Blindness arsenic

Acute or subacute arsenic exposure can lead to elevated tissue residues, appetite loss, reduced growth, loss of hearing, dermatitis, blindness, degenerative changes in liver and kidney, cancer, chromosomal damage, birth defects, and death. 

Arsenic acid Dietary levels of 350 mg/kg resulted in blindness and optic disc 6... 

Wickstrom C, Ketchum JS Competitive "lightning chess" performance in volunteers after double blind- administration of small doses of LSD vs. scopolamine. Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland, Unpublished manuscript, 1964... 

Arsenic trichloride is a vesicant and can cause severe damage to the respiratory system on inhalation it is rapidly absorbed through the skin, and a fatal case after a spill on the skin has been reported. The vapor of arsenic trichloride is highly irritating to the eyes. Some organic arsenicals, such as arsanilates, have a selective effect on the optic nerve and can cause blindness. 

Gamble MV Folate and arsenic metabolism A double-blind, placebo-controlled folic acid supplementation trial in Bangladesh. Am J Clin Nutr 2006 84 1093. [PMID 17093162]... 

OSHA PEL TWA 0.5 mg(As)/m3 ACGIH TLV BEL 35 p (As)/L inorganic arsenic and methylated metabolites in urine DOT CLASSIFICATION 6.1 Label KEEP AWAY FROM FOOD SAFETY PROFILE Poison by subcutaneous route. Can cause blindness. When heated to decomposition it emits very toxic fumes of As and NOx. 

Both patients had clear anatomical causes for blindness, and unilateral (rather than bilateral) blindness suggested a limited role for systemic arsenic toxicity. Nevertheless, a weak contribution of ocular arsenic toxicity should not be ruled out. Both arsenic trioxide and all-trans retinoic acid can increase intracranial pressure, resulting in pseudotumor cerebri and a secondary increase in intraocular pressure, which may augment retinal injury. Also, arsenic trioxide can cause vasoconstriction and worsen retinal artery occlusion. Finally, elemental arsenic was detected in the eyes at 30-50% of the plasma concentration, a ratio comparable to that in cerebrospinal fluid. This may have direct retinal toxicity, especially with the high peak concentrations associated with intravenous arsenic trioxide. Full ophthalmic evaluation is recommended in patients receiving longterm or intravenous arsenic trioxide. 

Early signs, apparent after 2-4 days, include ataxia, incoordination, torticollis, and blindness. Furazolidone, arx)ther feed additive, enhances the nervous sy tern effects of feed additive arsenicals. 

Trace metals in herbaceous crops are typically a consequence of fertilizer practices, and economic activities in the area. Commercial fertilizers can contain as much as 4,570 mg/kg Cr, 430 mg/kg Pb, and 3,000 mg/kg Zh [42, 43]. Further, the presence of a large source of airborne metals (e.g., a metals smelter) can cause elevated levels of trace metals in herbaceous biomass. Significantly it is the arsenic concentration that can cause poisoning of the SCR catalyst, along with the possibility of catalyst blinding from the alkali metals. The arsenic concentrations in herbaceous biomass ash are typically lower than those associated with western low rank coals and lignites [42]. 

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