VPT 421: Veterinary Toxicology (2+0)

SOURCES OF ARSENIC POISONING

Among heavy metals, arsenic plays a major role in causing toxicological hazards .

Sources

• The most common arsenic compound in general use is arsenic trioxide.
• With alkalies, arsenic trioxide forms various arsenites.
• Heating of metal ores results in the production of arsenic trioxide some of which is carried to the surrounding in dust or smoke.
• Copper arsenite was formerly used as a cheap pigment for colouring wall papers, artificial flowers etc. But it has been discontinued, as it was the cause of many deaths.
• Copper acetoarsenite (Paris green) was used as an insecticide.
• Sodium and potassium arsenite are extensively used as weed killers, dressings for grains, insect poison, sheep dip and wood preservative.
• Arsenical dips are usually combined with sulphur for the use in sheep and cattle.
• Organic arsenicals are used in the treatment of blackhead (histomoniasis) in turkey and also as general tonics and skin alteratives.
• Acetarsol, neoarsphenamine, sulpharsphenamine and liquor arsenicals (Fowler’s solution) were used in the treatment of certain skin conditions and as skin alteratives.
• Arsenic poisoning in animals is practically always due to human carelessness.
• Animals gaining access to receptacles that contained arsenical dips, weed killers or insecticides.
• Contamination of herbage by lead and calcium arsenate sprays.
• Contamination of water and herbage in the neighbourhood of metal smelting works.
• Animals licking wood preserved with an arsenical preparation.
• Inadvertent use of arsenicals because of their resemblance to other preparations.
• Ingestion of arsenical rat poison.
• Following dipping in arsenical baths.
• Use of contaminated deep well water