Arsenic poisoning is a throw in of heavy metal poisoning.
Arsenic is a metalloid element found naturally in the environment.
Poisoning pops up if a person ingests too much arsenic.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
This can happen through the contamination of food and water.
you’re able to also be exposed to arsenic in the air in the form of a gas.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits arsenic levels to 10 micrograms per liter of U.S. drinking water.
Symptoms of chronic exposure may also be more vague and difficult to identify.
Testing for arsenic can be done using:
How Can I Avoid Arsenic Exposure?
Treating Arsenic Poisoning
Theres no specific treatment for arsenic poisoning.
However,chelation therapymay help in some cases.
This treatment involves injecting or ingesting a chelating agent.
Once in your bloodstream, it combines with the toxic arsenic and helps expel it from the body.
Chelating agents arent always recommended because they have adverse effects and arent helpful for chronic arsenic exposure.
Otherwise, treatment aims to manage symptoms.
Summary
Arsenic is a heavy metal that occurs naturally.
Ingesting or breathing in too much of it can cause harmful effects.
Poisoning can be chronic (over a long time) or acute (a sudden onset).
Because arsenic is challenging to detect without testing, you may not know youve been exposed.
Diagnosis involves various lab tests that check for arsenic.
Treatment aims at managing symptoms.
If the source of arsenic is known, its also vital to avoid further exposing yourself to the substance.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.Arsenic.
American Cancer Society.Arsenic and cancer risk.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Heavy metal poisoning.
2020;94(6):1879. doi:10.1007/s00204-020-02739-w
