Chronic arsenic poisoning

In the modern forensic chemistry laboratory (Figure B) arsenic is detected by analysis of hair samples, where the element tends to concentrate in chronic arsenic poisoning. A single strand of hair is sufficient to establish the presence or absence of the element. The technique most commonly used is neutron activation analysis, described in Chapter 19. If the concentration found is greater than about 0.0003%, poisoning is indicated normal arsenic levels are much lower than this. 

Accumulations of 1 mg/kg BW daily for 3 months in children, or 80 mg/kg BW daily for 3 years in adults produced symptoms of chronic arsenic poisoning... 

Chronic arsenic poisoning Lifetime cumulative absorption of 1 g As, or intake of 0.7-2.6 g/year for several years (in medications) can produce symptoms after latent period of 4-24 years (NRCC 1978)... 

Choprapawon, C. and A. Rodcline. 1997. Chronic arsenic poisoning in Ronpibool Nakhon Sri Thammarat, the southern province of Thailand. Pages 69-77 in C.O. Abernathy, R. Calderon, and W.R. Chappell (eds.). Arsenic. Exposure and Health Effects. Chapman Hall, London. 

Hall, A. H., Chronic Arsenic Poisoning, Toxicol. Lett., 128, 69, 2002. 

Cebrian, M.E., Albores, A., Aguilar, M. and Blakeley, E. (1983). Chronic arsenic poisoning in the North Mexico, Human Toxicol., 23, 121-133. 

Hall AH Chronic arsenic poisoning. Toxicol Lett 128(l-3) 69-72, 2002... 

Some of the effects of acute arsenic intoxication are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and irritation inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes and skin and kidney damage. Among the effects of chronic arsenic poisoning are increased pigmentation and keratinization of the skin, dermatitis, and epidermoid carcinoma. Other effects seen after ingestion, but which are not common from industrial exposure, are muscular paralysis, visual dismrbances, and liver and kidney damage. ... 

Site has information on health effects of chronic arsenic poisoning. 

Liu, J., Zheng, B., Aposhian, H. V., Zhou, Y., Chen, M. L., Zhang, A. and Waalkes, M. P. (2002). Chronic arsenic poisoning from burning high-arsenic-containing coal in Guizhou, China. Environ Health Perspect, 110(2),... 

Management of chronic arsenic poisoning consists primarily of termination of exposure and nonspecific supportive care. Although empiric short-term oral chelation with unithiol or succimer for symptomatic individuals with elevated urine arsenic concentrations may be considered, it has no proven benefit beyond removal from exposure alone. Preliminary studies suggest that dietary supplementation of folate—thought to be a cofactor in arsenic methylation—might be of value in arsenic-exposed individuals, particularly men, who are also deficient in folate. 

In work related to the human toxicology of arsenic, Cox (5) noted that within 24 hours after a person eats fish, arsenic can be measured in the urine at levels normally indicative of chronic arsenic poisoning. The subsequent study of Chapman (6) in 1926 established the occurrence of high levels of arsenic in a wide range of marine organisms. Arsenic concentrations in seawater were also reported at this time (7). Over the ensuing years there followed only infrequent reports (e.g., 8) on arsenic in marine samples until the late 1960s. Renewed interest... 

Yu, H.-S., Lee, C.-H. and Chen, G.-S. (2002) Peripheral vascular diseases resulting from chronic arsenical poisoning. Journal of Dermatology, 29(3), 123-30. 

Garai, R., Chakraborty, A.K., Dey, S.B. and Saha, K.C. (1984) Chronic arsenic poisoning from tube-well water. Journal of the Indian Medical Association, 82(1), 34-35. 

Kuo, T.-L. (1968) Arsenic content of artesian well water in endemic area of chronic arsenic poisoning. Reports of the Institute of Pathology, National Taiwan University, 20, 7-13. 

The diagnosis of chronic arsenic poisoning involves integration of the clinical findings with confirmation of exposure. Urinary levels of total arsenic, usually less than 50 g/24 h, may return to normal within days to weeks after exposure ceases. Because it may contain large amounts of nontoxic organoarsenic, all seafood should be avoided for at least 3 days prior to submission of a urine sample for diagnostic purposes. The arsenic content of hair and nails (normally less than 1 ppm) may sometimes reveal past elevated exposure, but results should be interpreted cautiously in view of the potential for external contamination. 

Chronic effects of arsenic poisoning include neurotoxic effects to the central and peripheral nervous systems. Symptoms include sensory changes, muscle sensitivity, prickling and tingling sensations (paresthesia), and muscle weakness. Liver injury is a common symptom of chronic arsenic poisoning. Studies of victims of chronic arsenic poisoning from contaminated drinking... 

Chronic Arsenic Poisoning from Domestic Combustion of Coal in Rural China ... 

Mitigation of Chronic Arsenic Poisoning in Guizhou Province 416... 

B) Dark spots on extremities such as feet are typical chronic arsenic poisoning symptoms. 

Previous studies (Zheng, 1993) have identified a range of Permian coal environments and geochemistry. The samples studied represent these variations. We have collected 50 samples from three areas, Haizi Township, Jiaole Township, and the Xingyi—Dadi area (Fig. 17.2). Some of the mines are small dog holes (Fig. 17.3D), and collection of kilogram samples in all localities was not possible. Selected samples were analyzed for proximate and ultimate analysis and all were analyzed for trace elements. In this report, we discuss only the trace-element results as they bear direedy on chronic arsenic poisoning. 

During the investigation of chronic arsenic poisoning in southwestern Guizhou Province, Dr. D. Zhou developed an effective field test to analyze the As content of coal samples from small mines used by the villages for domestic coal combustion... 

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