You may think that arsenic is simply a sneaky murder weapon in a Miss Marple novel, but not only is it still around today, it’s a real threat to your environmental wellness. Arsenic is a natural element found widely in the earth’s crust, and it has been known to contaminate water supplies and wells. As you know from your Miss Marple novel, exposure to high levels of arsenic can considerably affect your wellbeing.
There are trace amounts of arsenic in all living matter but your main sources of exposure are you food, drinking water, air and soil. When you’re living near a source of arsenic, water is the main source that puts your wellness at risk. Arsenic can enter your water supply via natural means, as mineral deposits or rocks found in lakes, rivers and underground water dissolve, releasing the arsenic within. Otherwise, arsenic can get into your water when industrial companies dispose of their waste, or when arsenic particles find their way into dust, rain and snow. This can happen when:
- Fossil fuels (especially coal) are burned
- Metals are produced (as with the mining of gold and base metals)
- Agricultural methods use pesticides and feed additives
- Waste is burned
Unfortunately, you can’t tell if there’s arsenic in your water just by looking at or smelling it, (which is why is makes for such a good Marple murder weapon!) Arsenic is both tasteless and odourless, but the good news is that it tends to be found in very specific regions, and so it may not have contaminated the water in your area. The best thing to do is get online or contact your local authorities and find out if you live in an area that has natural sources of arsenic or is known to have high levels of arsenic in its groundwater.
If you do find that arsenic contamination is indeed a threat to your wellness, your next step is to have your water tested. This is highly recommended, and is simply a case of contacting your regional public health office or local drinking water authorities. Luckily, there are laboratories with specialised equipment that are able to conduct tests to measure arsenic in your body. This will often involve a urine test, as this can indicate any recent arsenic exposure. The question remains, however, what’s the point?
When you swallow arsenic through your drinking water, your body absorbs and distributes it throughout your blood stream. Remember, this is only through ingesting the mineral – you cannot have arsenic in your body simply via skin contact or inhalation while bathing or showering. You’ll find the highest concentrations of arsenic in your nails and hair, as it is here that the mineral accumulates over time. Fortunately, your body gets rid of most of the arsenic when you urinate, and in smaller amounts through your skin, hair, nails and sweat. Still, there are health complications to consider.
According to research in Taiwan, where the drinking water contains naturally high levels of arsenic (over 0.35ppm), consuming this drinking water during your lifetime can increase your risk of cancer in your internal organs, such as your bladder, liver and even your lungs. Over in Canada, Health Canada and the International Agency for Research on Cancer consider arsenic a human cancer-causing agent, but cancer isn’
t the only way that exposure to high levels of arsenic in drinking water can threaten your health. You can also experience:
- Skin thickening and discoloration
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain, muscle pain and cramping.
- Decreased production of your blood cells
- Damage to your blood vessels
- An abnormal heart rhythm
- Skin rashes, flushing and weakness
- Numbness, burning or tingling in your hands and feet
- Loss of movement and sensory responses.