For centuries, arsenic has been the most widely used mineral for criminal purpose. Arsenic is a very toxic element that is widely distributed in nature and is abundantly available in many ores, soils and mineral waters. It is found in a variety of household items including tobacco smoke, laundry detergent, bone meal, sea food, beer and even drinking water. Currently, arsenic is used primarily in the production of glass and semiconductors, in wood and hide preservation and as an additive to metal alloys to increase hardening and heat resistance.
Arsenic primarily exists in the environment in the form of sulphide complexes like realgar, orpiment and iron pyrites. Upon heating, these sulphides are oxidized and get converted into arsenic trioxide, which is a fine granular white-colored powder known as white arsenic. Hydrolysis of metal arsenides results in formation of another arsenic compound known as Arsine gas.
HEPATIC
Arsenic poisoning is a medical condition that can be described as presence of excessive amounts of arsenic in the blood stream. Arsenic poisoning primarily occurs due to trivalent forms of arsenic that can get easily absorbed through the mucous membrane in the nasal cavity or through skin. Arsenic also gets easily absorbed through the intestinal lining inside the gastro-intestinal tract. Once absorbed, this metal immediately gets redistributed to several internal organs inside the body including liver, kidney, spleen, lungs, muscle and nervous tissue.
Symptoms of acute arsenic intoxication occur within 30 minutes of exposure. Initial symptoms include mild headache, lightheadedness, dry mouth and dysphagia. Other characteristic symptoms that develop as the time prolongs include abdominal pain, severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. People also experience symptoms like difficulty in breathing, convulsions, renal damage, hepatic failure, acute hemolysis, vertigo, skeletal muscle cramps, periorbital edema and eventually death.
Arsenic Poisoning HEPATIC
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