How is arsenic used

What are sources of arsenic? How much arsenic can be in drinking water? How can I find out whether there is arsenic in my drinking water? Fact Sheets 4 pages. The broad scope of health effects from chronic arsenic exposure: update on a worldwide public health problem. Environ Health Perspect 3 US Geological Survey. Monomethylated trivalent arsenic species disrupt steroid receptor interactions with their DNA response elements at non-cytotoxic cellular concentrations.

J Appl Toxicol 34 5 National Research Council. Lung tumors in mice induced by "whole life" inorganic arsenic exposure at human relevant doses. Arch Toxicol; doi: Increased lung and bladder cancer incidence in adults after in utero and early-life arsenic exposure.

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; doi EPI [Online 23 May ]. Arsenic and lung disease mortality in Bangladeshi adults. Epidemiology 25 4 Until penicillin became available in the 40s, it remained as the default treatment for the disease. Today, arsenic is still used in the treatment for acute promyelocyticleukemia, which has proven very effective. In the industrial field, arsenic is often used alloyed with lead, forming a more durable and harder metal compound.

It is used sometimes in things like bullets and car batteries. Until recently, glass makers used arsenic in their manufacturing process, but thanks to the pressure from EPA and other groups, they have lowered its use or even stopped altogether. In the last several decades paleopathological evidence has indicated that syphilis may have existed in the Old World for some centuries before, however this evidence has been criticised and the question of the origin of syphilis remains unresolved.

In he also became director of the Georg-Speyer-Haus Chemotherapeutisches Institut , a research foundation built next door to the Staatliches Institut. He applied this theory, along with Kiyoshi Shiga, a Japanese bacteriologist, to experimenting with benzopurpurine dyes against trypanosomiasis. This, along with his work with arsenic compounds, have credited Ehrlich as being the founder of chemical therapeutics based on reasoned theory rather than empirical acceptance.

Ehrlich and Bertheim began experimenting with Atoxyl and its derivatives in treating Spirochaeta infection in rabbits at the Georg-Speyer-Haus Institute. Ehrlich died in in Bad Homberg, Germany, from a stroke. Hata returned to Japan to become a renowned laboratory bacteriologist who continued his work in using arsphenamine against syphilis, rat bite fever and other diseases.

In it was found that arsphenamine metabolized to oxyphenarsine, also known as mapharside, which was a more stable compound and was marketed for treatment of syphilis under the name Mapharsen.

Arsenicals, mainly arsphenamine, neoarsphenamine, acetarsone and mapharside, in combination with bismuth or mercury then became the mainstay of treatment for syphilis until the advent of penicillin in Ehrlich and Bertheim began researching less toxic derivatives of Atoxyl. Melarsen was effective against trypanosomiasis but was also very toxic, so Friedheim combined the drug with an arsenic antidote, British anti-Lewisite BAL , developed by Britain to counteract the effects of Lewisite gas, an arsenical chemical warfare agent.

This new drug was marketed as Melarsoprol, or Mel B, and was introduced as treatment for trypanosomiasis in Suramin and Melarsoprol are still used as chemotherapy options for Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. Arsenic has earned a place in history both as a favoured poison and as a miracle drug.

Arsenic still has a place in medicine today as a treatment for certain subtypes of leukaemia and trypanosomiasis. Submit your article Author Information. References 1. Arsenic exposure and toxicology: a historical perspective.

Toxicol Sci ; 3 : Shakhashiri BZ. Chemical of the Week — Arsenic. Madison Chemistry Department, University of Wisconsin. Smith R. Arsenic: a murderous history. Dartmouth Medical School, Dartmouth.

Arsenic neurotoxicity — a review. Human Experiment Toxicol Bosch F, Rosich L. The contributions of Paul Ehrlich to pharmacology: a tribute on the occasion of the centenary of his Nobel prize. Pharmacol ; 82 3 : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lewisite L : Blister Agent. Adamsite DM : Vomiting Agent. Antman KH. Introduction: The history of arsenic trioxide in cancer therapy. The Oncologist ; 6 suppl 2 : Toxic Effects of Metals. Other cancers that are known to be linked to this mineral include lung cancer and bladder cancer.

Cardiovascular disease is a major result of arsenic consumption, and there is such a thing as arsenic-induced heart attack. Disease of the lungs and pulmonary system and diabetes are also common in those who have been exposed.

Arsenic is particularly dangerous for pregnant women and children. Exposure before birth and in infancy can lead to long term health and development problems including in cognitive function and intelligence outcomes and an increased mortality rate.

For all ages and demographics, increased consumption leads to higher mortality rates, whether this is a rapid deterioration or prolonged ill-health. Risks of poisoning from this element increase if a population has an unsafe drinking water supply or in those who work in specific industries such as smelting or producing Arsenic containing products such as pesticides or wood treatments.

Scientists have discovered that the human body does actually use a very small amount of Arsenic. This is a very tiny amount and more than covers any requirement that the body may have for this chemical element.

Still, it is believed that some form of the element does play a role in the development and function of the nervous system. However, Arsenic is not recognized as an essential micronutrient, and official advice suggests that there are no benefits to increasing the amount of it in the diet because we all consume more than enough without even realizing from our normal diets. Arsenic does have its uses in the human body; one form, arsenic trioxide, is used in chemotherapy.

This has severe side effects and must be used under careful medical supervision. In the s, Arsenic was briefly considered to be a healthful supplement despite its use as a poison.

People would take increasing doses of it for various purposes, and it was even used in lotions, medicines, and cosmetics. This caused a massive increase in mortality and cancer deaths, and the practice was soon abandoned as scientists began to more fully understand how this mineral changes the way enzymes function and leads to dysfunction and cell death.

In more recent times, Arsenic has leaked into water supplies on a number of occasions and caused a surge in health complaints and a massive increase in cancer incidence. Homeopathic treatments rely on the memory of water, and so any substance in homeopathic treatment is diluted many, many times. A properly prepared homeopathic remedy would not contain a measurable level of As. Improperly prepared homeopathic treatments containing the element have been known to cause arsenic poisoning.

There are medical treatments that can help the body deal with high levels of Arsenic, and there is an ongoing public health effort to ensure drinking water is safe. Those with diets that consist mostly of rice are advised to try to vary the grains they consume, and research is ongoing into how certain other substances may help remove As from the body; for example, folic acid appears to have a beneficial effect in lowering blood arsenic levels.