Clinical Information

Arsenic (As) exists in a number of different forms; some are toxic, while others are not. The toxic forms are the inorganic species of As(+3) (As-III), As(+5) (As-V), and their partially detoxified metabolites, monomethylarsine and dimethylarsine. As-III is more toxic than As-V and both are more toxic than mono- and dimethylarsine. The biologic half-life of inorganic arsenic is 4 to 6 hours, while the biologic half-life of the methylated metabolites is 20 to 30 hours. Target organs of As-III-induced effects are the heart, gastrointestinal tract, skin and other epithelial tissues, kidney, and nervous system.

Inorganic arsenic is carcinogenic to humans. Symptoms of chronic poisoning, called arseniasis, are mostly insidious and nonspecific. The gastrointestinal tract, skin, and central nervous system are usually involved. Nausea, epigastric pain, colic abdominal pain, diarrhea, and paresthesias of the hands and feet can occur.

Nontoxic, organic forms of arsenic are present in many foods. Arsenobetaine and arsenocholine are the 2 most common forms of organic arsenic found in food. The most common foods that contain significant concentrations of organic arsenic are shellfish and other predators in the seafood chain (cod, haddock, etc). Some meats such as chicken that have been fed on seafood remnants may also contain the organic forms of arsenic.

Following ingestion of arsenobetaine and arsenocholine, these compounds undergo rapid renal clearance to become concentrated in the urine. Organic arsenic is completely excreted within 1 to 2 days after ingestion and there are no residual toxic metabolites. The biologic half-life of organic arsenic is 4 to 6 hours.