Arsenic is a natural element found in soil and minerals. Arsenic compounds are used to preserve wood, as pesticides, and in some industries. Arsenic can get into air, water, and the ground from wind-blown dust. It may also get into water from runoff.
You may be exposed to arsenic by
- Taking in small amounts in food, water or air
- Breathing sawdust or burning smoke from arsenic-treated wood
- Living in an area with high levels of arsenic in rock
- Working in a job where arsenic is made or used
Exposure to arsenic can cause many health problems. Being exposed to low levels for a long time can change the color of your skin. It can cause corns and small warts. Exposure to high levels of arsenic can cause death.
Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry
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Arsenic(Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) - http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts2.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/es/toxfaqs/es_tfacts2.html
- Chemical Agent Briefing Sheet: Arsenic(Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) - http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/cabs/arsenic/arsenic_cabs.pdf
- What Is Arsenic?(Navy Environmental Health Center) - Links to PDF - http://www-nehc.med.navy.mil/downloads/ep/Posters/arsensml.pdf
- Arsenic in Drinking Water Raises Diabetes Risk(08/19/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68325.html
- Arsenic in Private Drinking-Water Wells(Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) - http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/arsenic/
- Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA)(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances) - http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/reregistration/cca/index.htm
- Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA): Inorganic Arsenical Pressure-Treated Wood(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances) - http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/reregistration/cca/cca_consumer_safety.htm
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Tox Town
(National Library of Medicine) - Requires Flash Player - http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/espanol/
- Arsenic in Ground Water of the United States(U.S. Geological Survey) - http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/trace/arsenic/
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Protective effects of B vitamins and antioxidants on the risk... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18709164&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Near-surface wetland sediments as a source of arsenic release to... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18650922&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Environmental science: Poisoned waters traced to source. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18650903&tool=MedlinePlus
- Arsenic -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=((arsenic[majr]+AND+environmental+exposure[mh])+OR+arsenic/toxicity[majr]+OR+arsenic+poisoning[majr])+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program(Environmental Protection Agency) - http://www.epa.gov/tri/
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Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry - http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/es/es_index.html
- Environmental Protection Agency - http://www.epa.gov/
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TOXMAP(National Library of Medicine) - Create maps showing locations of toxic chemical releases - http://toxmap.nlm.nih.gov/toxmap/main/index.jsp
- Drinking Water - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drinkingwater.html
- Poisoning, Toxicology, Environmental Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/poisoningtoxicologyenvironmentalhealth.html