Toxic effect of arsenic

B.Sc. Third Year Syllabus

1. Toxic Effect of
Arsenic
Dr. AsmitaDaspute.
Assistant Professor,
SBES College Of Science,
Aurangabad. (MS)

3. Arsenic
• Naturally occurring semi-metallic element (As)
• Well known poison and carcinogen
• Found in inorganic (toxic) and organic (nontoxic) forms
• Tasteless and odorless when mixed in water –can be detected by chemical test
• Used in mining
operations (for smelting), in outdated herbicide and pesticide and can leach into
groundwater contaminating water supply

4. Symptoms of Toxicity
Symptoms of acute exposure: –
Pulmonary edema –Gastrointestinal effects including severe cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea –
Neurological: seizures, cerebral edema, necrosis, and coma –Also affects cardiovascular and renal
system –Can be fatal
• Symptoms of chronic exposure: various cancers, peripheral neuropathy, muscle weakness,
hyperkeratosis and hyperpigmentation of the skin, as well as paresthesia in hands and feet

5. Arsenic poisioning
Absorption –
85% of inorganic As absorbed through intestine, also lung and skin –When ingested as water-soluble salt it is
rapidly absorbed with nearly 100% bioavailibility
• Distribution –Rapid distribution form blood produces a serum half-life of 1 hour
• Metabolism –
Arsenate (5+)
Arsenite(3+)
Methylarsenite
Dimethylarsenite
• Excretion –46% to 68.9% of inorganicarsenicbeing excreted within the first 5 days of exposure