Arsenic is ubiquitous in the earth’s crust, and naturally-occurring sources include volcanic

eruptions and deposits leeching into soil and ground water. Pure arsenic is silvery lustrous metalloid that

exists in a variety of compounds and valence states. Arsenic compounds arsenic (III) oxide, arsenic (V)

oxide, the acids formed from these oxides and their salts and organic compounds are more commonly

encountered than arsenic metal. Trivalent arsenic is 2-10 times more toxic than the pentavalent form.

Anthropogenic sources include nonferrous metal mining and smelting, pesticide application, coal

combustion, wood combustion, and waste incineration. It does not biodegrade in soils, bioaccumulation

in plants and grains occurs. In seafood arsenic bioaccumulates as compounds such as arsenosugars

and arsenobetaine. The major forms are classified as inorganic and organic. First is organic forms are

commonly found as arsenosugars in seafood.

Generally considered to be of low toxicity compared to inorganic forms. Organic forms typically

found in seafood are arsenobetaine and arsenocholine, which are considered “essentially non-toxic”.

Major forms in agriculture include herbicides monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and its salts (MSMA is

most widely recognized), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA, also known as cacodylic acid) and its sodium salt,

and roxarsone. Arsine gas is usually described separately given its unique properties. Second form is

inorganic arsenic is typically found in its trivalent and pentavalent salts, oxides, or sulphides. The most

common inorganic forms include in the air is arsenic trioxide, in water, soil, or food is arsenates or

arsenites. In trivalent forms (e.g. arsenite, arsenic trioxide) have been identified as more toxic than

pentavalent forms (e.g. arsenate, arsenic pentoxide) by a factor of approximately 2-3 times. The routes

of exposure of arsenic can be thru inhalation. Arsenic particles may be deposited in the upper

respiratory tract, cleared from upper respiratory tract and swallowed and absorbed from the

gastrointestinal tract. Also can expose by Ingestion, skin absorption is from open abrasions. Arsenic

acids may be absorbed through intact skin. And also can expose by excretion, most of the absorbed

arsenic is excreted in the urine, with small amounts being excreted in the faeces. The maximum
excretion occurs in the first 6 hours, with about 25% being excreted in 24 hours and about 75% within 7

days of exposure. Half-life of inorganic arsenic is 1⁄2 hour and has ethylated metabolites 5-20 hours.

Inhalation and dermal contact are the most important routes of occupational exposure. CAREX

Canada estimates that approximately 22,000 Canadians are exposed to arsenic at work; about half are

exposed due to the use of arsenic in CCA wood preservatives. Results show that approximately 22,000

Canadians are currently exposed to arsenic at work. Of these, 92% are male. The industries with the

highest number of exposed workers are foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors; non-

residential building construction; and farms. Exposure in these groups primarily occurs through contact

with arsenic-containing CCA wood preservatives. Workers may also be exposed to arsenic in the

workplace in industries other than wood preservation. For example, exposure to arsenic occurs in the

non-ferrous metal production and processing industry, as well as in iron and steel mills, where arsenic is

produced as a by-product of the processing of other metals. When exposure is examined by occupation,

the largest groups of workers exposed to arsenic are construction trades helpers and labourers (4,700

workers exposed), carpenters (3,300 workers exposed), machinists and machining and tooling

inspectors (2,000 workers exposed), and contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades (1,400 workers

exposed). The number of workers exposed to arsenic decreased by approximately 2,300 workers from

2006 to 2016 (a 9% decrease). This was driven by a decrease in the total number of workers in the

sawmills and wood preservation industry, and the proportion of workers exposed within this industry.

Historically, arsenic has been included in agricultural chemicals, either directly or after conversion

to arsenic acid, and was widely used as a pesticide and fertilizer. This is generally no longer permitted,

though arsenicals may be used in emergency situations (e.g. pine beetle infestation). Until the 1970s,

arsenic was used to treat leukaemia, psoriasis, and asthma. In the 1990s, there was renewed interest in

using arsenic to treat a specific type of leukaemia.

Reference
Spilchuk, V. (2018). Public Health Physician, Environmental and Occupational Health, Public Health
Ontario.
http://www.occupationalcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Spilchuk_OEH_25Jan19.pdf