Arsenic
Long-term high exposure to arsenic via drinking water can cause cancer and skin lesions.
Sources of exposure
Arsenic is found in the environment in air, water and soil. In its inorganic form, however, it is highly toxic.
People are exposed to elevated levels of inorganic arsenic through contaminated water.
Long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic can lead to chronic arsenic poisoning. Skin lesions and skin cancer are the most characteristic effects.
Possible effects on health
In the long term, high exposure to arsenic via drinking water can be the cause:
- vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea
- Tingling in the extremities
- Muscle cramps
- cancer
- skin lesions
- Diabetes, lung and cardiovascular diseases
- Adverse pregnancy outcomes and infant mortality
- Lung disease, heart attacks and kidney failure
- Effects on cognitive development, intelligence and memory
- Death
Inorganic arsenic is proven to be carcinogenic and highly toxic. It represents the largest chemical contamination of drinking water worldwide. Arsenic can also occur in organic form and is then less harmful to health.
Acute effects
The immediate symptoms of acute arsenic poisoning include vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. This is followed by numbness and tingling in the extremities, muscle cramps and, in extreme cases, death.
Long-term effects
The first symptoms of arsenic poisoning usually appear on the skin and include pigmentary changes, skin lesions and hard patches on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet (hyperkeratosis). You would need to be exposed to arsenic for at least years.
Besides skin cancer, long-term exposure to arsenic can also cause bladder and lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified arsenic and arsenic compounds as carcinogenic to humans.
Other adverse health effects include: Developmental disorders, diabetes, lung diseases and cardiovascular diseases. In particular, heart attacks triggered by arsenic can indicate increased mortality.
Arsenic is also associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and infant mortality. It can also affect children's health: Exposure to high concentrations of arsenic when young increases mortality in young adults due to various cancers, lung disease, heart attacks and. Numerous studies have demonstrated negative effects of arsenic exposure on cognitive development, intelligence and memory (3).
Source: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/arsenic