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Book Details
Abstract
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element and, as such, it is present in the environment and in our food and drink. It can even be involved in supporting life processes. However, due to its toxicity, there is concern about its presence in our diet. This book examines the real risks and impacts of arsenic in our lives. Looking at arsenic and its compounds, this book explores the presence of arsenic in food and water, the need to clarify its toxicity, and current scientific and public misconceptions about arsenic. It also looks at the use of arsenic in medicine, from cancer treatments to alternative therapies such as homeopathy. Following on from "Is Arsenic an Aphrodisiac?: The Sociochemistry of an Element", this book continues the authors work in addressing the issues surrounding arsenic. It is a fascinating read for general readers as it unveils the reality of our exposure to arsenic in our daily lives.
William R Cullen is Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia, Canada. His research focuses on the biogeochemistry and sociochemistry of arsenic.
Kenneth J Reimer is Professor Emeritus at the Royal Military College of Canada, Canada. His research focusses on ecological and human health risk assessment and risk communication.
Table of Contents
| Section Title | Page | Action | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cover | Cover | ||
| Arsenic is Everywhere: Cause for Concern? | i | ||
| Preface | v | ||
| Dedication | ix | ||
| Abbreviations | xi | ||
| Contents | xv | ||
| Chapter 1 - An Introduction to Arsenic | 1 | ||
| 1.1 Some Background | 1 | ||
| References | 6 | ||
| Chapter 2 - Arsenic Is Everywhere | 8 | ||
| 2.1 Introduction | 9 | ||
| 2.2 Arsenic in the Earth’s Crust | 10 | ||
| 2.3 Arsenic in the Hydrosphere | 13 | ||
| 2.3.1 Abundance of Arsenic in Water | 13 | ||
| 2.3.2 Factors Influencing the Concentration of Arsenic in Water | 14 | ||
| 2.3.3 Geographical Distribution of High Arsenic Concentrations in Water and Arsenic-related Health Effects | 17 | ||
| 2.3.4 Water Treatment Technologies for the Removal of Arsenic | 21 | ||
| 2.3.5 Arsenic-Contaminated Water in Bangladesh | 23 | ||
| 2.4 Arsenic in the Atmosphere | 32 | ||
| 2.4.1 Global Arsenic Circulation | 32 | ||
| 2.4.2 Arsenic in Dust | 34 | ||
| 2.4.3 Arsenic in House Dust | 36 | ||
| 2.4.4 Biovolatilization of Arsenic | 36 | ||
| 2.4.5 Hot Springs and Fumaroles as Sources of Atmospheric Arsenic | 38 | ||
| 2.4.6 Biomonitoring for Arsenic in Air | 39 | ||
| 2.5 Anthropogenic Acts and Disasters as Arsenic Spreaders | 40 | ||
| 2.5.1 Coal Ash Spills | 40 | ||
| 2.5.2 Mine Tailings Spills | 41 | ||
| 2.5.3 Unintended Consequences | 42 | ||
| 2.5.4 Gold Mining and Arsenic Contamination—Giant Mine, Canada | 42 | ||
| References | 45 | ||
| Chapter 3 - Some Non-Human Arsenic Eaters | 49 | ||
| 3.1 Is Arsenic Essential for Life on Earth | 50 | ||
| 3.2 Extraterrestrial Life with Arsenic | 51 | ||
| 3.3 Arsenic Is Involved in Life Processes | 54 | ||
| 3.3.1 Energy-Generating Oxidation and Reduction Processes | 54 | ||
| 3.3.2 Arsenic Oxidation | 57 | ||
| 3.3.3 Detoxification | 59 | ||
| 3.4 More Biotransformations of Arsenic | 60 | ||
| 3.5 Biotransformation of Arsenic by Bacteria and Fungi | 63 | ||
| 3.5.1 Arsenic in Mushrooms | 66 | ||
| 3.6 Plants as Arsenic Eaters | 67 | ||
| 3.7 Earthworms as Arsenic Eaters | 70 | ||
| 3.8 Arsenic Methylation by Mammals (and Others) | 72 | ||
| 3.9 Aquatic Organisms as Arsenic Eaters | 73 | ||
| 3.9.1 Marine Environment | 73 | ||
| 3.9.2 Freshwater Environment | 74 | ||
| 3.9.3 The Mystery of Arsenobetaine: Where Does this Non-Toxic Arsenic Compound Come From | 74 | ||
| 3.10 A Summary of Arsenic Compounds Found in the Environment | 75 | ||
| 3.11 More on Arsenic Speciation | 76 | ||
| 3.11.1 How Do We Detect and Measure Arsenic Compounds | 76 | ||
| 3.11.2 How Are Different Arsenic Compounds Made | 78 | ||
| References | 80 | ||
| Chapter 4 - The Toxicity of Arsenic | 85 | ||
| 4.1 Some Background | 86 | ||
| 4.2 Acute Arsenic Poisoning | 86 | ||
| 4.3 Chronic Arsenic Poisoning | 89 | ||
| 4.3.1 Health Effects | 89 | ||
| 4.3.2 Early Life Exposure and Long-Term Latency | 92 | ||
| 4.4 How Much Arsenic is Safe | 94 | ||
| 4.4.1 Risk | 95 | ||
| 4.4.2 Some Basic Toxicology | 95 | ||
| 4.4.3 Risk Assessment | 99 | ||
| 4.4.4 Application of Risk Assessment Information: US Drinking Water Standard | 103 | ||
| 4.4.5 US EPA Reassessment of Arsenic Toxicity | 105 | ||
| 4.4.6 Low-Dose Arsenic: In Search of a Risk Threshold | 105 | ||
| 4.5 How Does Arsenic Cause Disease | 108 | ||
| 4.6 Do We Differ in Our Susceptibility to Arsenic-Induced Disease | 110 | ||
| 4.7 Other Ways of Assessing the Potential Risks from Arsenic Exposure: An International Perspective | 112 | ||
| 4.8 Organic Arsenic Species | 114 | ||
| 4.9 Arsenic-Based Pesticides and Herbicides | 116 | ||
| 4.9.1 Arsenic Trioxide | 116 | ||
| 4.9.2 Lead and Calcium Arsenates | 117 | ||
| 4.9.3 Organic Arsenical Pesticides and Herbicides | 118 | ||
| 4.9.4 Herbicidal Warfare in Vietnam | 119 | ||
| References | 121 | ||
| Chapter 5 - Medicinal Arsenic | 129 | ||
| 5.1 Early Medicinal Uses of Arsenic | 130 | ||
| 5.1.1 The Arsenic Eaters of Styria | 131 | ||
| 5.1.2 Fowler’s Solution and Other Arsenical Remedies | 136 | ||
| 5.2 Some Help from Traditional Chinese Medicine | 139 | ||
| 5.2.1 Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia | 139 | ||
| 5.2.2 Realgar and Orpiment | 142 | ||
| 5.3 Arsenic Versus Solid Tumours | 143 | ||
| 5.4 Organoarsenicals in Medicine | 143 | ||
| 5.4.1 Robert Bunsen | 144 | ||
| 5.4.2 Aryl Arsenicals | 146 | ||
| 5.4.2.1 Paul Ehrlich—Father of Chemotherapy | 147 | ||
| 5.4.2.2 African Sleeping Sickness | 150 | ||
| 5.5 Veterinary Medicine | 151 | ||
| 5.5.1 Heartworm | 151 | ||
| 5.5.2 Roxarsone and Chickens | 151 | ||
| 5.5.2.1 Chicken Litter | 153 | ||
| 5.5.3 Phar Lap and Other Horses | 155 | ||
| References | 157 | ||
| Chapter 6 - Arsenic and Alternative Medicines | 161 | ||
| 6.1 Some Background on Alternative Medicines | 162 | ||
| 6.2 Ayurvedic Medicine (Traditional Indian Medicine) | 166 | ||
| 6.3 Traditional Chinese Medicine | 172 | ||
| 6.4 A Word on Aphrodisiacs | 177 | ||
| 6.5 Homeopathy | 179 | ||
| 6.6 “Cures” for Chronic Arsenic Poisoning | 184 | ||
| References | 185 | ||
| Chapter 7 - Arsenic in Food | 190 | ||
| 7.1 Some Early History | 191 | ||
| 7.2 The Arsenic Content of Food | 193 | ||
| 7.3 The Significance of Arsenic Speciation to Exposure to Arsenic in Food | 197 | ||
| 7.3.1 Arsenic Speciation | 197 | ||
| 7.3.2 How Do We Find Out What Arsenic Species Are In Our Food | 201 | ||
| 7.4 How Much Arsenic Do We Eat | 202 | ||
| 7.4.1 Dietary Surveys of Total Arsenic and Inorganic Arsenic | 202 | ||
| 7.4.2 Global Dietary Exposures to Inorganic Arsenic | 207 | ||
| 7.5 Does the Arsenic We Eat Pose a Risk or Not | 211 | ||
| 7.5.1 Some Background | 211 | ||
| 7.5.2 The Views of International Regulatory Agencies | 211 | ||
| 7.5.3 Global Incidence of Cancer | 213 | ||
| 7.5.4 What Is an Acceptable Risk Due to Arsenic in Our Food | 214 | ||
| 7.5.5 Are There Regulations Governing How Much Arsenic There Can Be in Food | 215 | ||
| 7.5.6 Summary | 216 | ||
| References | 217 | ||
| Chapter 8 - Arsenic and the Evening Meal | 221 | ||
| 8.1 An Invitation to Dinner | 221 | ||
| 8.2 The Pre-Dinner Cocktail Hour | 222 | ||
| 8.2.1 A Pre-Dinner Drink | 222 | ||
| 8.2.2 Bottled Water | 226 | ||
| 8.2.3 A Cigarette with that Cocktail | 227 | ||
| 8.3 The Salad: A Heaping Serving of Vegetables and Mushrooms | 228 | ||
| 8.4 The Fish Course | 230 | ||
| 8.4.1 Health Benefits Versus Risks of Eating Fish | 230 | ||
| 8.4.2 Unknowns: What About Other Organic Arsenic Compounds in Fish | 233 | ||
| 8.4.3 A Myth Regarding “Toxic” Shrimp and Vitamin C | 234 | ||
| 8.4.4 Algal Products and Other Seafoods with High Inorganic Arsenic Content | 235 | ||
| 8.5 The Meat Course: Beef, Pork or Chicken | 237 | ||
| 8.6 Some Starch on Your Plate Wheat, Maize (Corn) and Potatoes | 241 | ||
| 8.7 The Rice Story | 241 | ||
| 8.7.1 Some Background | 241 | ||
| 8.7.2 Arsenic in Rice | 242 | ||
| 8.7.3 Concerns Regarding Arsenic Exposure from Rice: Europe | 244 | ||
| 8.7.4 Arsenic in Rice: The US Experience | 246 | ||
| 8.8 Dessert and a Nightcap | 253 | ||
| 8.9 A Post-Dinner Chat | 255 | ||
| Appendix 8.1 European Guidance on Rice Consumption | 255 | ||
| References | 257 | ||
| Subject Index | 266 |