Contamination of the environment with arsenic (As) from both anthropogenic andnatural sources has occurred in many parts of the world and is recognized as a globalproblem. Principal anthropogenic sources of As include base metal smelters, goldmines, power plants that burn As-rich coals or treated lumber, disposal sites forwastes. from As-processing plants, as well as industrial and municipal dump sites. Inmany areas, the levels of As in the environment have become one of concern andepidemiological studies have documented various adverse health effects on localpopulations. Arsenic poisoning episodes from exposure to industrial sources havebeen reported all over the world; for instance, in Japan, where cases have beenassociated with pollution around As mines and pollution of groundwater aroundAs-using industries and industrial waste burial sites. Other examples of contaminatedenvironments with increased risk for As poisoning include agricultural lands treated with arsenical pesticides, urban areas, war zones defoliated or sprayed with Ascompounds, and the superfund sites in the United States and other countries.Although a lot of people get exposed, most often, however, it is not possible toassociate the exposure to elevated As levels with adverse human health effects.Nevertheless, long-term cumulative exposure to As in these contaminated environ-ments should be a matter of public health concern and scientific interest.
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