Arsenic News and Research

RSS

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.

Consumption of inorganic arsenic bearing rice associated with elevated cardiovascular mortality

Rice is the most widely consumed staple food source for a large part of the world's population. It has now been confirmed that rice can contribute to prolonged low-level arsenic exposure leading to thousands of avoidable premature deaths per year.

4 Aug 2020

Researchers develop efficient and more sensitive method to test heavy metals in foods and water

Finding out if the food and water we consume are safe from toxic and carcinogenic metals can now be much faster and simpler.

4 Aug 2020

Dragonflies can help measure mercury pollution

A citizen science program that began over a decade ago has confirmed the use of dragonflies to measure mercury pollution, according to a study in Environmental Science & Technology.

22 Jul 2020

Pesticide use can speed the transmission of schistosomiasis

Widespread use of pesticides and other agrochemicals can speed the transmission of the debilitating disease schistosomiasis, while also upsetting the ecological balances in aquatic environments that prevent infections, finds a new study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.

17 Jul 2020

Multi-institutional project uses satellite data to determine incidences of cholera

Virginia Tech Professor Kevin Boyle is part of a multi-institutional project led by his former graduate Sonia Aziz that was just awarded one of three grants totaling $300,000 to quantify the benefits of using satellite data in decisions that improve socioeconomic outcomes for people and the environment.

16 Jul 2020

Cancer drug could help inhibit adenovirus infection

An adenovirus infection can be potentially life-threatening, especially for children after a stem cell transplant.

14 Jul 2020

Study finds higher arsenic levels in US correctional facility drinking water

The first nationwide analysis of drinking water quality in United States correctional facilities found average arsenic concentrations in drinking water in Southwestern United States correctional facilities were twice as high as average arsenic concentrations in other Southwest community drinking water systems.

22 Jun 2020

Type 2 diabetes is more prevalent in American Indians and Alaska Natives

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) affects American Indians and Alaska Natives at approximately three times the rate of white Americans and is closely linked to the disproportionately high rates of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, according to the American Heart Association Scientific Statement "Cardiovascular Health in American Indians and Alaska Natives," published today in the Association's flagship journal Circulation.

28 May 2020

Scientists call for labeling to warn public about arsenic levels in rice

Scientists have called for labeling to warn the public about levels of arsenic in rice, after their research found half of rice varieties studied exceeded maximum limits on the deadly toxin.

4 May 2020

California isn’t testing enough children for lead, prompting legislation

In some parts of California, a higher percentage of children who were tested had elevated levels of toxic lead in their blood than in Flint, Michigan, during the height of that city's water crisis.

26 Mar 2020

Co-occurring contaminants in groundwater may heighten health risks for North Carolinians

Contaminants that occur together naturally in groundwater under certain geological conditions may heighten health risks for millions of North Carolinians whose drinking water comes from private wells, and current safety regulations don't address the problem, a new Duke University study finds.

24 Mar 2020

A review of the literature on acute promyelocytic leukemia

Oncotarget Volume 11, Issue 11 reported that relapsed APL, particularly in the high-risk subset of patients, remains an important clinical problem.

22 Mar 2020

Population of Pakistan may soon get fresh clean drinking water

A FRESH, clean water supply will be a reality in Pakistan, particularly in South Punjab, following the announcement of an international partnership spearheaded by the Pakistan government, alongside other key stakeholders, and driven by the University of Huddersfield.

2 Mar 2020

Trace metals in Leatherback turtle eggs could pose health risks to consumers

Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) eggs laid in Bocas del Toro nesting beaches in the Panamanian Caribbean may be harmful to consumers.

12 Jan 2020

MDI Biological Laboratory announces expansion of innovative data literacy program

The MDI Biological Laboratory has announced that it is expanding its innovative SEPA (Science Education Partnership Award) program, which aims to improve secondary school education in data literacy while addressing the public health threat posed by arsenic in well water.

3 Jan 2020

Warmer temperatures can lead to higher concentrations of arsenic in rice grains

People around the world consume rice in their daily diets. But in addition to its nutrient and caloric content, rice can contain small amounts of arsenic, which in large doses is a toxin linked to multiple health conditions and dietary-related cancers.

4 Dec 2019