ABSTRACT
Arsenic is a naturally occurring metalloid, widely distributed in rocks and soils, natural waters, air, and in small amounts in all living organisms. In the Earth’s crust, arsenic (As) is rarely found as a pure metal, but often as a component in sulfur-containing minerals, the most common of which is arsenopyrite. Commercially, As is produced as arsenic trioxide or as a pure metal. It is used in pesticides, wood preservatives, and metal alloys production. Leading As producers in the world are China, Chile, Morocco and Peru. In addition to production from arsenopyrite and other minerals, As is also produced as a by-product of the copper and gold mining industries during treatment of sulfur-containing ores.
