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Mechanisms of arsenic
toxicity and carcinogenesis
Obinaju, Blessing Ebele
Department of Biological Science,
Lancaster
University, Lancaster, United Kingdom. E-mail:
bel.obinaju@yahoo.co.uk.
Accepted 20 May, 2009 |
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Industrialization has excessively modified the discharge and
distribution of arsenic in the environment through natural
and anthropogenic activities. Gastrointestinal tract, Lung
and Dermal absorptions account for various adverse effects
associated with arsenic toxicity. The knowledge of arsenic
biotransformation holds the trivalent species (DMA3+
and MMA3+) accountable for most arsenic
toxicity with mechanisms of action such as the inhibition of
DNA replicating or repair enzymes, interference with tissue
respiration and oxidative stress. There is information of
transplacental arsenic carcinogenesis and arsenic disruption
of endocrine activity but most of these mechanisms remain
poorly understood. More importantly, the exact dose at which
arsenic induces tumours in vivo is still a major research
question and therefore necessitates more scientific
investigation/ research.
Key words:
Arsenic, toxicity, carcinogenesis.
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