Sources:
Found in water, air, soil, cigarettes, and cosmetics. Food grown in contaminated water sources, such as rice and vegetables, or fish, are a common source. Major sources of occupational exposureis the manufacture of pesticides, herbicides, and agricultural products.
90% of all arsenic produced is used as a preservative for wood to prevent rotting and decay. Copper chromated arsenate (CCA), also known as pressure-treated wood, wasphased out for residential use in 2003, but wood treated prior could still be in existing structures. CCA-treated wood is still used in industrial applications.
Organic arsenic found in seafood is relatively nontoxic, while the inorganic forms are toxic.
Nutrient interactions:
Folate, SAM, vitamin B12, and choline are needed to optimize methylation. Arsenic is metabolized by a series of methylation reactions to dimethylarsenic and methylarsonic acids. There are some highly reactive intermediates in its trivalent form which are toxic.
Magnesium may have protective effects against As toxicity, and Zinc may increase As excretion.
Vitamin C, α-tocopherol, flavonoids, altering Fe, magnesium, and calcium polyphenols, and selenium have been homeostasis, causing oxidative stress. shown to decrease arsenic-induced toxicity.
References:
- Schwalfenberg GK, Genuis SJ. Vitamin D, Essential Minerals, and Toxic Elements: Exploring Interactions between Nutrients and Toxicants in Clinical Medicine. ScientificWorldJournal. 2015;2015:318595-318595.
- Mailloux RJ, Lemire J, Appanna VD. Hepatic response to aluminum toxicity: dyslipidemia and liver diseases. Exp Cell Res. 2011;317(16):2231-2238.
- Chung J-Y, Yu S-D, Hong Y-S. Environmental source of arsenic exposure. J Prev Med Public Health. 2014;47(5):253-257.
- Goyer RA, Clarkson TW. Toxic effects of metals. Casarett and Doull’s toxicology: the basic science of poisons. 1996;5:696-698.
- ATSDR. Public Health Statement for Arsenic. Toxic Substances Portal 2020; https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/PHS/PHS. asp?id=18&tid=3, 2020.
- Vahter ME. Interactions between Arsenic-Induced Toxicity and Nutrition in Early Life. J Nutr. 2007;137(12):2798-2804.
- Hong Y-S, Song K-H, Chung J-Y. Health effects of chronic arsenic exposure. J Prev Med Public Health. 2014;47(5):245-252.
- Council NR. Arsenic in drinking water. National Academies Press; 1999.
- Yedjou CG, Patlolla AK, Sutton DJ. Heavy Metals Toxicity and the Environment Paul B Tchounwou. Published in final edited form as: EXS. 2012;3:133-164.
Arsenic (whole blood)
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