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The Symptoms of Arsenic in Water

Arsenic can be found in drinking water throughout the world. High levels of arsenic in water may be a result of the natural occurrence of this substance in groundwater or it may be caused by local industrial activity. In the United States, thousands of pounds of arsenic are released by various industries annually. If levels are too high, arsenic poisoning may result in several observable symptoms, along with increasing the risk of a number of different conditions.

  1. Observable Symptoms

    • A number of symptoms indicate possible arsenic poisoning. These include gastrointestinal issues such as stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Numbness in the extremities and thickening or discoloration of the skin may also be observed. Blindness and partial paralysis can even occur in severe cases. Fatigue, heart arrhythmia and abnormal bruising are other possible symptoms of exposure to high levels of arsenic.

    Increased Risk

    • In addition to these more immediate symptoms, arsenic from inorganic sources has been shown to increase the risk of several types of cancer. Cancers that has been shown to be more likely due to exposure to inorganic arsenic include lung, liver and kidney cancer, skin cancer, bladder cancer and even prostate cancer. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease and disorders of the immune system, reproductive system or nervous system are other possible long-term consequences of arsenic exposure.

    Diagnosis

    • Arsenic builds up in the body and can be found in the hair, fingernails, blood and urine of affected individuals. Testing of the urine will show recent exposure to arsenic while testing the hair or fingernails can show arsenic exposure up to 12 months ago.

    Levels

    • The level of arsenic in drinking water directly affects the likelihood and severity of both acute and chronic symptoms. At a level of three micrograms per liter, an increase in the risk of skin, lung and bladder cancer can be expected. Acute symptoms such as gastrointestinal distress and tingling or numbness should only be apparent when arsenic levels in the water are very high, at or above 500 micrograms per liter.

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