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Glossary
of Terms
Arsenic
Symbol: As
Atomic Number: 33
The use of arsenic
in pressure treated wood, and in herbicides
and other industries is responsible
for a 2000% increase in the arsenic
levels found in humans since ancient
times. Arsenic, an old-fashioned poson,
is now a regulated feed additive approved
for use in fighting intestinal parasites
in chickens. Inorganic asrenic (both
organic and inorganic are used in
chicken feed) is a carcinogen linked
to respiratory, skin and bladder cancers
in people who are exposed to 10-40
. micorgrams (one, one-millionth of
a gram) a day over an extended period
of time.
Arsenic may accumulate
with decreased kidney function. Arsenic
is deposited in the liver, kidney,
spleen, hair, nails, skin, bone and
muscle. It is present in the ocean,
and the most common source is contaminated
seafood and shellfish, especially
filtering mollusks such as clams and
oysters.
Cereals are a major source of arsenic during infancy and increases in hair arsenic levels during infancy correspond to the introduction of cereals into the infant’s diet. Other common sources of arsenic are: processes for the production of semiconductor or photoelectric components; electroplating, galvanizing and etching processes; defoliants and some fungicides and pesticides; fireworks (intense white or blue flame colors; leather tanning and taxidermy (arsenic trioxide); chemical process industry (reagents, catalysts); textile printing (arsenic disulfide for calicos); lead and copper alloys (cable sheaths, solders, shot); specialty glass manufacture (opal glass, IR transmitting, decolorizing).
Arsenic has also been
used to preserve wood in preventing
fungal growth on coated surfaces (pressure-treated
wood, “green” in color).
Arsenic is also present in small amounts
in soil and therefore is contained
in our food, drinking water and dust
carried by the air. Arsenic is also
found in many fuel oils and coal,
so it becomes an environmental pollutant
when these are burned.
The term arsenic
comes from both the Greek word arsenikos
and the Latin word arsenicum.
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