Invited Reviews: Carcinogenic and Systemic Health Effects Associated with Arsenic Exposure—A Critical Review (original) (raw)

Carcinogenic and Systemic Health Effects Associated with Arsenic Exposure - A Critical Review

Toxicologic Pathology, 2003

Arsenic and arsenic containing compounds are human carcinogens. Exposure to arsenic occurs occupationally in several industries, including mining, pesticide, pharmaceutical, glass and microelectronics, as well as environmentally from both industrial and natural sources. Inhalation is the principal route of arsenic exposure in occupational settings, while ingestion of contaminated drinking water is the predominant source of significant environmental exposure globally. Drinking water contamination by arsenic remains a major public health problem. Acute and chronic arsenic exposure via drinking water has been reported in many countries of the world, where a large proportion of drinking water is contaminated with high concentrations of arsenic. General health effects that are associated with arsenic exposure include cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease, developmental anomalies, neurologic and neurobehavioural disorders, diabetes, hearing loss, portal fibrosis, hematologic disorders (anemia, leukopenia and eosinophilia) and multiple cancers: significantly higher standardized mortality rates and cumulative mortality rates for cancers of the skin, lung, liver, urinary bladder, kidney, and colon in many areas of arsenic pollution. Although several epidemiological studies have documented the sources of exposure and the global impact of arsenic contamination, the mechanisms by which arsenic induces health effects, including cancer, are not well characterized. Further research is needed to provide a better understanding of the pathobiology of arsenic-induced diseases and to better define the toxicologic pathology of arsenic in various organ systems. In this review, we provide and discuss the underlying pathology and nature of arsenic-induced lesions. Such information is critical for understanding the magnitude of health effects associated with arsenic exposure throughout the world.

Chronic exposure of arsenic via drinking water and its adverse health impacts on humans

Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 2009

Worldwide chronic arsenic (As) toxicity has become a human health threat. Arsenic exposure to humans mainly occurs from the ingestion of As contaminated water and food. This communication presents a review of current research conducted on the adverse health effects on humans exposed to Ascontaminated water. Chronic exposure of As via drinking water causes various types of skin lesions such as melanosis, leucomelanosis, and keratosis. Other manifestations include neurological effects, obstetric problems, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, diseases of the respiratory system and of blood vessels including cardiovascular, and cancers typically involving the skin, lung, and bladder. The skin seems to be quite susceptible to the effects of As. Arsenic-induced skin lesions seem to be the most common and initial symptoms of arsenicosis. More systematic studies are needed to determine the link between As exposure and its related cancer and noncancer end points.

ARSENIC: IT'S TOXICITY AND IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH

International Journal of Biological Innovations, 2021

Water pollution is a major problem in modern life. Almost all the heavy metals are toxic at higher concentrations and some are lethalat very low concentration. Arsenic is a naturally occurring element present in water, food and soil, but now-a-days this element is one of the rapidly emerging serious environmental pollutants; released into the environment through industrial and agricultural usage. In many parts of India, the ground water is contaminated with arsenic. The genesis of arsenic pollution is not understood fully, yet it is thought that natural geological weathering is mostly responsible for the dissolved arsenic in ground water. Arsenic exposure to human causes degenerative, inflammatory and neoplastic changes in skin, respiratory system, blood, lymphatic system, nervous system and reproductive system. There is no particular remedial action for chronic arsenic poisoning. Nearly 100 million people are to be affected by arsenic diseases like spots on the skin, high blood pressure, diabetes, skin cancer, cancer of urinary bladder, kidney and lungs. Low socioeconomic status and malnutrition may increase the risk of chronic toxicity. There is a strong relationship between chronic ingestion of arsenic and deleterious human health effects. Safe drinking water and well-nourished food is essential for the prevention of chronic arsenic toxicity. Balance nutritious-supplements play a major role in the prevention of chronic arsenic poisoning. In this review article, authors tried to provide an overview of some of the major effects documented in the scientific literature.

Environmental Contamination of Arsenic and its Toxicological Impact on Humans

Environmental Chemistry, 2005

Environmental Context. Tens of millions of people in developing countries are being exposed to excessive levels of arsenic in their drinking water, and this contamination is widely regarded as the largest current calamity of chemical poisoning in the world. However, arsenic can exist in many chemical forms, and these vary widely in solubility, toxicity, and in bioavailability. Therefore, it is critical to be able to measure arsenic speciation accurately and reliably in order to understand its toxicity and design effective measures of remedial action. . Inorganic arsenic compounds are known carcinogens. The human epidemiologic evidence of arsenic-induced skin, lung, and bladder cancers is strong. However, the evidence of arsenic carcinogenicity in animals is very limited. Lack of a suitable animal model until recent years has inhibited studies of the mechanism of arsenic carcinogenesis. The toxicity and bioavailability of arsenic depend on its solubility and chemical forms. Therefore...

Arsenic exposure and its toxicity

Current Trends in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, 2022

Arsenic is a pollutant in the environment, and its poisoning of drinking water is considered a severe global health issue. Chronic arsenic exposure is linked to an increased risk of a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular abnormalities, diabetes mellitus, neurotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity. Furthermore, arsenic exposure has been linked to changes in liver function and the development of hepatotoxicity. Furthermore, only a few studies have shown that persistent exposure to arsenic causes carcinogenesis, particularly cancers of the skin, bladder, and lungs. The current study looks at a variety of processes that play a role in arsenic-induced toxicity and end-organ damage.

Arsenic toxicity, mutagenesis, and carcinogenesis – a health risk assessment and management approach

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 2004

A comprehensive analysis of published data indicates that arsenic exposure induces cardiovascular diseases, developmental abnormalities, neurologic and neurobehavioral disorders, diabetes, hearing loss, hematologic disorders, and various types of cancer. Although exposure may occur via the dermal, and parenteral routes, the main pathways of exposure include ingestion, and inhalation. The severity of adverse health effects is related to the chemical form of arsenic, and is also time-and dosedependent. Recent reports have pointed out that arsenic poisoning appears to be one of the major public health problems of pandemic nature. Acute and chronic exposure to arsenic has been reported in several countries of the world where a large proportion of drinking water (groundwater) is contaminated with high concentrations of arsenic. Research has also pointed significantly higher standardized mortality rates for cancers of the bladder, kidney, skin, liver, and colon in many areas of arsenic pollution. There is therefore a great need for developing a comprehensive health risk assessment (RA) concept that should be used by public health officials and environmental managers for an effective management of the health effects associated with arsenic exposure. With a special emphasis on arsenic toxicity, mutagenesis, and carcinogenesis, this paper is aimed at using the National Academy of Science's RA framework as a guide, for developing a RA paradigm for arsenic based on a comprehensive analysis of the currently available scientific information on its physical and chemical properties, production and use, fate and transport, toxicokinetics, systemic and carcinogenic health effects, regulatory and health guidelines, analytical guidelines and treatment technologies.

Arsenic poisoning: A world – wide threat

Arsenic has been used since 3000 BC. Arsenic is highly toxic in its inorganic form. Contaminated water used for drinking, food preparation and irrigation of food crops poses the greatest threat to public health from arsenic. Long-term exposure to arsenic from drinking-water and food can cause cancer and skin lesions. A short review is presented here to put forward the side-effects of arsenic contaminations.

Chronic arsenic toxicity & human health

The Indian journal of medical research, 2008

Chronic arsenic toxicity (arsenicosis) due to drinking of arsenic contaminated ground water is a major environmental health hazard throughout the world including India. A lot of new information is emerging from extensive research on health effects of chronic arsenic toxicity (CAT) in humans during the last two decades. Available literature has been reviewed to highlight the problem including its malignancies. Pigmentation and keratosis are the specific skin lesions characteristics of CAT. CAT also produces various systemic manifestations over and above skin lesions, important ones being chronic lung disease like chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis, liver disease like non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis and other diseases like polyneuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension and ischeamic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, non-pitting oedema of feet/hands, weakness and anaemia. Cancer of skin, lung and urinary bladder are important cancers a...

Arsenic in the environment: effects on human health and possible prevention

Journal of environmental biology / Academy of Environmental Biology, India, 2007

Arsenic is a major environmental pollutant and exposure occurs through environmental, occupational and medicinal sources. The contaminated drinking water is the main source of exposure and affected countries are India (West Bengal), Bangladesh, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Chile, Argentina and Romania. Concentrations of arsenic in affected areas are several times higher than the maximum contamination level (MCL) (10 microg/l). Arsenic exposure to human results in degenerative, inflammatory and neoplastic changes of skin, respiratory system, blood, lymphatic system, nervous system and reproductive system. There is no particular remedial action for chronic arsenic poisoning. Low socioeconomic status and malnutrition may increase the risk of chronic toxicity. Early intervention and prevention can give the relief to the affected population.

Arsenic Exposures, Poisoning, and Threat to Human Health

Environmental Exposures and Human Health Challenges, 2019

Arsenic (As) is a naturally occurring metalloid which induces high toxicity to both human and animal health. Although As has some applications in industrial, medicinal and agricultural fields, the increasing concentrations of As in drinking water sources had made it a potential threat to living organisms. Inorganic As is naturally present in groundwater and is adsorbed by plants and crops through the irrigation system. This leads to its accumulation in crops and translocation to humans and animals through food. Increased levels of As can cause various health disorders through acute and chronic exposures such as gastrointestinal, hepatic, respiratory, cardiovascular, integumentary, renal, neurological, and reproductive disorders including stillbirth and infant mortality. Arsenic is also capable of inducing epigenetic changes, thereby causing gene mutations. This chapter focuses on the possible sources of As, leading to environmental contamination and followed by its hazardous effects...