Arsenic Contamination and its Impact on the Environment

Abstract

Arsenic (AS) toxicity is considered as one of the biggest environmental issue and a major public health problem. In this chapter we have summarized the impact of AS contamination on human health. A perusal of literature reveals that exposure to higher concentrations of AS is serious for a number of reasons. Such exposure for a longer period leads to ill effect on several organ systems of the human body. The adverse effects of inorganic AS cause many human diseases, human sufferings and increased human mortality and also affect various age groups variously. Population of some countries are more vulnerable to AS contamination problems. Studies have revealed the mechanisms of many AS induced diseases particularly cancer, cardiovascular effects, immunological effects and neurological effects in human. This article presents the scientific information emerged especially during the last two decades in the field of the ecotoxicological properties of AS and the potential mechanism of AS-induced toxicity, with a special emphasis on AS-induced carcinogenesis.