Title: Arsenic
Headings: Arsenic
Arsenic
Introduction
Where is arsenic found?
How does arsenic get into the body?
How much arsenic can be in drinking water?
How can I find out whether there is arsenic in my drinking water?
How do I remove arsenic from my drinking water?
How does arsenic affect people?
Ways to reduce arsenic risk
Fact Sheets
Arsenic
What is NIEHS Doing?
Fundamental arsenic research
Arsenic and cancer
Early-life exposures to arsenic and development
Arsenic and diabetes
Translational research on arsenic
Further Reading
Stories from the Environmental Factor (NIEHS Newsletter)
Additional Resources
Related Health Topics

Content: Researchers have found that arsenic education, coupled with water testing programs, can increase knowledge in the population, and result in reduced arsenic exposures, when safe drinking water sources are made available. 8
Researchers also found that folic acid supplements can dramatically lower blood arsenic levels in individuals chronically exposed to arsenic-contaminated drinking water. Just 400 micrograms a day of folic acid, the U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance, reduced total blood arsenic levels in a Bangladesh study population by 14 percent. 9
Further Reading
Stories from the Environmental Factor (NIEHS Newsletter)
Arsenic, Fluorescent Mice, and PFAS Among Topics at Tox Conference (October 2020)
Linking Exposures to Later-life Disease — Webinars Draw Hundreds (July 2020)
COVID-19 Shines Light on Navajo Water Contamination (June 2020)
Bangladeshi Officials Learn How NIEHS Research Helps Their Country (April 2020)
New Hampshire Arsenic Rule Builds on NIEHS-funded Research (August 2019)
Arsenic May Interfere with Pregnancy and Children’s Health (July 2019)
Epigenetics May Hold Key to Arsenic’s Role in Cancer (January 2019)
Additional Resources
Arsenic Occupational Safety and Health Administration Safety and Health Topic
Arsenic - Toxic Substances Portal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Guidance for Industry: Action Level for Inorganic Arsenic in Rice Cereals for Infants - The Food and Drug Administration suggests how manufacturers of infant rice cereals can help protect public health by reducing inorganic arsenic, achievable by using good manufacturing practices. Indigenous Health Collection - Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) present a collection of papers focusing on indigenous peoples who overall experience a disproportionate burden of several chronic diseases, compared with other racial and ethnic groups. Related Health Topics
Endocrine Disruptors
Safe Water and Your Health
Toxicology
Naujokas MF, Anderson B, Ahsan H, Aposhian HV, Graziano JH, Thompson C, Suk WA. 2013. The broad scope of health effects from chronic arsenic exposure: update on a worldwide public health problem.