Ecotoxicology of arsenic in the hydrosphere: Implications for public health

Abstract

Arsenic is a naturally occurring metalloid element that is found in soil, air and water. Environmental arsenic exists in both organic and inorganic states. Organic arsenicals are generally considered non
toxic, whereas inorganic forms are toxic. The most acutely toxic form is arsine gas. Inorganic arsenic exists predominantly in trivalent (As3+) and pentavalent (As5+) forms, where trivalent compounds are
more toxic than pentavalent ones. Human activities have also intensified arsenic accumulation in the environment. Organs most susceptible to arsenic toxicity are those involved with absorption,
accumulation or excretion, including the skin, circulatory system, gastrointestinal tract, liver and kidney. Arsenic is associated with multiple health effects, including Blackfoot diseases, diabetes,
hypertension, peripheral neuropathy and multiple vascular diseases. Other effects include anemia, liver damage, portal cirrhosis, hematopoietic depression, anhydremia, sensory disturbance and weight loss. In addition to acute toxicity, long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic is associated with certain forms of cancer of the skin, lung, colon, bladder, liver and breast. Understanding the ecotoxicological effects of arsenic in the environment is paramount to mitigating its deleterious effects on ecological and human health. This paper is therefore a review of the ecotoxicological effects of arsenic on human and ecological health.