Arsenic News and Research

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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.

Arsenic in private well water associated with low birthweight babies

In the largest epidemiologic study of arsenic and birth outcomes to date, researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago and collaborating institutions estimated arsenic levels in U.S. private well water sources by county and compared estimates to documented birth outcomes.

24 Jun 2022

Eating higher levels of fish may be linked to greater risk of malignant melanoma

Eating higher levels of fish, including tuna and non-fried fish, appears to be associated with a greater risk of malignant melanoma, suggests a large study of US adults published in Cancer Causes & Control.

9 Jun 2022

Uncovering a new molecule that shows potential as antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas made when fossil fuels burn incompletely. It's also a silent killer.

29 Apr 2022

Quantitative MRI can detect subtle differences in the brain structure of premature babies

Premature babies who develop abnormalities like autism and cerebral palsy as teenagers have subtle differences in brain structure that can be detected on quantitative MRI (qMRI), according to a new study in the journal Radiology.

26 Apr 2022

Construction workers' homes and families have high risk of exposure to harmful metals

A range of work and home-related factors, such as not having a work locker or a place to launder work clothes, can impact the level of toxic metal concentrations that workers track from their worksites to their home.

18 Feb 2022

Safe drinking water may be out of reach for almost 400,000 Californians, analysis reveals

An estimated 370,000 Californians rely on drinking water that may contain high levels of the chemicals arsenic, nitrate or hexavalent chromium, and contaminated drinking water disproportionately impacts communities of color in the state, according to a new analysis led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of California, Los Angeles.

11 Jan 2022

Environmental exposure to low-levels of toxic metals may increase risk of clogged arteries

Environmental exposure to low-levels of the toxic metals arsenic, cadmium and titanium appears to increase the risk of plaque buildup in arteries in the neck, heart and legs, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association's journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (ATVB).

9 Dec 2021

Drug combination highly effective in children with standard- and high-risk acute promyelocytic leukemia

A clinical trial has found that the combination of all-trans retinoic acid, which is a metabolite of vitamin A, and arsenic trioxide is highly effective in children with standard- and high-risk acute promyelocytic leukemia, or APL.

11 Nov 2021

Researchers develop ferritin-based nanomedicine for targeted delivery of leukemia therapy

Researchers from the Institute of Process Engineering\ of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Peking University and Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University have developed a ferritin (Fn)-based nanomedicine for targeted delivery of arsenic (As) and efficient therapy against diverse leukemia types.

25 Oct 2021

Long working hours are increasingly causing work-related deaths, global report says

Almost two million people worldwide die of work-related causes, according to joint estimates by the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization, which cite long working hours, pollution and poor conditions as major factors.

2 Oct 2021

Addressing Honey Fraud in Global Food Chains

In this interview, Peter Awram is an expert from the Worker Bee Honey Company, the largest apiary in British Columbia, Canada, and Gillian Wade, an expert in consumer class action litigation, discuss the issues facing honey producers.

From Bruker BioSpin - NMR, EPR and Imaging 22 Sep 2021

Study discovers biological mechanism linking long-term arsenic exposure to cancer, diabetes

A University of Arizona Health Sciences study has identified the biological mechanism linking long-term arsenic exposure to diseases such as cancer and Type 2 diabetes.

15 Sep 2021

Study finds 24% higher prostate cancer risk among rescue/recovery workers after World Trade Center attacks

The risk of prostate cancer was 24% higher among 9/11 rescue and recovery workers after the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, with the highest risk among the earliest responders, finds research published online in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

13 Sep 2021

Restoration can improve mining contamination, indicates study

Mining involves moving a lot of rock, so some mess is expected. However, mining operations can continue to affect ecosystems long after activity has ended. Heavy metals and corrosive substances leach into the environment, preventing wildlife and vegetation from returning to the area.

9 Jun 2021

Water samples collected from Baltimore’s farms and gardens contain low levels of lead, shows study

A new report that examined soil, water, and produce from urban farms and gardens in Baltimore City found low levels of lead and other metals that pose no reason for concern at the majority of growing sites.

4 Jun 2021

FDA announces new action plan for reducing dietary exposures to toxic elements for children

Protecting one of our most vulnerable populations, babies and young children, is among the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's highest priorities.

8 Apr 2021

USGS study finds high levels of arsenic and uranium in private well water across Connecticut

A new U.S. Geological Survey study provides an updated, statewide estimate of high levels of naturally occurring arsenic and uranium in private well water across Connecticut.

7 Apr 2021

Scientists estimate the amount of peanut protein that will elicit an allergic reaction

An estimated 6 million Americans may suffer from peanut allergies. Tiny amounts of peanut protein can lead to hives, itching, tingling in the mouth, shortness of breath or nausea within minutes.

26 Mar 2021

New xylem filters can remove bacteria and viruses from contaminated drinking water

The interiors of nonflowering trees such as pine and ginkgo contain sapwood lined with straw-like conduits known as xylem, which draw water up through a tree's trunk and branches.

25 Mar 2021

FDA plans to further reduce toxic elements in foods for babies and young children

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration takes exposure to toxic elements, such as arsenic, mercury, cadmium and lead, in the food supply extremely seriously, especially when it comes to protecting the health and safety of the youngest and most vulnerable in the population.

5 Mar 2021