Arsenic (As)
Sources of arsenic
include: contaminated foods (especially seafood), water or
medications. Industrial sources of arsenic are: ore
smelting/refining/processing plants, galvanizing, etching plating
processes. Tailing from ore river bottoms near gold mining areas
(past or present) may contain arsenic. Insecticides, rodenticides
and fungicides (Na-, K- arsenites, arsenates, also oxides are
commercially available). Commercial arsenic products include: sodium
arsenite, calcium arsenate, lead arsenate and ”Paris green” which is
cupric acetoarsenite, a wood preservative (arsenic pressure treated wood). Chronic exposure to or ingestion of arsenic causes tissue
levels to gradually increase as arsenic binds to sulfur,
phosphorus and selenium. An important detrimental effect of arsenic is
inactivation of Lipoic acid, a vitamin cofactor needed for
metabolism of Pyruvate and alpha-ketoglutarate. Symptoms consistent with mild or moderate arsenic exposure
include: fatigue, malaise, eczema or allergic-like dermatitis, and
garlic-like breath. Increased salivation may occur.
If you suspect that
you have an elevated Arsenic level, it is important for you to know
that a simple blood test is limited only determining recent exposure
to arsenic. It will not measure long term exposure or total
tissue levels of arsenic. Here at Chelation Medical Center we
can do a provoked challenge, with a urine collection which will show
your total body load of arsenic, as well as other heavy metals.
It is recommended that you avoid eating fish for about four days
prior to being tested for arsenic levels to determine accurate
tissue levels of arsenic. We can also help you with water
testing for Arsenic levels. Just give us a call.
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