Arsenic Toxicology and Human Health Effects

Arsenic, a naturally occurring metalloid, poses a significant threat to human health through chronic environmental exposure, principally via contaminated drinking water and dietary sources. Inorganic arsenic species, including arsenite and arsenate, undergo biotransformation in the liver, producing methylated metabolites such as monomethylarsonic acid and dimethylarsinic acid. This metabolic pathway is central to both detoxification and the generation of more reactive intermediates. Arsenic’s toxicity stems from its capacity to disrupt cellular respiration by binding to sulphhydryl groups, induce oxidative stress, and alter epigenetic regulation. Epidemiological evidence links long-term exposure to increased risk of multifocal carcinogenesis—particularly skin, lung, bladder and liver cancers—as well as non-malignant conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and neurodevelopmental disorders. Vulnerable populations, notably children and pregnant individuals, exhibit heightened susceptibility to arsenic-associated cognitive impairments, adverse birth outcomes and immunotoxicity. Advances in molecular toxicology have elucidated mechanisms of DNA damage, altered signal transduction and perturbation of microbiome homeostasis. These insights underscore the global imperative for improved exposure assessment, risk mitigation strategies and therapeutic intervention to reduce the burden of arsenic-related morbidity and mortality.

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Arsenic Toxicology and Human Health Effects publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in arsenic toxicology and human health effects across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Biotransformation: Enzymatic conversion of inorganic arsenic into methylated metabolites.

Oxidative stress: Cellular damage resulting from an imbalance between reactive oxygen species production and antioxidant defences.

Speciation: The chemical form of arsenic (inorganic, organic or methylated), which determines its toxicity and mobility.

Epigenetic regulation: Heritable changes in gene expression not involving DNA sequence alteration, often modulated by arsenic exposure.

Neurodevelopmental disorders: Impairments in brain growth and function arising from early-life toxicant exposure.

References

1. Arsenic Exposure Perturbs the Gut Microbiome and Its Metabolic Profile in Mice: An Integrated Metagenomics and Metabolomics Analysis. Environmental Health Perspectives (2014).
2. Arsenic Exposure and the Induction of Human Cancers. Journal of Toxicology (2011).
3. Evaluation of the Association between Arsenic and Diabetes: A National Toxicology Program Workshop Review. Environmental Health Perspectives (2012).
4. The Association of Arsenic Metabolism with Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, and Diabetes: A Systematic Review of the Epidemiological Evidence. Environmental Health Perspectives (2017).
5. Association of Arsenic with Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes/Infant Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Environmental Health Perspectives (2015).
6. Water Arsenic Exposure and Children’s Intellectual Function in Araihazar, Bangladesh. Environmental Health Perspectives (2004).
7. The Developmental Neurotoxicity of Arsenic: Cognitive and Behavioral Consequences of Early Life Exposure. Annals of Global Health (2014).
8. Metabolism, toxicity and anticancer activities of arsenic compounds. Oncotarget (2017).
9. The Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in Arsenic Toxicity. Biomolecules (2020).
10. Arsenic and Environmental Health: State of the Science and Future Research Opportunities. Environmental Health Perspectives (2015).
11. Arsenic immunotoxicity: a review. Environmental Health (2013).