Arsenic toxicology

“The King of Poisons”

“The Poison of Kings”

Arsenic History Discovery credited to Albertus Magnus ~ 1250 Dartmouth Center for Environmental HealthSciences

“The Poison of Kings” Cesare Borgia Italy Middle Ages

Arsenic Facts

Naturally occurring in earth’s crust > 200 mineral species

Arsenic Facts Naturally occurring in earth’s crust > 200 mineral species  soil ~ 3-4 ppm  water ~ 1 ppb (> 1000 ppb)

Arsenic Facts Naturally occurring in earth’s crust > 200 mineral species  soil ~ 3-4 ppm  water ~ 1 ppb (> 1000 ppb) Atmospheric – 1/3 from volcanism; 2/3 human activity

Arsenic Facts Naturally occurring in earth’s crust > 200 mineral species  soil ~ 3-4 ppm  water ~ 1 ppb (> 1000 ppb) Atmospheric – 1/3 from volcanism; 2/3 human activity Inorganic: most prevalent in human toxicity

Arsenic Facts Naturally occurring in earth’s crust > 200 mineral species  soil ~ 3-4 ppm  water ~ 1 ppb (> 1000 ppb) Atmospheric – 1/3 from volcanism; 2/3 human activity Inorganic: most prevalent in human toxicity arsenite (As +3 ) – As 2 O 3 arsenate (As +5 ) – As 2 O 5

Arsenic Facts Naturally occurring in earth’s crust > 200 mineral species  soil ~ 3-4 ppm  water ~ 1 ppb (> 1000 ppb) Atmospheric – 1/3 from volcanism; 2/3 human activity Inorganic: most prevalent in human toxicity arsenite (As +3 ) – As 2 O 3 greater absorption, most toxic arsenate (As +5 ) – As 2 O 5

Arsenic Facts Naturally occurring in earth’s crust > 200 mineral species  soil ~ 3-4 ppm  water ~ 1 ppb (> 1000 ppb) Atmospheric – 1/3 from volcanism; 2/3 human activity Inorganic: most prevalent in human toxicity arsenite (As +3 ) – As 2 O 3 greater absorption, most toxic arsenate (As +5 ) – As 2 O 5 As 0, Ca 3 (AsO 4 ) 2, GaAs, Na 2 HAsO 4, NaAsO 2

Arsenic Facts Naturally occurring in earth’s crust > 200 mineral species  soil ~ 3-4 ppm  water ~ 1 ppb (> 1000 ppb) Atmospheric – 1/3 from volcanism; 2/3 human activity Inorganic: most prevalent in human toxicity arsenite (As +3 ) – As 2 O 3 greater absorption, most toxic arsenate (As +5 ) – As 2 O 5 As 0, Ca 3 (AsO 4 ) 2, GaAs, Na 2 HAsO 4, NaAsO 2 Organic: soil, pesticides, marine organisms generally less toxic

Arsenic Facts Naturally occurring in earth’s crust > 200 mineral species  soil ~ 3-4 ppm  water ~ 1 ppb (> 1000 ppb) Atmospheric – 1/3 from volcanism; 2/3 human activity Inorganic: most prevalent in human toxicity arsenite (As +3 ) – As 2 O 3 greater absorption, most toxic arsenate (As +5 ) – As 2 O 5 As 0, Ca 3 (AsO 4 ) 2, GaAs, Na 2 HAsO 4, NaAsO 2 Organic: soil, pesticides, marine organisms generally less toxic Human exposure:

Arsenic Facts Naturally occurring in earth’s crust > 200 mineral species  soil ~ 3-4 ppm  water ~ 1 ppb (> 1000 ppb) Atmospheric – 1/3 from volcanism; 2/3 human activity Inorganic: most prevalent in human toxicity arsenite (As +3 ) – As 2 O 3 greater absorption, most toxic arsenate (As +5 ) – As 2 O 5 As 0, Ca 3 (AsO 4 ) 2, GaAs, Na 2 HAsO 4, NaAsO 2 Organic: soil, pesticides, marine organisms generally less toxic Human exposure:  Diet -- 80% (poultry, fish, meat, mushrooms), air (mining, smelting, fossil fuels), groundwater, timber treatmenttimber treatment, pesticides, semi-conductors (GaAs)

Arsenic Toxicology Blisters, skin lesions, gastrointestinal problems

Arsenic Toxicology Blisters, skin lesions, gastrointestinal problems Proven human carcinogen

Arsenic Toxicology Blisters, skin lesions, gastrointestinal problems Proven human carcinogen  skin, bladder, kidney, lung, liver

Arsenic Exposure Standards EPA 10 ppb in drinking water10 ppb

Arsenic Exposure Standards EPA 10 ppb in drinking water (replaced old standard 50 ppb)10 ppb

Arsenic Exposure Standards EPA 10 ppb in drinking water RfD 3 x mg/kg/dayRfD NOAEL mg/L LOAEL 0.17 mg/L

Arsenic toxicology: case studies Outside Magazine

Cancer cluster Churchill Country Nevada Outside Magazine

Population: Churchill County: 20,000 Fallon: 8,000

Population: Churchill County: 20,000 Fallon: 8,000 Acute leukemia:

Population: Churchill County: 20,000 Fallon: 8,000 Acute leukemia: Expected: 2

Population: Churchill County: 20,000 Fallon: 8,000 Acute leukemia: Expected: 2 Observed: 16

Municipal water supply from basalt aquifer underneath Rattlesnake HillRattlesnake Hill, near Fallon

Municipal water supply from basalt aquifer underneath Rattlesnake HillRattlesnake Hill, near Fallon > 100 ppb As

Cancer cluster Churchill Country Nevada Moore et al, Archives Pub. Health 2002

Nevada Cancer cluster– other possible etiologies Moore et al, Archives Pub. Health 2002 Benzene from jet fuel spills tungsten, cobalt, EMF from long-range transmitter

Arsenic Compliance $19 million Treatment plant constructedTreatment plant

Arsenic Compliance $19 million Treatment plant constructedTreatment plant enhanced iron-based coagulation/filtration systemiron-based coagulation/filtration

Arsenic Compliance $19 million Treatment plant constructedTreatment plant enhanced iron-based coagulation/filtration systemiron-based coagulation/filtration As +3 and As +5 strongly adsorb to iron oxides

Arsenic in groundwater: Bangladesh

BBC

UNESCO

UNESCO/BBC

Small-scale water treatment Sono filter – composite iron matrix filterSono filter

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