Arsenic

Arsenic is classified as a metalloid, which exhibits both metallic and non-metallic properties. Some commonly occurring arsenic compounds include inorganic compounds such as arsenic trioxide, arsenate and arsenite salts, gallium arsenite, and arsine, along with organic forms including arsenobetaine, arsenocholine, and trimethylarsine. Arsenic encountered from seafood is generally in the form of organic arsenic, especially arsenobetaine, while the forms of arsenic primarily encountered in occupational exposure are inorganic arsenic compounds. However, it has been reported that as much as 10%-15% of the total arsenic present in fish is in the inorganic form, which can in some cases contribute to the intake of inorganic arsenic. ^{9 , 85 , 86}