How are organic and inorganic arsenic different?

It is necessary to distinguish between two forms of arsenic: Organic, which is almost harmless to humans, and inorganic, which is very toxic to health.

Identify two types of arsenic

Inorganic arsenic is arsenic (As) in its pure, metallic form, or in arsenic compounds not bound to a carbon (C) group, such as in arsenic trichloride (AsCl3). The two main forms of inorganic arsenic are arsenite and arsenate, both of which are toxic and carcinogenic.

Organic arsenic is an organic compound containing arsenic atoms, such as 4-hydroxy-3-nitrobenzenearsonic acid.

The two organic arsenics commonly found in seafood and referred to as "fish arsenic" are aresenobetaine and arsenocholine. Arsenobetaine is more toxic than arsenobetaine, but both are generally considered relatively safe for humans. The other two organic arsenics, monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), are commonly found in fruits, vegetables, and grains.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), organic arsenic is not classified as a carcinogen after decades of research.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), organic arsenic compounds can only be toxic to the body after they are converted into inorganic arsenic. Therefore, in general, all arsenic compounds tend to be toxic to varying degrees.

Sources of arsenic pollution

Arsenic is a natural component of the earth's crust and is widely distributed throughout the air, water and soil. Humans are exposed to inorganic arsenic through drinking water, contaminated food, breathing in dust, gasoline, chemicals, smoking... Chronic exposure to arsenic causes many lesions and very characteristic skin cancer.

The toxicity of arsenic

Acute arsenic poisoning causes vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. This is followed by numbness and tingling of the skin and limbs, muscle cramps and death in severe cases.

Long-term exposure to arsenic causes skin damage such as pigmentation changes, keratinization of the palms and soles of the feet, etc. Long-term exposure causes skin cancer. In addition to skin cancer, arsenic can also cause bladder and lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified arsenic compounds, especially arsenic contamination in drinking water, as carcinogenic to humans.

Long-term exposure to arsenic also causes neurological diseases, diabetes, lung disease and cardiovascular disease. myocardial infarction, maternal and neonatal diseases.

According to Dan Tri