Acute and Chronic Arsenic Poisoning Symptoms

Acute symptoms of arsenic poisoning typically include vomiting, esophageal and abdominal pain as well as bloody "rice water" diarrhoea.

Chelation therapy is often effective in acute arsenic poisoning or arsenic toxicity, but should not be used for long-term arsenic poisoning.

Arsenic water contamination in our drinking water represents a great hazard to public health, since arsenic in groundwater is mainly inorganic and highly toxic. Locally you may also be exposed to arsenic at work by mining and industrial emissions.

Chronic arsenic symptoms of arsenic poisoning occur after many years of exposure through drinking water. These arsenic symptoms are very different to acute arsenic poisoning symptoms. The first changes that are usually seen are in the skin. Skin pigmentation changes and then hyperkeratosis occurs. Skin cancer occurs much later and usually takes more than 10 years to develop.

Long-term exposure to arsenic toxicity via drinking water is thought to cause:

• Skin, lung, urinary, bladder, prostate and kidney cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Anemia
• Reproductive defects
• Developmental, immunological, and neurological effects.

To find out more about arsenic poisoning take a moment to look at the excellent information supplied by the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC).

A good quality arsenic water filter will allow you to consume the best possible clean and great tasting water right in your own home and significantly lower the risks of arsenic poisoning.