ARSENIC

ARSENIC [Environmental Health] [Type II & Type III] [Home]

What is arsenic? Arsenic is found in nature at low levels. Most arsenic compounds have no smell or special taste. Arsenic joins with oxygen, chlorine, and sulfur to make inorganic arsenic compounds. Inorganic arsenic compounds are used to preserve wood, make insecticides, and weed killers. Arsenic in plants and animals combines with carbon and hydrogen to make organic arsenic. Organic arsenic is usually less harmful than inorganic arsenic. Check the labels of treated wood and insecticides to see if they contain arsenic.

How are people exposed to arsenic? As a natural part of our environment, everyone is exposed to some amount of arsenic. You can come in contact with arsenic in the following ways: From the food we eat everyday. Some fish and seafood contain high amounts of arsenic. This organic type of arsenic is much less harmful to humans than inorganic arsenic from groundwater. By either drinking water contaminated with arsenic or by eating food that has been cooked in this water. Arsenic found in well water and food is absorbed through the stomach and the intestines. Arsenic in water or food does not evaporate into the air and is not easily absorbed through the skin. By breathing in smoke from burning materials containing arsenic, like wood treated with preservatives. Arsenic can also be absorbed through air, as in industrial settings.

How can arsenic get into drinking water? Mineral deposits in some areas of Michigan contain high levels of arsenic. Groundwater flowing through these deposits can dissolve arsenic from the minerals. This may result in elevated levels of inorganic arsenic in well water. For a "Map of Naturally Occurring Arsenic in Michigan" click here. (You will need to down load a copy of Acrobat Reader to view. Click below for a free copy.) Arsenic has no smell or taste in drinking water. You need to test your well water to find out if arsenic is present. Visit U. S. Geological Survey at this link: http://co.water.usgs.gov/trace/arsenic/ for more information.

Will arsenic in water cause health problems? If you are exposed to arsenic, several factors that work in combination with each other will determine whether harmful effects may occur. These factors are: Dose - how much arsenic is in my body? Duration - how long and how often have I been exposed? Type of arsenic - have I been exposed to inorganic or organic arsenic? General health, nutrition status, age, and lifestyle. Some people may be affected by small levels of arsenic others may not. Young children, the elderly, people with long-term illnesses, and unborn babies are greatest risk. They can be more sensitive to chemical exposures.

What are the health effects of arsenic poisoning? The way arsenic harms our bodies is not fully known. Studies have not shown all the health problems caused by drinking contaminated water found in Michigan wells. Based on studies in other countries, long-term exposure to high arsenic levels in drinking water has caused the following effects: Thickening and discoloration of the skin. Sometimes these changes can lead to skin cancers. These cancers can easily cured if discovered early. Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Numbness in the hands and feet. Some of these problems can be seen with other illness, which makes it difficult for a doctor to detect arsenic poisoning. If you or your family members are worried about health problems you think are caused by arsenic in your well water, see your doctor. You should also have your well water tested.

Can a medical test tell me how much arsenic is in the body? Yes, there are several ways you can be tested for arsenic exposure. A urine test is a simple way to tell if you are being exposed to harmful levels of arsenic in your drinking water. However, this test will not tell you what type of arsenic is in your body. (To get the most accurate urine test results, do not eat any fish or seafood for at least three days before your test.)

Who can test the well water? The Health Division can give you a list of certified laboratories that will test for arsenic in your water. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Laboratory may also be of help.

What should be done if there is an elevated amount of arsenic in the well? Stop using your well water for drinking and cooking food. Bottled water can be used for these purposes. You may wish to have one or more additional water samples tested to confirm that your water is above acceptable levels. Extending the well casing deeper or drilling a new more shallow well, may be a possible solution. When a new well is not possible, connection to public water supply system may be an option. In-home water treatment devices are not a permanent solution. These devices require maintenance and should be considered only after other options have been considered.

For more information please contact: Shiawassee County Health Department Environmental Health Division Surbeck Building 210 N. Shiawassee Street Corunna, Michigan 48817 (989) 743-2390 [Environmental Health] [Type II & Type III] [Home]