Reproductive toxicity inorganic arsenic

Golub, M.S., Macintosh, M.S., Baumrind, N. (1998). Developmental and reproductive toxicity of inorganic arsenic animal studies and human concerns. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health 1 199-241. 

OSHA PEL TWA 0.5 mg(As)/m3 ACGIH TLV BEI 35 (As)/L inorganic arsenic and methylated metabolites in urine DOT CLASSIFICATION 6.1 Label Poison SAFETY PROFILE Poison by an unspecified route. Moderately toxic by ingestion and intraperitoneal routes. Experimental teratogenic and reproductive effects. A skin and eye irritant. Questionable carcinogen with experimental tumorigenic data. Mutation data reported. Used as an herbicide, defoliant, and silvicide. Hazardous when water solution is in contact with active metals, e.g., Fe, Al, Zn. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of As. 

Reproductive system Environmental arsenic exposure can impair male fertility. A case-control study in China concluded that elevated inorganic arsenate (Asi(V)) exposure is associated with arsenic-induced male infertility. The mechanism of toxicity by arsenic species may involve oxidative stress and sexual hormone disruption measured by biomarkers including acylcamitines, aspartic acid and hydroxyestrone, which were negatively associated with infertility, and uridine and methylxanthine, which were positively associated [44 ]. Arsenic exposme is also correlated to a decrease in human semen quality as reported in a reproductive-age Chinese cohort. The study demonstrated significant association of dimethyl arsenic species (DMA) concentration with low sperm concentrations [45 -]. 

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