Arsenic News and Research RSS Feed - Arsenic News and Research

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element widely distributed in the earth’s crust. In the environment, arsenic is combined with oxygen, chlorine, and sulfur to form inorganic arsenic compounds. Arsenic in animals and plants combines with carbon and hydrogen to form organic arsenic compounds.

Breathing high levels of inorganic arsenic can give you a sore throat or irritated lungs.

Ingesting very high levels of arsenic can result in death. Exposure to lower levels can cause nausea and vomiting, decreased production of red and white blood cells, abnormal heart rhythm, damage to blood vessels, and a sensation of “pins and needles” in hands and feet.

Ingesting or breathing low levels of inorganic arsenic for a long time can cause a darkening of the skin and the appearance of small “corns” or “warts” on the palms, soles, and torso.
Sustained engagement, partnership needed to implement new treatments for neglected diseases

Sustained engagement, partnership needed to implement new treatments for neglected diseases

Days after two landmark resolutions were adopted at the World Health Assembly - on neglected tropical diseases and on research and development, financing and coordination for the health needs of developing countries - over 400 scientists, representatives and ministers of health, ambassadors, national control programme representatives, African regulators, health workers, public health experts, and activists from 21 African countries and 10 others from around the world gather in Nairobi to take stock of health innovation for neglected diseases in Africa over the past decade. [More]
Researchers demonstrate how modified citrus pectin works against cancer

Researchers demonstrate how modified citrus pectin works against cancer

A new review by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine highlights a large body of published research demonstrating how modified citrus pectin, works against cancer. [More]
Certain varieties of clay have ability to kill MRSA, says ASU researcher

Certain varieties of clay have ability to kill MRSA, says ASU researcher

In the race to protect society from infectious microbes, the bugs are outrunning us. The need for new therapeutic agents is acute, given the emergence of novel pathogens as well as old foes bearing heightened antibiotic resistance. [More]
Metallurgists use microwave oven to produce nanocrystal semiconductors

Metallurgists use microwave oven to produce nanocrystal semiconductors

University of Utah metallurgists used an old microwave oven to produce a nanocrystal semiconductor rapidly using cheap, abundant and less toxic metals than other semiconductors. They hope it will be used for more efficient photovoltaic solar cells and LED lights, biological sensors and systems to convert waste heat to electricity. [More]

Arsenic exposure may trigger hypertension

Results from a Chinese study suggest that exposure to arsenic through contaminated drinking water may increase a person’s risk for developing hypertension. [More]

Metals in medicines webinar to be presented by SPECTRO

Arsenic has many facets. Arsenic compounds are not only deadly poisons to which many crowned heads fell victim in previous eras, but in small doses arsenic was also given to horses because it promotes appetite and the growth of hair. In this way, horse traders could revitalize old nags and sell them for more money. [More]
Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway: an interview with Dr. Paul Mischel, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway: an interview with Dr. Paul Mischel, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research

The mammalian target of rapamycin, mTOR is a central integrator of the cell that coordinates growth factor receptor signaling with energy and nutrient status to control a wide array of activities, including the regulation of cellular proliferation and survival. [More]

Scientists reveal mystery of how arsenic levels in beer sold in Germany

The mystery of how arsenic levels in beer sold in Germany could be higher than in the water or other ingredients used to brew the beer has been solved, scientists announced here today at the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society. [More]
Untested products sold in stores during patent medicine era, study shows

Untested products sold in stores during patent medicine era, study shows

Scientists provided a glimpse today based on an analysis of a museum collection of patent medicines used in turn-of-the-century America. [More]

As hyperactivity diagnoses rise, concerns grow about overmedication of children

New CDC data shows that nearly one in five boys have a medical diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Other public health issues highlighted by news outlets include stroke risks in younger people, prescription-drug deaths and OSHA policies. [More]
Scientists develop new chemo drug that fights cancer without impacting fertility

Scientists develop new chemo drug that fights cancer without impacting fertility

A new gentler chemotherapy drug in the form of nanoparticles has been designed by Northwestern Medicine- scientists to be less toxic to a young woman's fertility but extra tough on cancer. This is the first cancer drug tested while in development for its effect on fertility using a novel in vitro test. [More]
Researchers to discuss health issues at Society of Toxicology's Annual Meeting and ToxExpo

Researchers to discuss health issues at Society of Toxicology's Annual Meeting and ToxExpo

Researchers will meet at the Society of Toxicology's Annual Meeting and ToxExpo March 10-16 to discuss a number of health concerns that have received growing public attention over the past several months. [More]
Promyleocytic leukemia gene goes up significantly in post treatment of mTOR inhibitors

Promyleocytic leukemia gene goes up significantly in post treatment of mTOR inhibitors

Glioblastoma, the most common and lethal form of brain tumor in adults, is challenging to treat because the tumors rapidly become resistant to therapy. As cancer researchers are learning more about the causes of tumor cell growth and drug resistance, they are discovering molecular pathways that might lead to new targeted therapies to potentially treat this deadly cancer. [More]
Scientists identify aromatic rice with very low arsenic content

Scientists identify aromatic rice with very low arsenic content

Millions of people worldwide are regularly exposed to arsenic through drinking water and eating rice grown in soil and water containing high amounts of arsenic. Long-term exposure can lead to the development of different types of cancer as well as serious cardiovascular, neurological, and other health problems. Scientists have now identified aromatic rice from Bangladesh that has far lower arsenic concentrations than found in non-aromatic rice. [More]
Scientists trace nanoparticles taken up from soils by crop plants

Scientists trace nanoparticles taken up from soils by crop plants

​Scientists have, for the first time, traced the nanoparticles taken up from the soil by crop plants and analysed the chemical states of their metallic elements. Zinc was shown to dissolve and accumulate throughout the plants, whereas the element cerium did not dissolve into plant tissue. [More]

Society of Toxicology's 52nd Annual Meeting to be held from Mar. 10-16 in San Antonio

A group of 7,000 scientists working in multiple specialties, from more than 50 countries, will meet March 10-14, 2013 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, to share their latest findings on 60 topical issues of concern to human health and the environment. [More]
TU Darmstadt’s biosensor can diagnose African sleeping sickness before it breaks out

TU Darmstadt’s biosensor can diagnose African sleeping sickness before it breaks out

African sleeping sickness is an infectious disease that is widespread south of the Sahara Desert. Although the around sixty million people residing in tropical Africa run the risk of becoming infected with the disease every day, only around four million of them are monitored for the disease by disease-control authorities. [More]
Fexinidazole enters Phase II/III clinical study to treat sleeping sickness

Fexinidazole enters Phase II/III clinical study to treat sleeping sickness

A new oral-only treatment for sleeping sickness has entered Phase II/III clinical study in patients with late-stage sleeping sickness in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and soon in Central African Republic (CAR). [More]
Preschool children particularly vulnerable to food-borne toxins

Preschool children particularly vulnerable to food-borne toxins

In a sobering study published in the journal Environmental Health, researchers at UC Davis and UCLA measured food-borne toxin exposure in children and adults by pinpointing foods with high levels of toxic compounds and determining how much of these foods were consumed. [More]
SCCA to raise awareness about importance of lung cancer screening

SCCA to raise awareness about importance of lung cancer screening

Lung cancer is the No. 1 cause of cancer deaths in the United States, despite the fact it is largely preventable. For people at high risk of developing lung cancer, such as current or former longtime smokers, screening for the disease with low-dose CT scans is now a viable option that has been shown to significantly reduce mortality rates. In conjunction with National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) wants to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and early detection for at-risk populations. [More]