Arsenic

Arsenic and Old Waste

Arsenic is a notorious toxin and it has been used in pesticides -- past and present. Arsenic is toxic to a variety of living things, so it has been used in different kinds of pesticides - insecticides, fungicides, & herbicides. Because it does not degrade, arsenic can continue to be a problem wherever it has been used. People are exposed to these arsenic residues mainly through skin contact with contaminated soil or treated wood surfaces. Children can 'eat' arsenic when they put their hands in their mouths after touching arsenic-laced wood or soil. The US Environmental Protection Agency classifies inorganic arsenic* as a cancer-causing agent in humans. It is linked to many kinds of cancers. Animal studies show that inorganic arsenic can cause birth defects. read more...