What is arsenic?
Arsenic is a naturally occurring heavy metal, which may be associated with several types of cancer, skin disorders, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some neurological problems. In the past, Arsenic has been used in pesticides, a broad range of consumer products, such as cosmetics and medical treatments. [1] Today, the sources of arsenic exposure include both anthropogenic- meaning arsenic released into the environment as a result of human activity- and natural sources. Anthropogenic sources of exposure may include: burning of coal; wood preservation, smelting; waste incinerators; and release of industrial wastes into air or water In addition to these sources, small amounts of arsenic are added to other metals to form mixtures, or alloys. These alloys may be used to make automobile batteries, semiconductors, and electrical diodes. However, in areas without significant industrial activity or waste facilities, the most relevant source of arsenic from natural sources. This is because
Arsenic (As) is a naturally-occurring element in the earth’s crust, and traces of arsenic can be found throughout the environment. Arsenic in soil may originate naturally, and past human activities may have added to these levels in some areas. Historically, the heaviest use of arsenic in this country has been as a pesticide. The current predominant use of arsenic is as a wood preservative. In ground water, arsenic occurs primarily in two forms, As+3 (arsenite) and As+5 (arsenate). Organic arsenicals are not known to occur at significant levels in ground water. Arsenic may change chemical form in the environment, but it does not degrade. How Does Arsenic Get into Ground Water? Inorganic arsenic exists naturally at various levels in all geologic formations in the state. In some of these formations, arsenic is relatively immobile despite being present at high concentrations. In other formations, the chemical and physical properties of the geologic material may enable the arsenic to become
Arsenic, chemical symbol As, is a metalloid solid. Its atomic number is 33, with an atomic weight of 74.92. In its standard state, it is very brittle and crystalline; arsenic sublimates (changes directly from a solid to a gas) when heated. That’s the scientific side of arsenic, but what really makes the element a household name is the fact that it’s poisonous. From the movie Arsenic and Old Lace to the latest TV crime drama, arsenic has been the poison of choice for many a fictional criminal. In real life, though, arsenic poisoning mainly comes from environmental causes. Contaminated air, food and water can all be a source of arsenic ingestion. It is also possible to ingest arsenic when living near improperly controlled toxic waste sites and in regions where rocks contain a high arsenic concentration. Finally, pressure treated wood may include arsenic which can release the poison through sawdust or when burned. Even at levels low enough to not be toxic, arsenic has unpleasant side effe
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in the earth’s crust that is found most everywhere. It occurs naturally in rocks and soil, water, air, and plants and animals. There are trace amounts of it in all living matter. Approximately 90% of industrial arsenic in the U.S. is used as a wood preservative. Arsenic is a well-known poison used in the manufacture of agricultural chemicals such as pesticides, weed killers, and rodenticides. It is also used in the production of paints, dyes, metals, drugs, soaps, and semi-conductors. Arsenic can be released into the environment through natural activities such as volcanic action, erosion of rocks, and forest fires, or through human activities such as pesticide application, improper disposal of arsenic-containing waste chemicals, agricultural applications, mining, and smelting.
Arsenic (As) is an element, which means that it is a chemical that cant be broken down into simpler chemicals (so it is not a compound or molecule that is made up of other elements). The elements are arranged in the periodic table of elements shown below. Arsenic is the one in the purple box. Elements in the same column usually have similar properties, so arsenic has similarities to phosphorus (P), which is a part of the DNA molecules (see below) that make up your genes – that similarity might explain how it is taken up by cells. Arsenic can hitch a ride in the cell’s transporter system for P. Arsenic has an atomic number of 33. That means it has 33 protons in its nucleus and 33 electrons buzzing around the nucleus, when it is uncharged.
