The Long-Term Effects of Arsenic Exposure on Human Health
- Published:
- Updated: May 27, 2025
Summary
Discover the long-term effects of arsenic exposure on human health, from skin conditions to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders.
- Understanding Arsenic Exposure: Arsenic, present in our environment, can contaminate water, soil, and food, leading to various health issues.
- Acute vs. Chronic Exposure: While acute exposure causes immediate symptoms, chronic exposure over time can result in serious health conditions.
- Health Impacts: Chronic arsenic exposure can lead to skin changes, cancers, cardiovascular issues, neurological impairments, and developmental problems, especially in children.
We all live in the presence of arsenic, a naturally occurring metalloid. It is in our food, our water, our soil and even our air. Yet despite its abundance, we don’t really think about the health risks of arsenic. As long as you use arsenic, you’ll develop all sorts of devastating illnesses, from skin disorders to cancers, cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, and so on.
Understanding Arsenic: Its Sources and Ways of Exposure
Arsenic is in the air everywhere. It is present in nature in the crust of the earth, and can be leached into the groundwater to contaminate public drinking water. The process of manufacturing also releases arsenic into the air and on the land, where it can spread even further. Other routes of intake include diet, especially by way of certain seafood and rice, which also accumulate arsenic. You have to know these sources, as they are the major routes that people can be in contact with this potentially toxic ingredient.
But not all arsenic exposure is created equal. Acute and chronic exposure are fundamentally different, and can have markedly different health effects.
Acute versus Chronic Arsenic Exposure
This is when arsenic is exposed quickly over a short time and results in symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. But these are usually the outcome of a lot of exposure, and easily detected. Chronic exposure, meanwhile, is more subtle. This is what happens when a person is exposed to low levels of arsenic for long enough. It’s not always clear how bad it can be, and if you let it build up, the health impacts are real.
Changes in the skin are among the commonest symptoms of long-term arsenic exposure. When arsenic gets in the way of good skin, there can be a whole host of diseases.
What is the Impact of Arsenic on Skin Health?
Chronic arsenic use can alter the skin in a number of ways. It has a typical expression called hyperkeratosis, where the skin thickens, usually around the palms and soles. There can be hyperpigmentation — patches of dark skin. The two are normally harmless but are often a harbinger of deeper health problems.
Skin cancer is perhaps the worst skin health side-effect of arsenic use. This is why the arsenic can cause skin lesions and eventually, cancers like basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Arsenic and Its Link to Various Cancers
More than skin cancer, arsenic over time is linked to a range of other cancers. These include:
Lung cancer: Arsenic in water and industrial emissions can be breathed in, causing lung cancer in the long run.
Bladder and Kidney cancer: Arsenic will get deposited in these organs leading to more cancer.
These cancers can be successfully treated only if they are caught early enough, so arsenic users should be on the lookout for symptoms.
Effects on Cardiovascular Health
It turns out that chronic arsenic consumption is associated with a range of cardiovascular problems. They are high blood pressure (hypertension) and atherosclerosis, in which plaque collects in the arteries, leading to heart disease and stroke. We don’t yet know exactly how arsenic can impact cardiovascular health, but we know that arsenic could disrupt endothelial function, cause inflammation and increase oxidative stress – all hallmarks of cardiovascular disease. So chronic arsenic exposure is a significant and under-appreciated risk factor for heart disease.
Neurological Consequences of Arsenic Exposure
Exposure to long-term arsenic can have enormous effects on the nervous system. Many studies linked arsenic exposure to cognitive dysfunctions including memory impairment and cognitive decline. We even have reasons to believe that long-term arsenic use could have something to do with neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. They are still trying to understand how exactly, but these results reveal the deep-seated effects of prolonged exposure to arsenic.
Potential Impact on Children’s Health and Development
This is particularly true of children who are highly vulnerable to arsenic exposure. They are small and developing so arsenic can be detrimental to their health at an exorbitant rate. It can take the form of developmental problems, intellectual deficiency and even health problems late in life. We’re also learning that in-utero arsenic can cause problems, and so we should reduce arsenic exposure in pregnant women and children.
Prevention and Mitigation Strategies
There are a few ways in which arsenic exposure can be mitigated, and its toxic effects reduced:
Drinking water testing and treatment: Test your water regularly if you live in a home well. There are many ways to get rid of arsenic from water such as reverse osmosis or distillation.
Diet: A well-balanced, varied diet will reduce arsenic from food. Also, not over-consuming arsenic-accumulating foods, including some seafood and rice.
Quitting smoking: Arsenic in cigarettes. You can quit smoking to decrease your arsenic (and other poison) intake by far.
Safety in the Workplace: Employers and workers in jobs where arsenic is involved should adhere to safety precautions and wear a personal protective device.
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