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Arsenic - Toxicological Overview

Key Points

Kinetics and metabolism

  • Absorption of arsenic is largely dependent on the solubility and particle size
  • Concentrations of arsenic or its metabolites in blood, hair, nails and urine may be used as biomarkers of arsenic exposure.
  • Blood arsenic is a useful biomarker only in the case of acute arsenic poisoning or stable chronic high-level exposure
  • Since the elimination of arsenic takes place mainly via the kidneys, the concentration of arsenic in the urine is a good indication of recent exposure to inorganic arsenic

Health effects of acute exposure

  • Single doses of inorganic arsenic may be highly toxic by ingestion and inhalation
  • Both ingestion and inhalation may cause gastrointestinal effects such as nausea, diarrhoea and abdominal pain
  • Multi-organ failure may occur in severe cases following ingestion
  • Inorganic arsenic is irritant to the eye and skin

Health effects of chronic exposure

  • Following chronic ingestion a range of non-specific symptoms of the respiratory tract, CNS, endocrine system, liver, kidneys or gastrointestinal system may occur
  • Chronic inhalation of arsenic may cause irritation of the mucous membranes leading to conjunctivitis, pharyngitis and rhinitis
  • Inorganic arsenic compounds have mutagenic potential
  • Inorganic arsenic is a known human carcinogen which acts via a genotoxic mechanism

Decontamination and First Aid       Summary of Health Effects

Prepared by J D Pritchard
CHAPD HQ, HPA
2007
Version 2

This document will be reviewed not later than 3 years, or sooner if substantive evidence becomes available.