Arsenic - 33As: biological information
Arsenic, despite its poisonous reputation, may be a necessary ultratrace element for humans. It is a necessary ultratrace element for red algae, chickens, rats, goats, and pigs. A deficiency results in inhibited growth.
Levels in humans
The abundances of the elements in humans.
- Human abundance by weight: 50 ppb by weight
- Human abundance by atoms: 4 atoms relative to C = 1000000
How much arsenic is in your body? Find out here.
You can use this form to calculate how much arsenic your body contains. Enter your weight in either kilograms or pounds and click the "Calculate" button. You must enter a number, not text! Elements for which there are no data will always give a value of zero for the weight, no matter what you put in the weight box.
Hazards and Risks
Hazards and risks associated with arsenic:
Arsenic compounds are very poisonous to plants and animals. Arsenic compounds cause cancer and may be teratogenic.
References
- J.E. Huheey, E.A. Keiter, and R.L. Keiter in Inorganic Chemistry : Principles of Structure and Reactivity, 4th edition, HarperCollins, New York, USA, 1993.
- S. Budavari (Ed.) in The Merck Index, 11th ed., Merck, USA, 1989.
- N.N. Greenwood and A. Earnshaw in Chemistry of the Elements, 2nd edition, Butterworth, UK, 1997.