title: Arsenic and human health effects: A review.
abstract: Arsenic (As) is ubiquitous in nature and humans being exposed to arsenic via atmospheric air, ground water and food sources are certain. Major sources of arsenic contamination could be either through geological or via anthropogenic activities. In physiological individuals, organ system is described as group of organs that transact collectively and associate with other systems for conventional body functions. Arsenic has been associated with persuading a variety of complications in body organ systems: integumentary, nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, hematopoietic, immune, endocrine, hepatic, renal, reproductive system and development. In this review, we outline the effects of arsenic on the human body with a main focus on assorted organ systems with respective disease conditions. Additionally, underlying mechanisms of disease development in each organ system due to arsenic have also been explored. Strikingly, arsenic has been able to induce epigenetic changes (in utero) and genetic mutations (a leading cause of cancer) in the body. Occurrence of various arsenic induced health effects involving emerging areas such as epigenetics and cancer along with their respective mechanisms are also briefly discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna, Matara 81000, Sri Lanka. Electronic address: khajashameem@zoo.ruh.ac.lk.
authors.forename: Khaja Shameem Mohammed
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Abdul
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Sudheera Sammanthi
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jayasinghe
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna, Matara 81000, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Ediriweera P S
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Chandana
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Rajarata University, Anuradhapura 50008, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Channa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jayasumana
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna, Matara 81000, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: P Mangala C S
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: De Silva
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Arsenic; Environmental exposure; Epigenesis; Neoplasms; Organs at risk; Toxicity