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: Arsenic affects a broad range of organs and systems including: Skin
Nervous system
Respiratory system
Cardiovascular system
Liver, kidney, bladder and prostate
Immune system
Endocrine system
Developmental processes
Ways to reduce arsenic risk
Test your drinking water. Eat a well-balanced diet for good nutrition, and eat a wide variety of grains, to try to minimize the negative health effects that could come from eating an excess of any one food. Fact Sheets
4 pages
(676KB)
Arsenic
What is NIEHS Doing? Because of its significance as a global public health problem, studies of arsenic, arsenic metabolism, and the health effects associated with arsenic exposure are a priority for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the National Toxicology Program (NTP), and several other organizations involved in research, regulation, and health care. NTP is an interagency testing program, administered by NIEHS. NIEHS, the NTP, and their grantees are presently involved in a wide array of arsenic research (basic and translational), some of which includes: Fundamental arsenic research
Researchers have learned that both short-term and long-term exposure to arsenic can cause health problems, but they are just beginning to understand how arsenic works in the body — what is referred to as its modes of action. For example, researchers are finding that arsenic, even at low levels, can interfere with the body’s endocrine system. The endocrine system is what keeps our bodies in balance, maintaining homeostasis and guiding growth and development.