ABSTRACT
Poisoning is a harmful condition due to exposure to some chemicals. It may be acute and chronic. Poisoning can affect one or a few individuals or even may affect the masses. Numerous chemicals, both natural and man-made, have the potential to cause harm to human beings. Arsenic exposure in humans may be through inhalation, ingestion, or absorption via skin. However, the main source of human toxicity is through contaminated groundwater. Arsenic induces premalignant and malignant dermatological lesions, nondermatological health effects, and cancers in humans through various known and unknown complex mechanisms. There is a typical garlic-like odor of breath and perspiration. Death from arsenic is generally caused by circulatory collapse associated with intense gastroenteritis. Other manifestations are hemoglobinuria, disseminated intravascular coagulation, pulmonary edema, cardiomyopathy, encephalopathy, and renal failure. Another major source is silver, which is widely used in various industrial works such as mining, manufacturing of mirrors, batteries, jewelery, photography, etc. Exposure may be localized through direct skin contact or it may be generalized by inhalation of fumes containing silver particles.
