ABSTRACT
Arsenic is a common environmental contaminant of our air, water and food. Sources of arsenic contamination are both natural and man-made. It is found especially in ores that contain copper or lead, and as a result of volcanoes. Leaching of arsenic from rocks and soil into hot spring water has been reported in many places around the world. Arsenic contaminates the drinking water supply in some areas of the United States[1]. In the Western hemisphere, high arsenic content is associated with areas formed during the preAndes pre-Rocky Mountains period, which explains why problems with arsenic in the drinking water are seen in Argentina, Chile (Antofagasta), Oregon and Alaska[2]. Major man-made sources of arsenic in the environment include mainly nickel and copper smelting, burning of arsenic-containing coal, biocide use and glass manufacturing. Arsenic compounds are used in wood preservative (chromated copper arsenate), insecticides, herbicides (as weed killers for railroad and telephone posts), desiccants to facilitate mechanical cotton harvest, algaecides, in glass manufacturing, nonferrous alloys and sheep dips. The burning of wood treated with chromated copper arsenate caused severe arsenic poisoning in Wisconsin resulting from inhalation of the combustion fumes[3]. Roxarsone (3-nitro-4-hydroxy phenylarsonic acid) or arsenilic acid is used to fatten swine or poultry, and it has been argued that arsenic is an essential element[4,5]. Use of arsenical pesticides may increase arsenic accumulation in various vegetables, grains, fruits, meats and tobacco products, even if such usage has not occurred recently, since arsenic compounds can accumulate in the soil. The environmental biochemistry of arsenic has been reviewed[6].
