr.), Spina Santa Cinese (Ital.), Wolfberry; 0.73 ppm in Root Bark;
Asiasarum heterotropoides MAEK. -- Asian Wild Ginger; 0.68 ppm in Root;
Asiasarum sieboldii (MIQ.) MAEK. -- Siebold's Wild Ginger; 0.68 ppm in Root;
Bupleurum chinense DC. -- Chai-Hu; 0.68 ppm in Root;
Cornus officinalis SIEB. & ZUCC. -- Chinese Dogwood; 0.65 ppm in Fruit;
Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) VENT -- Paper Mulberry; 0.62 ppm in Fruit;
Ligustrum japonicum THUNB. -- Japanese Privet, Ligustri Fructus; 0.6 ppm in Fruit;
Ligustrum lucidum W. T. AITON -- Chinese Privet, Glossy Privet, Ligustri Fructus, Privet, White Waxtree; 0.6 ppm in Fruit;
Solanum tuberosum L. -- Potato; 0.001 - 0.6 ppm in Tuber;