Inspired by the story of the Protest Already, CQC program Band-Brazil, who denounced the mining company Queiroz of the city of Paracatu-MG by local community poisoning by arsenic, I decided to conduct some research in the literature about the risks of poisoning by the chemical agent mentioned.
In case you haven’t seen the article yet, you can check out with the link below (In portuguese Brazil):
Link: http://entretenimento.band.uol.com.br/cqc/videos/proteste-ja/
ARSENIC POISONING
The arsenic is used in hardening of metals such as copper and lead, in solid products of silicon and germanium. Its salts are used in the manufacture of herbicides and rodenticides, in semiconductors and in pyrotechnics.
The arsenic trioxide is being used in experimental research for the treatment of solid tumors like gastric cancer and tumors in the head and neck.
Health risks
All compounds of arsenic are toxic. The lethal dose for humans is 1 to 2 mg/kg body weight. Their toxicity varies according to the State of metal and with the solubility. Thus, the trivalent arsenic inorganic compounds such as arsenic trichloride, arsenic trioxide and arsine are highly toxic-more poisonous than the metal and its salts pentavalentes.
Lewsite: the arsenic compound Lewisite, is a strong cause of vesicles that can penetrate the skin and cause lesions on the exhibition area. Lewsite was used as a poison gas in World War I.
Arsenic sulfide: is less soluble and less acute toxicity.
Routes of exposure: the arsenic is absorbed by the body through gastrointestinal and inhalation.
Clinical Phase:
Acute:
• Fever, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory tract irritation, nasal septal ulcers and dermatitis.
Conical:
• Can produce skin pigmentation, peripheral neuropathy and degeneration of the liver and the kidneys.
The arsenic is carcinogenic to humans. Oral ingestion is responsible for an increase in the incidence of tumors in the liver, blood and lungs.
The mutagenic effects of arsenic were reviewed by (Basu el al. 2001).Bernstam et al. (2002) measured the Percutaneous absorption of As (III) and (V) The in vitro using artificial skin. The authors observed that The (III) low exposure doses equal to 10 mg/L can cause significant morphological changes, disruption of cell membrane and inhibition of DNA and protein synthesis.In this way, the authors realized that tri-concentrations of pentavalent arsenic or levels above 100 mg/L in water from showers or the sink can manifest harmful effects.
Toxicodinamic stage: the toxic effects of arsenic are attributed to their binding properties with sulfur. Form complexes with coenzymes. This inhibits the production of ATP which is essential for the metabolism of the body’s energy.
Antidotes:
• 2.3-dimercapto-1-propanol: antidote against intoxication.
• 2.3 ditioritritol is a more efficient and less toxic antidote.
Written by: Gustavo Coutinho Bacellar-occupational physician
References:
Book ACGIH 2015, p13.
General Guide Book Harmful Properties of chemicals p596 and 597.
| Substance
(ACGIH, 2015) |
TLV-TWA | TLV-STEL (C) | ||
| ppm | mg/m3 | ppm | mg/m3 | |
| Arsênic | – | 0,01 | – | – |
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