Arsenic Frequently Asked Questions

The following are frequently asked questions about arsenic contamination. Use these questions to learn more about Arsenic, and if you have any additional questions or want to recieve a free Arsenic case evalutation fill out this simple form today.

• What is arsenic?
• Human uses for arsenic
• Arsenic and your health
• Gardening around arsenic: Best practices
• Guidelines for reducing your exposure to arsenic
• Where do high concentrations of arsenic in ground water occur in the United States? 

What is Arsenic?

Arsenic is a naturally occurring substance. It occurs in several forms, often in compounds with other chemical elements.

Arsenic and all of its compounds are poisonous but the toxicity varies. For example, inorganic arsenic - arsenic combined with oxygen, chlorine or sulfur - is thought to be the most toxic, while most organic forms of arsenic are relatively less toxic.

In its solid state arsenic appears as a silver-gray, brittle semi-metal that tarnishes in the air.

It is about the 52nd most common chemical element on the earth.

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Human Uses For Arsenic

Arsenic and your health

Inorganic arsenic is extremely toxic. Produced as a byproduct of industrial production such as copper smelting, it can cause both acute and long-term health effects.

One of the problems with arsenic exposure is that many of the symptoms may result from causes other than arsenic - so a person who has been exposed may not suspect arsenic.

Therefore, if you believe you may potentially be exposed to arsenic in the soil it is important to take steps to reduce your exposure to this toxic substance.

• Acute (short-term) arsenic poisoning may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, loss of appetite, shaking, cough and headache.
  
  Chronic (long-term) exposure may lead to a variety of symptoms including skin pigmentation, numbness, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and vascular disease.
  
  Arsenic is also known to cause a variety of cancers including skin cancer (non-melanoma type), kidney, bladder, lung, prostate and liver cancer.
• Doctors may prescribe arsenic tests that analyze arsenic levels in urine, blood, and hair.
  
  Tests may either test for the different types of arsenic or just the "total arsenic" in the body.
  
  Arsenic tests may be difficult to interpret because health experts are not sure what "normal" levels of arsenic in the body are.
  
  Furthermore, different people may react to arsenic in different ways - some people are more susceptible to arsenic than others.
  
  Since we do not know who is most likely to be sensitive to arsenic, it is prudent for anyone who thinks they might be exposed to arsenic in the soil to follow the guidelines for reducing exposure to arsenic.

Since arsenic in soils can be a health hazard, gardeners and others who work or play in contaminated soils should take precautions to limit and reduce the amount of soil they swallow or breathe.

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Gardening around arsenic: Best practices

The goal of these suggestions is to reduce the amount of contaminated soil that you unintentionally swallow or breathe in while gardening or working around your home. Follow these guidelines to reduce your exposure:

• Wear gloves while gardening.
• Wash all vegetables carefully and peel vegetables where possible. Be sure to remove particles of soil on the food item. Wash inside crevices (e.g. broccoli and cauliflower).
• Though there is evidence that vegetables and fruits may take up small amounts of arsenic into their roots or leaves, a more serious problem could come from eating fruits and vegetables that have bits of contaminated soils stuck to them.
• Add clean soils or soil supplements such as compost or mulch to your existing garden. Clean soils are ones that are known to be contaminant-free. If you are unclear whether your new soils are clean you may consider testing.
• Consider establishing a raised bed using clean soils.
• Do not garden in soils with arsenic in excess of 20 ppm (parts per million). Bring in clean soils and build a raised bed instead.
• Dampen soils with water before you garden to limit the amount of dust you inhale.
• Consider wearing a mask if you spend time in dusty soils.

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Guidelines for reducing your exposure to contaminated soils

Arsenic does not decompose, biodegrade or move downward through soils and will remain permanently in the top layers of soil unless it is removed.

Therefore, if you suspect your soils are contaminated you should take the following exposure reduction measures:

• Keep children from playing in contaminated dirt. The most likely way to become exposed to arsenic is from ingesting (eating) dirt; toddlers and young children tend to play in dirt and then put their hands/toys/other items in their mouths. Some children (over two years old) and adults eat dirt on purpose.
• Frequently wash toys, pacifiers and other items that go into children's mouths.
• Cover bare soils with grass or other material.
• Wash hands and face thoroughly after working or playing in the soil, especially before eating. Do not eat, chew or smoke in areas with contaminated soil.
• Wash garden vegetables and fruits carefully to remove all soil particles. Take care to get dirt out of the crevices of vegetables such as broccoli.
• Remove work and play shoes before entering the house.
• Wash soil-laden clothes separately from other clothes.
• Damp-mop floors and wipe down counters, tables and window ledges regularly. Do not use a vacuum as a method to keep contaminated dust under control. Vacuum cleaners DO NOT reduce dust and tend to stir it up into your breathing zone. If you prefer to use a vacuum cleaner, use one with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter.
• Prevent pets from tracking contaminated soils into your home. Keep them out of areas with exposed dirt.
• Consider wearing a mask if you spend time in dusty environments.

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Where do high concentrations of arsenic in ground water occur in the United States?

• Arsenic concentrations in ground water generally are highest in the West.
• Parts of the Midwest and Northeast also have arsenic concentrations that exceed 10 µg/L, the World Health Organization's (WHO) provisional guideline for arsenic in drinking water.
• Arsenic concentrations appear to be lower in the Southeast, based on a smaller amount of data.
• Arsenic concentrations also could be high at locations not shown on figure 1 because data are not available everywhere.
• Even at sampled locations, concentrations might differ between shallow and deep waters.
• Nonetheless, these data illustrate how arsenic concentrations vary across broad regions of the country.

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