Download What is Arsenic

 CEHC FACT SHEET: Arsenic What is arsenic? Arsenic is a silver‐gray or white‐metallic element that is widely distributed in the Earth’s crust. Arsenic is classified as a metalloid, which means it has both properties of a metal and a nonmetal. Pure arsenic is a steel grey solid material and is rare in the environment. Arsenic is usually found combined with other elements such as oxygen, chlorine, and sulfur. Arsenic is also produced as a by‐product from the operation of copper, cobalt, and lead smelters. Most arsenic compounds are white or colorless powders that do not evaporate. They are odorless and most are nearly tasteless. Thus, arsenic is hard to perceive in food, water, or air. Arsenic compounds are used in wood preservatives, pesticides (primarily on cotton plants), and as alloying (the mixture of two or more metals. Heat treatment of metals called tempering also yields arsenic, and they are also used in the manufacture of certain kinds of glass, in solders and medicines. How does arsenic exposure occur? Arsenic exposure can occur by breathing contaminated air, or by eating food (shellfish) or drinking water that contains arsenic. Exposure can also occur by breathing air filled with sawdust or smoke from burning wood treated with arsenic. Exposure can also occur by living in areas near copper or lead smelters, industrialized areas where large quantities of arsenic are disposed in landfills or hazardous waste sites, or areas with unusually high natural levels of arsenic in rock. Since arsenic is found naturally in the environment, one will be exposed to some arsenic by eating food, drinking water, or breathing air. Children can be exposed to arsenic by: •
Ingesting arsenic from contaminated water is a common exposure for children. Landfills, mines, glass manufacturing plants or refineries can contaminate the water supply. •
Children can ingest arsenic after chewing on pressure treated wood. Arsenic is absorbed on their hands and they can be placed in their mouth. •
Playing with contaminated soil is another form of exposure for children. They either eat the soil or put their hands in their mouths after playing with this soil. It can be absorbed into their bodies. •
Inhalation of air that contains arsenic is another form of exposure. Factories and manufacturing facilities can pollute their air with arsenic. How can arsenic affect health? According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), exposure to lower levels of arsenic can cause the following symptoms: ‐ Nausea and vomiting ‐ Decreased production of red & white blood cells ‐ Abnormal heart rhythm ‐ Damage to blood vessels ‐ Sore Throat/irritated lungs ‐ Sensation of “pins and needles” in hands & feet ‐ Redness and swelling of skin Children may be more vulnerable to arsenic exposure because their bodies are less efficient at converting inorganic arsenic to the less harmful organic forms. There is evidence that long‐term exposure to arsenic in children may result in lower IQ scores and that exposure to arsenic in the womb and early childhood may increase mortality in young adults. There is limited evidence that inhaled or ingested arsenic can injure pregnant women or their unborn babies, although the studies are not definitive. Animal studies 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. Ingesting or breathing low levels of inorganic arsenic for long periods can cause a darkening of the skin and the appearance of small "corns" or "warts" on the palms, soles, and torso. Can arsenic exposure be diagnosed? Several sensitive and specific tests can measure arsenic in blood, urine, hair, or fingernails, and these tests are often helpful in determining if one has been exposed to above‐average levels of arsenic in the past. These tests are not usually performed in a doctor’s office. They require sending the sample to a testing laboratory. Measurement of arsenic in your urine is the most reliable means of detecting arsenic exposures that you experienced within the past several days. The results can sometimes be misleading, as the non‐
harmful forms of arsenic found in fish and shellfish can produce a high reading even if toxic exposure has not occurred. Because most arsenic leaves the body within a few days, urine analysis cannot detect if past exposure occurred. Tests of hair or fingernails can determine if one was exposed to high levels over the past 6–12 months, but these tests are not very useful in detecting low‐level exposures. How can arsenic exposure be prevented? There are multiple precautions to reduce an individual’s exposure to arsenic. The following precautions are suggested: •
Protect pressure treated wood by utilizing waterproof sealants twice a year. This can reduce a child’s risk of hand to mouth exposure. Do not use acid washes or brighteners on treated wood. This can increase the release of arsenic from the wood. •
Keep food off of any pressure treated wood. •
Avoid sanding or finishing treated wood near soil. If arsenic treated wood is used in home projects, be sure to wear protective clothing, masks and gloves to avoid exposure to the sawdust. Keep children away from any work areas to avoid exposure to the sawdust. •
Do not burn arsenic treated wood or compost sawdust, chips or small wood scraps. References: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATDSR) (2007). Toxicological Profile for Benzene. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/TF.asp?id=19&tid=3 Arsenic. Healthy Child Healthy World. Retrieved from: http://healthychild.org/issues/chemical‐pop/arsenic/