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Old 04-05-2012, 02:50 PM   #46
beagle
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Default long term effects of As

Cate, what you are thinking of is high exposure--the Arsenic and Old Lace type. Here is info from the NH des on long term low level exposure, and it is enough to scare me into paying to fix it!

Long Term (chronic) Effects
The most sensitive signs of chronic arsenic poisoning involve the skin. First, a freckling of small dark spots may appear on the trunk, neck, face, arms and legs. Next, small corn-like growths can develop, especially on the palms of the hand and soles of the feet. Although skin effects are often the first observable sign of arsenic toxicity, researchers consider these effects to result from ingested arsenic rather than exposure through the skin. With higher exposures, other symptoms may include numbness, tingling or burning sensations in the arms and legs, fluid accumulation causing swelling in the face and ankles, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and anemia. Eventually, liver,
kidney, and central nervous system damage may occur. Recent evidence indicates that arsenic may increase the risk of several other diseases including diabetes, lung, and cardiovascular disease. Basic research suggests that arsenic may cause some of these diseases by interfering with chemical messengers such as hormones that act as signals in the body to regulate many processes.

Carcinogenic (Cancer-causing) Effects
Corns resulting from arsenic exposure may ultimately develop into non-melanoma forms of skin cancer. Researchers have also observed a relationship between higher levels of arsenic in drinking water and an increased risk of bladder, lung, kidney, liver, and prostate cancer. The evidence for skin, bladder, and lung cancer are the strongest. Arsenic was a Group A (known
human carcinogen) under the old Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classification system and would fit into the "human carcinogen" classification group under the current cancer guidelines.
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