|
Ecotoxicology of arsenic
in the hydrosphere: Implications for public health
Gbaruko, B.C.1*,
Ana, G.R.E.E.1 and Nwachukwu, J.K.2
1Department
of Environmental Health, College of Medicine, University of
Ibadan, Nigeria.
2Department
of Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Abia
State University, Uturu, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
bgbaruko@yahoo.com.
Accepted
3 October, 2008 |
|
Arsenic
is a naturally occurring metalloid element that is found
in soil, air and water. Environmental arsenic exists
in both organic and inorganic states. Organic
arsenicals are generally considered non toxic, whereas
inorganic forms are toxic. The most acutely toxic
form is arsine gas. Inorganic arsenic exists
predominantly in trivalent (As3+) and pentavalent
(As5+) forms, where trivalent
compounds are more toxic than pentavalent ones.
Human activities have also intensified arsenic accumulation
in the environment. Organs most susceptible to
arsenic toxicity are those involved with
absorption, accumulation or excretion, including
the skin, circulatory system, gastrointestinal tract, liver
and kidney. Arsenic is associated with multiple health
effects, including Blackfoot diseases, diabetes,
hypertension, peripheral neuropathy and multiple
vascular diseases. Other effects include anemia, liver
damage, portal cirrhosis, hematopoietic
depression, anhydremia, sensory disturbance and
weight loss. In addition to acute toxicity, long-term
exposure to inorganic arsenic is associated with
certain forms of cancer of the skin, lung, colon,
bladder, liver and breast. Understanding the
ecotoxicological effects of arsenic in the
environment is paramount to mitigating its deleterious
effects on ecological and human health. This
paper is therefore a review of the ecotoxicological effects
of arsenic on human and ecological health.
Key
words:
Arsenic, ecotoxicology, hydrosphere, human health,
ecological health. |
