What is arsenic?
Arsenic is a naturally occurring mineral found in soil, bedrock, and water. In its pure form, arsenic is a silver-gray or white brittle metal. Arsenic has no odor and is almost tasteless. Arsenic and its compounds have a variety of commercial uses. Manufacturers use arsenic to make other metals, glass, electronic components, and wood preservatives. Arsenic occurs naturally in some Wisconsin drinking water supplies. Drugs used to treat parasite diseases have contained arsenic. HOW ARE PEOPLE EXPOSED TO ARSENIC? Breathing: Arsenic in food or water does not evaporate into the air. However, burning arsenic-containing materials such as treated lumber will put arsenic fumes into the air. Burning treated wood in a wood stove or fireplace may expose people to dangerous levels of arsenic. Tobacco smoke contains traces of arsenic. Drinking/Eating: Marine fish and seafood contain naturally high amounts of arsenic. However, the arsenic in these foods is a non-toxic form called “fish arsenic.” Calc
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element widely distributed in the earth’s crust. Several forms of arsenic exist in the environment. Inorganic arsenic compounds occur naturally in soil and in many kinds of rock. Inorganic arsenic compounds are used to preserve wood and in the past were used as an insecticide or weed killer. Arsenic that gets into animals and plants combines with carbon and hydrogen to form organic arsenic compounds. These compounds are much less toxic than inorganic arsenic compounds. Arsenic can build up in fish and shellfish, but the arsenic in fish is mostly in the organic form, which is less harmful. Organic arsenic compounds are still used as pesticides, primarily on cotton plants.
