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Arsenic toxicology
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“The King of Poisons”
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“The Poison of Kings”
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Arsenic History Discovery credited to Albertus Magnus ~ 1250 Dartmouth Center for Environmental HealthSciences
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“The Poison of Kings” Cesare Borgia Italy Middle Ages
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Arsenic Facts
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Naturally occurring in earth’s crust > 200 mineral species
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Arsenic Facts Naturally occurring in earth’s crust > 200 mineral species soil ~ 3-4 ppm water ~ 1 ppb (> 1000 ppb)
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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:
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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)
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Arsenic Toxicology Blisters, skin lesions, gastrointestinal problems
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Arsenic Toxicology Blisters, skin lesions, gastrointestinal problems Proven human carcinogen
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Arsenic Toxicology Blisters, skin lesions, gastrointestinal problems Proven human carcinogen skin, bladder, kidney, lung, liver
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Arsenic Exposure Standards EPA 10 ppb in drinking water10 ppb
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Arsenic Exposure Standards EPA 10 ppb in drinking water (replaced old standard 50 ppb)10 ppb
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Arsenic Exposure Standards EPA 10 ppb in drinking water RfD 3 x 10 -4 mg/kg/dayRfD NOAEL 0.009 mg/L LOAEL 0.17 mg/L
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Arsenic toxicology: case studies Outside Magazine
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Cancer cluster Churchill Country Nevada Outside Magazine
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Population: Churchill County: 20,000 Fallon: 8,000
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Population: Churchill County: 20,000 Fallon: 8,000 Acute leukemia:
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Population: Churchill County: 20,000 Fallon: 8,000 Acute leukemia: Expected: 2
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Population: Churchill County: 20,000 Fallon: 8,000 Acute leukemia: Expected: 2 Observed: 16
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Municipal water supply from basalt aquifer underneath Rattlesnake HillRattlesnake Hill, near Fallon
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Municipal water supply from basalt aquifer underneath Rattlesnake HillRattlesnake Hill, near Fallon > 100 ppb As
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Cancer cluster Churchill Country Nevada Moore et al, Archives Pub. Health 2002
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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
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Arsenic Compliance $19 million Treatment plant constructedTreatment plant
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Arsenic Compliance $19 million Treatment plant constructedTreatment plant enhanced iron-based coagulation/filtration systemiron-based coagulation/filtration
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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
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Arsenic in groundwater: Bangladesh
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BBC
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UNESCO
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UNESCO/BBC
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Small-scale water treatment Sono filter – composite iron matrix filterSono filter
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