DermNet provides Google Translate, a free machine translation service. Note that this may not provide an exact translation in all languages

Translate

Chronic arsenic poisoning

Author: Vanessa Ngan, Staff Writer, 2005. DermNet NZ revision August 2021.


toc-icon

What is chronic arsenic poisoning?

Chronic arsenic poisoning, also called arsenicosis, is due to repeated or continuous exposure to arsenic compounds, leading to the accumulation of arsenic in the body.

Who gets chronic arsenic poisoning?

The three main sources of exposure are occupational exposure, natural contaminants of drinking water (from some deep water wells) and stimulants used by sportsmen and in compounded medications such as the patent medicine, Fowler's tonic. 

Occupational exposure is mainly from the smelting industry, in which arsenic is a by-product of ores containing lead, gold, zinc, copper, cobalt, and nickel. It is also used in glass manufacturing and the microelectronics industry (where gallium arsenide is used to produce some semiconductor computer chips).

Arsenic has been found in ancient Chinese medicinal remedies. 

What causes chronic arsenic poisoning?

There are several forms of arsenic. Pentavalent arsenic is well absorbed through the gut but less toxic than the trivalent form which is more lipid soluble and absorbed through the skin. The most toxic form is arsine gas, which is inhaled.

Arsenic compounds are well absorbed within 24 hours and redistributed to the liver, lungs, intestinal wall, and spleen, where they bind to the sulfhydryl groups of tissue proteins. Arsenic also replaces phosphorus in the bone where it may remain for years. Hence, chronic poisoning can be detected years after exposure has stopped.

What are the clinical features of chronic arsenic poisoning?

Symptoms and signs of chronic arsenic poisoning may not start to appear until 2 to 8 weeks after exposure and some, such as skin cancers, may take years.

Skin features of chronic arsenic poisoning

Typical findings include:

Affected organ Features
Skin
  • Excessive darkening of the skin (hyperpigmentation) in areas that are not exposed to sunlight
  • Raindrop guttate hypopigmentation
  • Excessive formation of scaly skin on the palms and soles (arsenical keratosis)
  • Exfoliative dermatitis
  • Arsenic-induced skin cancers (especially Bowen disease)
Nails
  • Transverse white bands of arsenic deposits across the bed of the fingernails (Mee's lines)
Hair
  • Arsenic deposits in hair
Nervous system
  • Sensory changes, numbness and tingling in a “stocking-glove” distribution (sensory peripheral neuropathy)
  • Headache, drowsiness, confusion
  • The distal weakness of small muscles of the hands and feet
Blood and urine
  • Haemolytic anaemia (moderate)
  • Leukopenia (low white cell count)
  • Proteinuria (protein in the urine)
Other
  • Inflammation of respiratory mucosa
  • Peripheral vascular insufficiency
  • Increased risk of cancer of lung, liver, bladder, kidney and colon

How is chronic arsenic poisoning diagnosed?

Arsenic can be measured in blood and urine samples. Hair and nail samples may detect arsenic if exposure was only recently ceased.

Skin biopsy of arsenical keratoses show hyperkeratosis and papillomatosis, usually with no cellular atypia.

What is the treatment of chronic arsenic poisoning?

There is no specific treatment for chronic arsenic poisoning. Once it has been identified further exposure should be avoided.

Smoking should cease as the risk of lung and bladder cancer is markedly increased in smokers with chronic arsenic poisoning.

Arsenical keratoses may be treated with cryotherapy, curettage and diathermy or, if numerous, topical imiquimod and oral acitretin.

Regular skin checks may be recommended due to the increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer.

What is the outcome of chronic arsenic poisoning?

Recovery from the signs and symptoms may take weeks to months from when exposure is stopped. In particular, effects on the nervous system may take months to resolve and in some cases, a complete recovery is never achieved.

 

References

  • Book: Textbook of Dermatology. Ed Rook A, Wilkinson DS, Ebling FJB, Champion RH, Burton JL. Fourth edition. Blackwell Scientific Publications.
  • Arsenical Keratosis – Medscape Reference
  • Sengupta SR, Das NK, Datta PK. Pathogenesis, clinical features and pathology of chronic arsenicosis. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol [serial online] 2008 [cited 2009 Jan 26];74:559-70. Available from: http://www.ijdvl.com/text.asp?2008/74/6/559/45097

On DermNet

Other websites

  • Arsenic – World Health Organization (WHO)
  • Heavy Metal Toxicity – Life Extension
  • Heavy Metal Handbook: A Guide for Healthcare Practitioners. Science Subcommittee of the Heavy Metals Remediation Committee of the Vashon-Maury Island Community Island Community Council, 2003.

Books about skin diseases

 

Related information

Sign up to the newsletter