Arsenic is a natural element found in the soil, rocks, air, water, plants, and animals. Humans may also be exposed to this element in the environment from an industrial or agricultural source.
Even though arsenic is sometimes found in the pure form as a grey metal, it’s mostly part of chemical compounds.
That is, inorganic and organic.
The former is when arsenic is combined with elements other than carbon. They’re present in the industry, in products for building purposes, and in water contaminated with arsenic.
This is a more toxic form of arsenic which has been associated with cancer.
The latter is when arsenic is combined with other elements and carbon. These are much less toxic compounds than the former ones and aren’t linked with cancer. Organic arsenic compounds may be present in some foods like shellfish and fish.
How Are Humans Exposed to Arsenic?
Arsenic is natural in the environment. We take it in small amounts via the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we consume.
Sometimes, the exposure may come from man-made products.
- Food
Foods remain the largest source of arsenic, even though most of this exposure is to the less dangerous or organic form.
The highest presence of arsenic in foods is present in the following foods: seafood, rice, rice cereal, mushrooms, poultry, fruit juices, wine, breakfast cereals, and sweet potatoes.
Rice is particularly concerning since it’s very common in the diet of a large part of the population. It’s also present in cereals that are often consumed by kids and young people.
- Drinking water
This is another source of arsenic exposure but it’s potentially controllable.
In places like Bangladesh, China, Taiwan, and Western South America, arsenic is present in high levels in the drinking water.
In the west of the US, water naturally has arsenic. Most of these areas with higher levels of arsenic in the water for drinking are rural parts.
Public drinking water systems in the US are tested for arsenic and the levels have to be below a specific amount.
The natural levels of arsenic are usually higher in drinking water from ground sources like wells unlike in the surface sources of water like reservoirs and lakes.
- At work
Arsenic hasn’t been produced in the US since 1985 even though it remains being imported from elsewhere.
Previously, workers in plants and smelters that manufactured and packaged arsenic products experienced high exposure due to breathing in the fumes and dust.
Also, arsenic was present in herbicides and pesticides in the past. Those who worked with these products were exposed to higher levels of it.
The inorganic arsenic hasn’t been used in pesticides since 1993 in the US and the organic ones were removed from pesticides in phases as of 2013, except for the ones used on cotton plants.
Nowadays, exposure to arsenic in the workplace happens in occupations like copper and lead smelting, treatment of wood, and production of glass. But, there are set regulations that help lower this exposure in the workplace.
- Place of living
People who reside near current or previous agricultural and industrial sources of arsenic may have a higher risk of arsenic exposure through fume inhalation or through the consumption of food that’s contaminated.
Some industrial buildings like wood preservatives and glass factories may contaminate the soil, air, and water that are close to them. Burning fossil fuels like coal and tobacco may also release a small amount of arsenic into the air.
The Health Risks Associated with Exposure to Arsenic
Exposure to this element has been linked to:
- Lung, bladder, kidney, liver, prostate, and skin cancer
- Irritated lungs and sore throat from breathing it in at high levels
- Swallowing is linked with vomiting, weak muscles, diarrhea, nausea, skin problems, cramps
- Exposure to high levels of arsenic may have fatal consequences
- Exposure to lower levels of arsenic over a long period of time has been linked to liver and kidney damage, changes in the skin, reduced red and white blood cells, etc.
Arsenic in Our Foods: 9+ Food Sources That Contain It
Plants absorb arsenic from the soil in different amounts and the arsenic can move to different areas depending on the plant. Arsenic is naturally present in soil; however, arsenic with chemicals was historically used on orchard fruit trees growing in the US.
even though these chemicals aren’t used any longer, arsenic tends to linger on in the soil. Other factors can lead to arsenic deposition in the soil. there are also some high-risk locations likelier to have arsenic.
Here are the most common foods that may have a higher content of arsenic than other foods:
- Leafy greens like kale, lettuce, collard greens, turnip greens, etc.
- Fruiting crops like strawberries, squash, peppers, tomatoes, peas, corn, beans, and melons
- Root veggies like carrots, turnips, beets, potatoes, and radishes
- apples, pears, and grape juice
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