Review On Arsenic Toxicity: Effect On Human Health And Biochemical Aspects

Abstract

Looking at the global scenario, it has been found that a huge perccntage of population around the globe consider groundwater as their main source for drinking. But unfortunately, this main source is being heavily exposed to various heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, arsenic making it unfit for consumption, ultimately posing threat to human health out there. Although groundwater is considered as safe, but high concentrations of heavy metals like arsenic (As) (above the permissible limit) in ground water can pose risk to human health. Toxicity level of inorganic arsenic is more than the organic one. Arsenic contamination is having a worldwide effect. Arsenic is found to be carcinogcnic in nature, genotoxic as well as cytotoxic. Prolonged exposure to arsenic causes various health hazards like arsenicosis, skin cancer, pigmentation, neurobehavioral effects, impaired intellect and various other chronic illness. Creating awareness and providing proper medical care still remains a big challenge. The biomarkers of arsenic exposure include nails, hair, urine and blood sample. This paper provides an overall overview of ground water arsenic contamination, its health hazards, its toxicity and metabolism in human body. The paper also reviews various analytical techniques that are being used to detect arsenic, the collective steps required to eradicate this global problem and provide high quality safe drinking water for the future generations to come.