Arsenic Poisoning: The Risk, Clinical Features and Treatment

Abstract

Environmental exposure to arsenic, is a major concern in many industrialized countries. Although metals occur naturally in the environment but human activities cause more metals releases and have altered the natural cycling of the elements. These exposures occurs mostly from diet (water and food consumption), inhalation from air and metals related occupational exposure like leaded gasoline, industrial processes such as smelting of lead and its combustion, pottery, boat building, mining industry, exhaust fumes of vehicles, metal based painting, metal containing pipes, battery recycling, grids, arm industry, pigments, printing of books, etc Exposure to arsenic may affect nutrient metabolism and can cause a variety of health effects in human. Cancer, immunotoxicity, hepatotoxicicty, neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, brain damage, lungs damage, gastrointestinal distress and haematological alterations are the most frequently documented health implication associated with arsenic intoxication. Consequently, this paper provide a deep understanding of arsenic, their sources, routes of exposure, the mechanisms of occasioning their toxicity, health implications in human and to identify substances that contribute to overcome their hazardous effects in human.