Organoarsenicals, poisoning

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. 

Ever since they were first reported, organometallic compounds have been known to have biological effects. The experiences of Frankland and Bunsen have already been mentioned. Two workers were poisoned, both fatally, by dimethylmercury in 1866 (H5). Industrial development of metal carbonyls and tetraethyllead caused a number of deaths 188, 265). In general, organoarsenic compounds have been most investigated for their toxic effects, with organomercury compounds a close second. Table V outlines the chronology of these developments, and Fig. 2 shows some representative compounds studied. 

Organoarsenicals were used as poison gases in World War I. The most notorious of these was Lewisite (140). During the years before World War II, researchers looked for antidotes and found the compound 2,3-dimercaptopropanol, now commonly known as British Anti-Lewisite or BAL (190). This compound has proven extremely effective in the treatment of lead and mercury poisoning. 

Organoarsenic compounds have a history not just for good (see Salvarsan above), but also for use as poison gas in World War I. Lewisite (GlGH=GHAsGl2) was tested but luckily never used. Research into possible antidotes led to the development of 2,3-dimercaptopropanol, known as mercaprol or British anti-Lewisite (BAL). This compound to... 

Apart from their use as pharmaceuticals (p. 142) organoarsenicals such as alkyl- or arylarsonic acids have found some application as herbicides, fungicides and bactericides. They are being superseded by the less toxic tin compounds. All arsenic compounds should be treated as poisonous. The halides cause severe burns on the skin which heal only with diflSculty. This property was put to evil use... 

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