How can arsenic affect human health?
Arsenic has been reported to cause more than 30 different adverse health effects including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, skin changes, nervous system damage, and various forms of cancer. The odds that one or more of these could occur depends upon the amount of arsenic a person consumes, and how sensitive they are to the effects of arsenic. Getting arsenic on the skin when bathing or washing is not considered a major contributor to health risk. There is a small chance that some people who drink water containing low levels of arsenic for many years could develop circulatory disease, cancer, or other health problems. Most cancers and circulatory diseases are due to factors other than exposure to arsenic.
