Arsenic

Arsenic is a chemical element known by the chemical symbol As, and bearing the atomic number of 33. It is a member of the metalloids, a group of elements including boron, silicon, and polonium. Arsenic is perhaps best known as a poison that can be fatal if ingested or exposed to for an extended length of time, as well as cause a variety of health issues such as cancer. Arsenic occurs as both a natural and a man-made substance, which can be used in medicine, insecticides, and the production of metals.

Since Arsenic was discovered there have been multiple studies done on it. Organic compounds containing arsenic are better for our bodies to handle unlike the inorganic forms which cause our bodies to malfunction. Arsenic is used to preserve wood fibers. That bear rug you have in your living room probably has an arsenic preservative in it. If you have ingested arsenic in the last twenty four hours call a doctor.

Properties
Arsenic can appear in three forms: stable, metallic, and nonmetallic. The stable form is a brittle crystalline solid. It is silver-gray in appearance and tarnishes rapidly when exposed to air. When exposed to high temperatures it burns and forms a white cloud of arsenic trioxide. The metallic form also oxidizes into arsenic trioxide when heated, and retains its brittle quality. The nonmetallic form, in comparison, is much less reactive. When heated with strong oxidizing acids and alkalis, however, this form dissolves.

It is toxic to many and it can be used in a dire situation as a death enhancer. It is very toxic when it is in the one of the two forms it shares. Its inorganic form. Since we are exposed to it through our drinking substances such as water.We have discovered a way to clean water up a bit.This helps but it does not get all of the particles of the poison known as Arsenic out of our systems.That is why it is best to drink pre-bottled water. Arsenic is a main concern because we still don't have an exact cure for it people are still ingesting it. if you have ingested arsenic you must seek medical help immediately. He medical examiners will perform dialysis, replacing the red blood cells that were damaged by Arsenic contents. If you ingested it you must have your stomach pumped and possible have your bowel arena cleansed.

Occurrences
Naturally, arsenic can be found in the earth in small concentrations. Volcanoes exert three thousand tons of arsenic into the atmosphere every year and humans are responsible for even more; the burning of fossil fuels release eighty thousand tonnes of arsenic per year. Arsenic naturally occurs in soil and minerals. Wind and water run-off deposit this natural arsenic into air, water, and land. Due to arsenic's mobile nature, it is difficult to find large pockets of arsenic in one spot. It often spreads out when released. Because of arsenic's poisonous nature, its tendency to spread is beneficial to life.

Most of our arsenic is found with sulfur in minerals such as arsenopyrite, realgar, orpiment, and enargite, though no arsenic is mined as such. Instead, arsenic is produced by refining ores such as copper and lead, which release arsenic as a by-product. From copper and lead ores the world produces over ten million tonnes of arsenic.

Uses
Despite its toxicity, humans have found many uses for arsenic. For years it has been applied in the manufacturing of copper, lead, and alpha-brass, which is used in plumbing. In coordination with other elements, arsenic is used in pigments, poison gasses, and insecticides, Although the use of it in herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides is dwindling due the banning of these products.

Arsenic has been used in medicine for many years. This element shows promise in cures for diseases such as cancer and psoriasis and can also be helpful in the location of tumors within the body because it provides a clearer picture than iodine. During the First World War and the Vietnam War, arsenic was used to create biological weapons. Along with lead, arsenic has been removed from the production of optical glass due to protests by environmentalists.

It is used as a preservative to keep wood from rotting to fast so it can be used in buildings. We can use it on glass and in some metals. Arsenic is also studied by many to help look for thee cure of many disease.

Health Effects of Arsenic
Because of its dangerous properties, contact with arsenic can have many negative effects on the health of a living creature. Humans are exposed to arsenic mainly through food and water. Small traces of arsenic can be found in many types or animals, but are especially concentrated in seafood. Most arsenic found in food, however, is organic arsenic, which is thought to be less toxic than inorganic arsenic.

When an area is contaminated by arsenic its water sources are poisoned. This can occur naturally or through human means. Long-time exposure to contaminated drinking water may cause a variety of health effects, such as skin, lung, bladder, and kidney cancer. Thickening and pigmentation of the skin may also occur. In Taiwan a disease called blackfoot disease, which causes painful black pustules on the feet, is known to have occurred because of contaminated water sources.

Smokers inhale an average of ten times more arsenic per day than nonsmokers, though this may vary in more polluted areas. Inhalation of arsenic from smoking or exposure in the workplace may cause lung cancer. Ingestion of large amounts of arsenic can lead to symptoms such as severe vomiting, damage to the nervous system, disturbances of the blood and circulation, and even death.

World Concern
Arsenic was first mainly studied in Bangladesh where people were getting weird symptoms from what we know today as Arsenic. In a study taken inn 2012 there were as many as 19 million people still being exposed to arsenic. The symptoms might show up first after infection or they may not it really depends on the person's immune system. We do not have a way to destroy arsenic but we are working on a somewhat of a cure for it.

Arsenic is fast growing and it continues to spread across the world through our water. It exists in regions where there might not always be a distribution of clean and protected water. Arsenic has two types of compounds. One of these compounds is an organic compound is found in fish. It is not likely risking any disease in the body. The other compound is the inorganic compound. The inorganic compound is used in industry supplies. This compound is more toxic and leads to cancer.

Inorganic Arsenic is found in most of the world's water. It has many side effects including nausea and/or abdominal pain. These effects only happen right after arsenic has been ingested. Some of the other effects are numbness, muscle cramps, and even in extreme cases that are rare is death. Long term effects are changes in skin complexion, hard patches and swollen feet. You can also get skin cancer from it. Arsenic can give you bladder cancer as well. It may cause diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It effects pregnant women extremely because the baby can have a risk of not developing the right way. It will cause lung disease, heart failure, and kidney failure.

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