Title: Drinking Water Contaminant – Arsenic – Drinking Water and Human Health
Headings: Drinking Water Contaminant – Arsenic
Drinking Water Contaminant – Arsenic
Contents
Sources of arsenic in drinking water
Potential health impacts of arsenic in drinking water
Testing for arsenic in drinking water
Options for arsenic in drinking water

Content: Potential health impacts of arsenic in drinking water
Arsenic exposure can cause a variety of adverse health effects. The severity of the effect depends on how much arsenic is in the water, how much water is consumed, how long a person has been exposed to the water and a person’s general health. Arsenic poisoning can be acute or chronic. Acute poisoning can occur when a high concentration (more than 60 mg/L) of arsenic is ingested over a short period of time. Arsenic poisoning is easy to diagnose and treat, with the most common symptoms ranging from garlic breath to pins and needles sensations in the hands and feet. Chronic poisoning can occur when moderate or small amounts of arsenic are ingested over long periods. Chronic arsenic exposure may increase the risk of cancer and mimic the symptoms of diabetes. Because arsenic is readily excreted in the urine, testing for chronic arsenic exposure is done by measuring the concentration of arsenic retained in the hair and/or fingernails. Research has shown that arsenic’s effects on human health tend to be variable, depending on gender, with some ethnic populations exhibiting greater tolerance. Factors such as genetics, age, metabolism, diet and overall health also may impact health risks associated with arsenic exposure because they potentially affect one’s ability to remove arsenic from the body.