Studies of the occurrence, distribution and aqueous geochemistry of arsenic in the environment requires accurate and sensitive analytical measurements. In addition to the determination of total arsenic concentrations, speciation of the form in which arsenic occurs plays a major role in its chemical reactivity and toxicity. Determination of speciation includes: the distribution of oxidation stat...

Epidemiological evidence shows an association between inorganic arsenic in drinking water and increased risk of skin, lung and bladder cancers. The lack of animal models has hindered mechanistic studies of arsenic carcinogenesis in the past, but some promising new models for these cancers are now available. The various forms of arsenic to which humans are exposed, either directly or via metabol...

(1) Arsenic fungi are more numerous than was previously supposed. Some saprophytic species common in the soil are active in the production of arsenical gases. (2) Arsenic tolerant forms include many species which do not decompose arsenic compounds with the evolution of gases. (3) Arsenical substances carried to the soil come in contact with decomposing agents, which tend to break them into vola...

Because of its biological activity, arsenic is involved in an active global geochemical cycle. Arsenic has been found to be transferred to the atmosphere, at least in part, by evolution of trimethyl arsine and similar methyl arsenic compounds. Because of the environmental importance of the several arsenic forms [inorganic arsenic (III) and (V), methylarsonic acid, dimethylarsenic acid, trimethy...

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found widely in the environment. However, on recent days the level of arsenic in the environment has increased several folds due to its use as pesticide, defoliant, electronics, thermal power plants, wood preservatives and metal industry. Arsenic has been reported as one of the most alarming chemical in the environment [1], present in different forms and...

Despite its undoubted toxicity, arsenic is a much-used element, finding applications in agriculture, industry, and medicine. Arsenic as a poison has a prominent role in plays and novels as well as in real life. In medicine, arsenic was so widely used in the 19th century as a cure-all that it has been termed a “therapeutic mule.” Some arsenic compounds are still used in the treatment of parasiti...