The Effects Of Arsenic On Human Health - 2636 Words

Kahhow Lee Environmental Studies Professor Harbi On the effect of Arsenic on Human Health: a comparison between Carson’s account and modern research 1 Introduction Arsenic is a ubiquitous carcinogen that is both produced commercially and prevalent in nature. Its clinical harms to humans include hypertension, cardiovascular diseases (Chen 53; Chen 342; Tseng 15) and diabetes as well as typically skin, lung and bladder cancer (Rohan 7; IPCS 521). Given its toxicity and its potential to contaminate water, air, and soil from both geological and anthropogenic sources, it is therefore of significant environmental concern. This paper aims to discuss the harms and benefits of Arsenic by comparing Rachel Carson’s account of Arsenic in Silent Spring to modern research. It is noteworthy that although her findings are largely accurate, it fails to account for the benefits of Arsenic to human health as a form of specialized treatment. This paper will also present reasons as to why in spite of the rise of immunotherapy as an alternative treatment to Arsenic while avoiding risks of Arsenic, its prohibitive costs implies that Arsenic still has a role in making specialized medical treatment accessible to particular patients. Namely, the following questions will be answered: - What are the harms of Arsenic? - What are the benefits of Arsenic? - Can the benefits of Arsenic be replaced by Immunotherapy? Does the risk of using Arsenic outweigh its benefits? 2 Harms of Arsenic 2.1 Carson’sShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Arsenic On The Human Health Risk Of Arsenic1041 Words   |  5 Pagesand mobilization of arsenic (As) in groundwater are hot topic that have received a significant attention among the scientific communities in the last two decades as a consequence of the human health risk associated with ingestion of As-containing water in the Ganges delta region (Welch and Stollenwerk 2003; Reza and Jean 2012; Joseph et al. 2015). Geochemical process of As in groundwater is increasing with time, which aggravates anxiety due to its toxic effects for the human. It is reported thatRead MoreChemical Coagulation vs Electrocoagulation for Groundwater Treatment1595 Words   |  6 PagesArsenic contamination in groundwater has become a major health problem for human being. There are many treatment methods have been developed for arsenic removal. It is important to develop a treatment method that is economical and accessible for people who live in rural are as and cannot afford the expensive treatment methods. Due to its several advantages, such as low cost and maintenance, electrocoagulation is one of the promising methods that can be used for arsenic treatment. In this study, weRead MoreThe Effects Of Arsenic On Drinking Water Essay1351 Words   |  6 PagesAnalysis of Arsenic in Drinking Water Analysis: Trends Arsenic is well known for its dangerous toxic features it brings to humans and the environment. But, it was not until the late 1980’s did scientists and public health officials realized that even at low doses of ingestion, arsenic is very dangerous and can cause serious health effects (Bolt, 2013). Till this day arsenic continues to be a huge public health issue, not only in parts of the United States but in developing countries worldwide (BoltRead MoreGluten Free Essay707 Words   |  3 Pagestrend in the U.S., arguably a response to the growing number of cases of celiac disease, which currently affects less than 1 percent of Americans. Arsenic is a naturally occurring metalloid found in nature, and it is common for trace amounts to be present in the food and water. It has been proven to be a carcinogenic to humans based on evidence from human studies demonstrating that acute exposure has the potential to cause cancer of the lung, bladder, and skin, as well as cardiovascula r disease. SourceRead MoreThe Effects Of Chemical Contamination On The World s Water Supply Essay1472 Words   |  6 Pagesarmy hop/skips on its bladder (relies on delivery). Whether entering the body or leaving it, the world waits for only one thing, Water. Everyone requires water for their survival, so fortunately, as of 2004, the World Health Organization reported that for the first time in human history, 50% of households in the world have access to running water. Unfortunately, the quality of that water has been slipping for decades. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 90% of the world’s water hasRead MoreThe Link Between Human Health And Groundwater Essay1617 Words   |  7 Pagesoverview of the connection between human health and groundwater. Written by Stephen Foster and Gillian Tyson (2016), the key messages of this article are how many of us rely on groundwater, which makes us more susceptible to pollution, and the effects of pesticides and chemi cals. Published by the International Association of Hydrogeologists, this article directly relates to two of the United Nation’s Sustainability Goals, which are Clean Water and Sanitation, and Good Health and Well-Being, as well as beingRead MoreCancer : One Of The Most Adverse Effects Of Human Cancer1216 Words   |  5 PagesEpidemiologic studies have indicated that most human cancers are originally caused by environmental exposure to genotoxic agents (Doll et al., 1981). With respect to global human health hazard, arsenic (As) is one of the most important environmental single substance toxicants. It is a metalloid element and exists in organic and inorganic forms (iAs). Later is considered as a class I human carcinogen (IARC, 2004, 2012) and is associated with adverse effects dependent on dose, duration and exposure frequencyRead MoreWater Pollution in Bangladesh1429 Words   |  6 PagesKarnaphuli, and Rupsha. However, concerns over surface water quality are gradually em erging due to the dispersed locations of polluting industries, and the adverse effect on surrounding land and aquatic ecosystems, as well as subsequent impacts on the livelihood system of the local community. The extreme examples of this type of effect are near Dhaka at Konabari and Savar, where industrial effluents are discharged into nearby land and water bodies without any treatment. Among the polluted areas, theRead MoreInadequate Sanitary Facilities At Dhaka Water And Sewerage Authority ( Dwasa ) Essay1596 Words   |  7 Pagesenvironmental hazards. 4. Arsenic Contamination of Ground Water Arsenic in ground water poses a serious environmental hazard for Bangladesh. About ninety-seven percentages (97%) of Bangladesh people have been using ground water as the main source of drinking water but the water has been threatened by arsenic contamination. More than half (52%) of the studied population drink well-water containing 50ug/L of arsenic and more than two-thirds (70%) drink well-water containing 10ug/L of arsenic. The acceptableRead MoreE Waste Environmental Impact And The Need For Federal Laws1093 Words   |  5 Pagesunsustainable. The toxic materials contained in these products have the potential to destroy the environment and taint our food and water supply. A review of several state laws revealed a patchwork incapable of mitigating the negative ecological and health effects of the tons of E-waste being dumped annually. The only logical answer to the nation’s E-waste problem is strong federal legislation that is enforced nationwide, combined with incentive aimed at getting consumers to recycle E-waste products.