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AIR POLLUTION ASPECTS
OF
ARSENIC AND ITS COMPOUNDS
Prepared for the
National Air Pollution Control Administration
Consumer Protection & Environmental Health Service
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
(Contract No. PH-22-68-25)
Compiled by Ralph J. Sullivan
Litton Systems, Inc.
Environmental Systems Division
7300 Pearl Street
Bethesda, Maryland 20014
September 1969
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FOREWORD
As the concern for air quality grows, so does the con-
cern over the less ubiquitous but potentially harmful contami-
nants that are in our atmosphere. Thirty such pollutants have
been identified, and available information has been summarized
in a series of reports describing their sources, distribution,
effects, and control technology for their abatement.
A total of 27 reports have been prepared covering the
30 pollutants. These reports were developed under contract
for the National Air Pollution Control Administration (NAPCA) by
Litton Systems, Inc. The complete listing is as follows:
Aeroallergens (pollens) Ethylene
Aldehydes (includes acrolein Hydrochloric Acid
and formaldehyde) Hydrogen Sulfide
Ammonia Iron and Its Compounds
Arsenic and Its Compounds Manganese and Its Compounds
Asbestos Mercury and Its Compounds
Barium and Its Compounds Nickel and Its Compounds
Beryllium and Its Compounds Odorous Compounds
Biological Aerosols Organic Carcinogens
(microorganisms) Pesticides
Boron and Its Compounds Phosphorus and Its Compounds
Cadmium and Its Compounds Radioactive Substances
Chlorine Gas Selenium and Its Compounds
Chromium and Its Compounds Vanadium and Its Compounds
(includes chromic acid) Zinc and Its Compounds
These reports represent current state-of-the-art
literature reviews supplemented by discussions with selected
knowledgeable individuals both within and outside the Federal
Government. They do not however presume to be a synthesis of
available information but rather a summary without an attempt
to interpret or reconcile conflicting data. The reports are
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necessarily limited in their discussion of health effects for
some pollutants to descriptions of occupational health expo-
sures and animal laboratory studies since only a few epidemic-
logic studies were available.
Initially these reports were generally intended as
internal documents within NAPCA to provide a basis for sound
decision-making on program guidance for future research
activities and to allow ranking of future activities relating
to the development of criteria and control technology docu-
ments. However, it is apparent that these reports may also
be of significant value to many others in air pollution control,
such as State or local air pollution control officials, as a
library of information on which to base informed decisions on
pollutants to be controlled in their geographic areas. Addi-
tionally, these reports may stimulate scientific investigators
to pursue research in needed areas. They also provide for the
interested citizen readily available information about a given
pollutant. Therefore, they are being given wide distribution
with the assumption that they will be used with full knowledge
of their value and limitations.
This series of reports was compiled and prepared by the
Litton personnel listed below:
Ralph J. Sullivan
Quade R. Stahl, Ph.D.
Norman L. Durocher
Yanis C. Athanassiadis
Sydney Miner
Harold Finkelstein, Ph.D.
Douglas A. Olsen, Ph0D.
James L. Haynes
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The NAPCA project officer for the contract was Ronald C.
Campbell, assisted by Dr. Emanuel Landau and Gerald Chapman.
Appreciation is expressed to the many individuals both
outside and within NAPCA who provided information and reviewed
draft copies of these reports. Appreciation is also expressed
to the NAPCA Office of Technical Information and Publications
for their support in providing a significant portion of the
technical literature.
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ABSTRACT
Arsenic and its compounds are known to be toxic to
humans, animals, and plants. Arsenical dusts may produce der-
matitis, bronchitis, and irritation to the upper respiratory
tract. Medicinal ingestion of arsenic has produced keratoses
and cancer of the skin. The relationship of arsenic to other
types of cancer, particularly lung tumors, is uncertain.
Herbivorous animals have been poisoned after eating plants con-
taminated with arsenic compounds.
Arsenic is produced by smelters processing arsenical
ores. Because there is no economic incentive to remove arsenic
from the exhaust fumes of smelting, the smelter is a potential
local pollution source.
Arsenical compounds are used as insecticides and herbi-
cides. The use of arsenic in pesticides has declined since
the appearance of organic pesticides. The largest quantity
of arsenic is used as a desiccant for cotton prior to machine
picking. As a result, arsenic air pollution occurs during
cotton ginning and the burning of cotton trash.
Coal also contains a small amount of arsenic, and for
this reason, most city air contains a small amount of arsenic
given off by combustion of coal. The 1964 average daily con-
centration was 0.02
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Particulate control of emissions from smelters and cot-
ton gins appears to be adequate to control arsenic. However/
hot exhaust gases must be cooled prior to removing arsenic as
particulate because arsenic trioxide sublimes at 193°C.
No information has been found on the economic costs of
arsenic air pollution or on the costs of its abatement.
Methods of analysis are available for the measurement
of arsenic at concentrations in ambient air.
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CONTENTS
FOREWORD
ABSTRACT
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. EFFECTS . 2
2.1 Effect on Humans 2
2.1.1 Carcinogenesis 4
2.1.2 Community Episodes 7
2.2 Effects on Animals . 10
2.2.1 Commercial and Domestic Animals ... 10
2.2.2 Experimental Animals 11
2.3 Effects on Plants 13
2.4 Effects on Materials 14
2.5 Environmental Air Standards 14
3. SOURCES 16
3.1 Natural Occurrence 16
3.2 Production Sources „ 16
3.3 Product Sources 21
3.3.1 Pesticides 21
3.3.2 Cotton Gins 22
3.4 Other Sources 23
3.5 Environmental Air Concentrations 24
4. ABATEMENT 25
5. ECONOMICS 26
6. METHODS OF ANALYSIS 27
6.1 Sampling Methods 27
6.2 Quantitative Methods 27
7. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS . 29
REFERENCES
APPENDIX
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CONTENTS
FOREWORD
ABSTRACT
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. EFFECTS „ 2
2.1 Effect on Humans . . „ 2
2.1.1 Carcinogenesis 4
2.1.2 Community Episodes 7
2.2 Effects on Animals „ 10
2.2.1 Commercial and Domestic Animals ... 10
2.2.2 Experimental Animals 11
2.3 Effects on Plants 13
2.4 Effects on Materials 14
2.5 Environmental Air Standards 14
3. SOURCES 16
3.1 Natural Occurrence 16
3.2 Production Sources „ 16
3.3 Product Sources 21
3.3.1 Pesticides 21
3.3.2 Cotton Gins 22
3.4 Other Sources 23
3.5 Environmental Air Concentrations 24
4. ABATEMENT 25
5. ECONOMICS 26
6. METHODS OF ANALYSIS 27
6.1 Sampling Methods 27
6.2 Quantitative Methods 27
7. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 29
REFERENCES
APPENDIX
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LIST OF TABLES
1. Symptoms of Arsenic Poisoning 3
2. Arsenic Contamination in a Western Mining Community . 8
3. The Concentration of Arsenic Near a Copper Mine in
Northern Chile 9
4. Emission Standards for Arsenic in Effluent Air or
Gases 15
5. Arsenical Pollution Potential From Mills in Colorado,
1963 20
6. Production of Selected Pesticides, United States ... 41
7. Arsenical Pesticides Recommended for Use by the
Department of Agriculture, 1968 42
8. Quantities of Arsenical Pesticides Used by Farmers
in 48 States, 1964 43
9. Arsenic and Lead Concentration in the Air of Orchards
Where Lead Arsenate was Used as An Insecticide .... 44
10. Suspended Particulate and Arsenic Concentrations in the
Air Near Cotton Gins in West Texas, 1964 45
11. Particulate Emissions from Stoneville Cotton Gin ... 45
12. Estimated Rates of Emission of Arsenic from Cotton
Gins 46
13. Air Concentration of Arsenic, 1950 46
14. Air Concentrations of Arsenic in Cities of the U.S.,
1953 47
15. Concentration of Arsenic in Air, Full-Year Data ... 48
16. Urban and Nonurban Concentration of Arsenic in Air,
1964 50
17. Concentration of Arsenic in the Air of Montana Cities,
1961-62 56
18. Properties, Toxicity, and Uses of Some Arsenic
Compounds 57
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INTRODUCTION
Air pollution caused by arsenical compounds has been
i^9'10 ^ 21,22,23
observed near gold and copper smelters as well as
40
in the areas where arsenic is used for agricultural purposes.
A small amount of arsenic can be measured in the air in most
2,3,55
cities.
Arsenic is a common industrial nuisance wherever arsenical
28,29
ores are smeltered. Before the advent of organic
insecticides (e.g., DDT) the use of arsenicals as pesticides
was increasing. However, since then, their use has leveled
off and perhaps declined as the organic pesticides have taken
their place. As a result, the supply of arsenic is greater than
the demand, and the only economic incentive to remove arsenic
from the exhaust fumes of smelters is the presence of other
trace metals, such as tellurium, selenium, tin, zinc, and
antimony.
Arsenic trioxide (white arsenic, arsenious oxide, As^O )
«j
is the common commercial form of arsenic. Most compounds of
arsenic, when heated in air, are converted to this tasteless,
toxic, white powder. Arsenic metal, arsenic sulfides, arsine,
arsenic(V) oxides (in the presence of a reducing agent), and
organic arsenates, are all converted by heat and oxygen to
: 193°<
28,29
arsenic trioxide. Since arsenic trioxide sublimes at 193°C,
it is easily suspended as small particles in the air.
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2. EFFECTS
The effect of arsenic on humans, animals, and plants
depends on the level of concentration and particular chemical
compound in which it is found. Arsine, AsH3, is extremely toxic
while metallic arsenic is nontoxic. While organic arsenates,
such as cacodylic acid, (CH_)2H AsO , are toxic to plants, they
are relatively less toxic to animals, while the reverse is true
12 19
for calcium and lead arsenates. Buchanan and Frost have
recently written excellent reviews on the toxicity and
biological effects of arsenic.
2.1 Effect on Humans
When arsenical compounds are present in the air, arsenic
may be absorbed by inhalation, ingestion, or absorption
through the skin. The airborne arsenic dust frequently causes
irritation of the skin and mucous membranes, absorption taking
place most readily on moist surfaces such as folds in the skin
or mucous membranes. Thus, dermatitis, mild bronchitis, and
nasal irritation are common symptoms of arsenic poisoning.
With more severe exposure, perforation of the nasal septum
takes place. Other systemic symptoms (see Table 1) caused by
ingestion are uncommon in people who are merely exposed to
arsenic dust. Because of its irritant properties, inhalation
of sufficient amounts of arsenic trioxide to cause systemic
4
poisoning would be difficult. It has been reported that the
fatal dose by ingestion of arsenic trioxide for man is 70,000
4
to 180,000 |ag.
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TABLE 1
SYMPTOMS OF ARSENIC POISONING12'19
Acute Chronic
Inflammation of the stomach Weakness
and intestine Loss of appetite
Difficulty in swallowing Nausea and occasional vomiting
Burning in the throat Pains in stomach and intestines
Violent cramplike pains Diarrhea or constipation
Nausea Inflammation of mucous membrane
Vomiting of nose and gums
Diarrhea Sore gums
Cold, damp skin Runny nose
Feeble, irregular heartbeat Perforation of nasal septum
Possible death in 1-4 days Sneezing
or possible chronic symptoms Coughing
Skin ulcers
Grayish pigmentation of skin
Dermatitis
The colorless gas, arsine, is responsible for a few
deaths each year. Arsine is formed wherever hydrogen is
produced in the presence of arsenic. Thus, in the pickling
of metals containing arsenic, arsine can be formed. An
exposure of 3,000 to 30,000 l-ig/m3 for one hour is probably
dangerous, and 210,000 l-tg/m3 is probably hazardous to life.
Exposure to lower concentrations (less than 1,500 l^g/m3) may
cause jaundice and hemolytic anemia, with the primary effect
being the destruction of red blood cells.
Any arsenic taken into the body is excreted primarily in
the urine, but some also in the feces, hair, nails, and
41
epithelium. Arsenic may be found in small quantities in the
blood, all the tissue, the bones, and especially the hair. The
arsenic content of the hair has been used to determine the arsenical
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exposure history and has served as evidence of homicidal
poisoning. Since some arsenic is consumed in food, it would
not be possible to determine the amount of atmospheric
exposure from the quantity present in the hair. The
biological half-life for the excretion of arsenic is 30-60
hours.
Arsenic compounds have been used medically for treatment
of syphilis and skin disorders as well as to increase resistance
to fatigue. Over a period of time, it appears that a tolerance
19
can be developed to limited quantities of arsenic. However,
keratoses on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet often
12
appear after prolonged use of arsenic for medicinal purposes.
2.1.1 Carcinogenesis
Arsenic is one of the most controversial of known or
suspected environmental carcinogens. As early as 1820,
12
arsenical compounds were suspected of carcinogenic action.
This impression was based on the observation that skin cancer
frequently occurred following therapeutic administration of
arsenic for psoriasis and other disorders. According to
12
Buchanan, nearly all of these cases of skin cancer followed
a prolonged period of medicinal administration (averaging 18
years) of inorganic trivalent arsenic. He states that cancer
frequently (80 percent of published cases) follows the
nanmalignant manifestation of keratosis, commonly on the palms
of the hands or soles of the feet.
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96
In 1963, Heuper listed arsenic as one of the recognized
human carcinogens. The skin, lung, and liver were listed as
recognized sites of arsenic cancers, and the mouth, esophagus,
larynx, and bladder as suspected sites.
The role of arsenic as a respiratory carcinogen has
received some support from the finding of above-average
38
mortality from lung cancer in South Khodesian miners of
gold-arsenical ores and the frequent occurrence of lung
11,48
cancer in German vineyard workers exposed to lead
arsenate dust.
19
In opposition, Frost argued that the carcinogenic
action was inappropriately attributed to arsenic because of
the tendency to specify arsenic as the carcinogen even when
other materials were present. Nickel in particular, appears
to be a carcinogen which occurs together with arsenic in
industrial dusts. (See the companion report on the air
pollution aspects of nickel.) The strongest arguments against
arsenic as a carcinogen are the failure .to show increased
prevalence of cancer among industrial workers and failure to
induce cancer in experimental animals.
52
Snegireff and Lombard examined the records of two
industrial plants in relation to the number of employees who
died of cancer. In a plant where the workers were exposed to
arsenic, 18 of 146 deaths (12.3 percent) were caused by cancer.
In the second plant, where the workers were not exposed to
arsenic, 12 of 109 deaths (11.0 percent) were caused by cancer.
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6
The authors concluded that there was no significant difference
in cancer mortality between plant employees who handled arse-
nic and those who were not exposed.
In another study, Pinto and Bennett43 compared the mor-
tality of employees who handled arsenic for the American Smelting
and Refining Company at Tacoma, Wash., with those whe were not
exposed to arsenic. (This smelter is the only plant presently
producing arsenic commercially in the U.S. See Section 3.)
They observed that 6 of 38 deaths (15.8 percent) among workers
who were exposed to arsenic trioxide were caused by cancer,
while 37 of 191 deaths (19.4 percent) were due to cancer among
workers not exposed to arsenic. The evidence that these arsenic
workers were exposed to higher concentrations of arsenic was
confirmed by urinalysis. This lower percentage of deaths among
arsenic workers compared favorably with the male deaths due to
cancer (15.9 percent) in the entire state of Washington.43
Arsenic workers excreted an average of 820 (ag/liter of arsenic
in the urine compared to 130 |ag/liter for unexposed workers.
The authors found no evidence that arsenic trioxide caused sys-
temic cancer or fatal cardiovascular disease in humans.
Attempts to demonstrate through animal studies that arse-
7 19 97 9Q ^O
nic is carcinogenic have often met with f ailure. •*-*••*•' i*?i=>v
In fact, one study showed that arsenic suppressed the appearance
of spontaneous tumors of the lung.2? However, a few cases have
12
been reported in which arsenical cancer was induced in animals.
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(See Section 2.2.2)
Some investigators have mentioned that the type of arse-
nic compounds involved may play a role in the carcinogenesis.
Cornelius and Shelley1? suggest that arsenic trioxide to which
most smelter workers are exposed is probably not as carcino-
genic as other soluble arsenic compounds. The composition and
effect of arsenic compounds found in the ambient air have not
been determined.
This dispute regarding the relationship between arsenic
and cancer is probably the most important question in relation
to the air pollution aspects of arsenic.
2.1.2 Community Episodes
In June 1962, a gold mine and smelter°/10 j_n one Of ^J^Q
Western States were reopened; after they were in operation for
approximately 5 months it became apparent that the emission
control equipment was inadequate. Both sulfur dioxide and
arsenic trioxide were emitted in visible quantities into the
atmosphere. Air samples taken at the plant showed 60 to 13,000
f-ig/m3 of arsenic. A yellowish-gray dust on the ground gave
evidence of fallout from the plant. No air samples were taken
in the small mining community adjacent to the plant. However,
the results of analyses of dust, water, and grass samples in
the area are shown in Table 2.
A clinical examination was made of about 40 children
attending two schools. Thirty-two of the children had
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8
TABLE 2
ARSENIC CONTAMINATION IN A WESTERN MINING COMMUNITY9'10
Sample
Flue dust
Roof dust
Dust
Dust
Dust
June grass
Water
Site
Base of stack
Shed near office
Area near drying mill
Roaster area
Sulfide-ore feed
Area near school
Tap water
Arsenic
Concentration
44%
4.4%
2.7%
3.1%
1 . 23%
925 ng/g
30 ug/1
dermatosis associated with cutaneous exposure to arsenic. At
first, it was thought that this was an example of systemic
arsenic poisoning; however, it proved to be a contact
dermatitis. Local skin irritation was observed in the folds
of the skin and where the skin was moist. In a few cases
the conjunctivae and nasal mucosae were irritated. It is
interesting to note that there were no cases of dermatitis
among the older children who were bussed to a high school in
a distant town: the disease occurred only among the younger
children who spent all their time in town. Moreover, no
new cases occurred after controls were introduced at the plant.
Keratoses, epitheliomas, and melanodermas were not present.
There were, of course, typical symptoms resulting from
exposure to arsenic, such as skin disease and nasal septum
perforation, among the refinery workers. Although animals
were not systematically studied, the pet population of more
than two dozen had been reduced to one dog.
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Another example of arsenical air pollution occurred in
21 22 23 57
Montana in the years 1903 to 1905. During this
time, large quantities of arsenic (see section 3.2) were
emitted from a copper smelter. Although large numbers of
animals were killed from eating plants contaminated with
arsenic trioxide, no record of human health complaints is
available.
An arsenical air pollution episode occurred at a copper
39
mine in northern Chile. The concentrations of arsenic present
during this incident are shown in Table 3. A survey of 124
workers showed arsenical melanosis in 7.25 percent, arsenical
dermatitis in 5.65 percent, and perforation of the nasal septum
in 1.6 percent. No cutaneous manifestations were encountered
among a control group or among members of the mining community.
TABLE 3
THE CONCENTRATION OF ARSENIC NEAR A
COPPER MINE IN NORTHERN CHILE39
Arsenic
Sample Concentration
Mineral (ore) 0.054%
Concentrated ore 1.64%
Calcined ore 0.30%
Dust from electrostatic precipitator 10.36%
Dust from stack 16.64%
Soil in plant 1,000 ug/g
Soil on road to plant 650 l-ig/g
Soil near hospital 20 |ag/g
Soil near workers' club 90 |ag/g
Air at roasting plant 400-81,000 |ag/m3
Air at smelter plant 400-5,400 p.g/m3
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10
2.2 Effects on Animals
2.2.1 Commercial and Domestic Animals
In the preceding section, the three community episodes
which were cited indicate that arsenical air pollution may
39
have deleterious effects on animals. In the Chilean
episode, it was noted that dogs and chickens suffered from
ulcers of the feet, although it was not definite that these
lesions were due to contact with arsenic. In the Western
9,10
State gold-mine episode, the pet population was reduced
from over 24 to 1. The surviving collie had a large ulcer in
the mouth and another on the right forepaw.
21 22 23 57
The Montana ' ' ' episode caused widespread damage
to herbivorous animals caused by the ingestion of arsenic
trioxide, which had contaminated the forage crops. Cows,
sheep, and horses suffered from symptoms similar to those
often observed in humans exposed to arsenic. When a flock of
3,500 sheep was brought from an area 28 miles away to graze
15 miles from the smelter, 625 of the sheep died. Upon
analysis, grass and moss from the area in which the animals had
fed was found to contain 52 and 405 ppm of arsenic trioxide
respectively. Moreover, horses in an area remote from the
smelter died after eating hay grown in a location on which
the smelter fumes could have fallen. The arsenic trioxide
content of the hay was 285 ppm. In addition, large quantities
of both arsenic (10-150 ppm) and copper (128-1,800 ppm) were
found on the vegetation up to 15 miles from the smelter.
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11
Both the type of symptom and data from analyses of tissues
failed to implicate copper as the poisoning agent, whereas
evidence concerning animals fed on graded doses of arsenic
verified experimentally that arsenic was responsible.
A study of the effects of airborne arsenic from a
nearby smelter on animals in Saxony Forest was reported by
44
Prell. Red deer, foxes, and horses were all affected. The
deer showed signs of thickened skins and joints, malformation
of the horns, and loss of hair. The arsenic content of the
stomach, intestine, liver, kidneys, and hair of the different
species varied from traces to 42,000 ng/kg of tissue. Bees
in the area had a high mortality rate. Analysis showed as
much as 1 Ug of arsenic per bee and 88 |ag of arsenic per g
of pollen.
Arsenical compounds, especially lead and calcium
arsenate, have been used as insecticides. Most arsenates are
toxic to insects and have little effect on plants. If ingested
in sufficiently large quantities, the other compounds of arsenic
are fatal to insects.
Aquatic animals have a higher tolerance for arsenic and
normally have higher arsenic contents in the tissue than other
12
animals. For this reason, arsenicals have been recommended
50
for use in the control of aquatic weeds.
2.2.2 Experimental Animals
19
Frost has reviewed the literature on the carcinogenic
effects of arsenic. He reports that more than 35 experiments
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12
yielded negative results for carcinogenicity when mice, rats,
pigs, and dogs were tested with arsenic trioxide, potassium
arsenate, sodium arsenite, sodium arsenate, arsanilic acid,
3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid, and p-dimethylaminoazo-
benzene-p -arsononic acid.
12 31
Buchanan points out that Leitch and Kennaway
succeeded in inducing only one squamous epithelioma (after 86
applications of potassium arsenite) in 100 mice. Several
other experimenters are also cited by Buchanan as follows.
46
Raposo developed hyperplasias and 3 papillomas in the ears
14
of 10 rabbits painted with arsenious oxide. Cholewa painted
the ears of two rabbits with potassium arsenite and observed
a papillomatous wart and a sarcoma of the perichondrium in the
6
ears of one rabbit after one year. Askanazy , Goeckerman, and
20
Wilhelm observed teratogenic effects when rats receiving
transplanted embryos drank water containing arsenic. Holmberg
25
et al. injected pregnant hamsters with barely sublethal doses
(20,000 |ag/kg) of sodium arsenate. Of 177 embryos, 49 percent
were malformed and 84 percent were either malformed or resorbed.
The abnormalities observed were encephalocele, exencephaly,
unilateral and bilateral eye and ear malformations, and cleft
palate or lip. Exencephalic malformations were particularly
prominent in all litters. When sodium selenite (2,000 |jg/kg)
was injected simultaneously with sodium arsenate (20,000 |ag/kg)
into 12 pregnant hamsters, only 19 percent of 144 embryos
showed malformations and 39 percent, malformation or resorption.
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13
18
Thus, these data confirm the work of Perm and Carpenter
that arsenic is teratogenic as well as the fact that selenium
is antagonistic to arsenic.
34
Recently Milner experimented with three strains of
mice, CXC3H, DBA, and Balb/C. Tumors were induced with
methylcholanthrene or promoted by grafting the methylcholanthrene-
treated skin on the flanks of recipient animals. Approximately
20 animals were tested in each experiment. Animals tested were
given arsenic trioxide in their drinking water. The only
significant effect observed by Milner was that the CXC3H strain
of mice showed a reduction in papillomas. Thus, arsenic appeared
to have little effect on the development of tumors in mice.
The above results tend to support the work of Kanisawa
27
and Schroeder who observed that mice fed 0.46 |_ig/gm sodium
arsenite developed fewer spontaneous tumors (11/103) than the
controls (55/170). However, only the number of adenomas and
carcinomas of the lung was significantly lower.
2.3 Effects on Plants
In the smelter episodes discussed in Section 2.1.2
plant damage has been observed. However, according to Birmingham
et al.1Qsulfur dioxide present in the air, rather than the arsenic
is more likely to have caused the damage.
Sodium arsenite is used as a soil sterilant to control
vegetation around fence posts, bridge abutments, radar sites,
50
tennis courts, roadways, and other nonagricultural areas.
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14
Sprays used to control weeds have reportedly damaged some crops
in adjacent farms.
Organic arsenicals have been synthesized and are used
to defoliate cotton plants prior to machine picking, to kill
potato vines prior to machine picking, to control aquatic
weeds, and to a limited extent to defoliate other plants.
Thus, arsenical compounds can be harmful to plants if their
use is not properly controlled.
2.4 Effects on Materials
No information has been found on the effects of arsenic
on materials. However, arsenicals are used as preservatives.
For instance, arsenates are used as wood preservatives,
especially against termites. Arsenical paints have been used
in the past, but they have been replaced by other materials.
2.5 Environmental Air Standards
No 24-hour maximum atmospheric concentration has been
set in the United States for arsenic. A basic 24-hour standard
of 3 |-ig/m3 for arsenic and its compounds (as arsenic) has been
47,49
recommended in the U.S.S.R. and Czechoslovakia.
The threshold limit values recommended for industrial
workers (8-hour/day exposures) by the American Conference of
98
Governmental Hygienists are 500 |ag/m3 for arsenic and its
compounds (as arsenic) and 200 l-ig/m for arsine. The American
Industrial Hygiene Association recommends the same values.
54
Emission standards have been summarized by Stern.
These values are listed in Table 4.
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15
TABLE 4
EMISSION STANDARDS FOR ARSENIC IN EFFLUENT AIR OR GASES"
54
Standard
Location
Source of Emission Original Units
Czechoslovakia
Great Britain
Great Britain
New South Wales
Queensland
< 5,000 cfm
> 5,000 cfm
0.03 kg/hr
0.05 grains/ft3 115,000
0.02 grains/ft3 46,000
0.01 grains/ft3 23,000
0.01 grains/ft3 23,000
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16
3. SOURCES
There are three major sources of arsenic air pollution:
smelting of metals, burning of coal, and use of arsenicals as
pesticides.
3.1 Natural Occurrence
Arsenic is so widely distributed that traces of it can
be found almost everywhere. However, in terms of its concen-
tration in the earth's crust (approximately 5 Ug/g), it is
one of the less plentiful elements. Virgin soils usually
28
contain a few ppm of arsenic.
Arsenic is present in sea water (10 to 100 ppb) and is
concentrated in some aquatic creatures, such as shrimp.
These supply man with an appreciable percentage of his total
. . , - .28
intake of arsenic.
Arsenic is commonly found as the sulfide, arsenide,
arsenite, or arsenate. Occasional deposits of elemental
29
arsenic are found, but none are commercially important.
3.2 Production Sources,
Virtually all of the arsenic produced is recovered as
a by-product in the smelting of lead, copper, and gold ores.
The production of white arsenic as a by-product has been so
30
great that the supply usually exceeds the demand. Until
this year, the United States' domestic needs have been
supplied by the Anaconda Company at Anaconda, Mont, and the
American Smelting and Refining Company at Tacoma, Wash.,
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17
supplemented by some imports. However, the Bureau of Mines
reports that the Anaconda Company suspended its sale of
arsenic in 1968.
In order to avoid disclosing company confidential data,
the U.S. consumption or production of white arsenic has not
been reported since 1959. Prior to that, the U.S. consumption
varied between 13,000 and 40,000 short tons per year.
The price of arsenic has declined from approximately 6.5
15,30
cents per pound to about 4 cents.
One of the problems facing these mining industries has
been the disposal of the large quantities of arsenic they
28 29
produce. ' A gold smelter in a small Western town produced
14,600 tons per year, almost enough to supply all our domestic
needs. These industries are also faced with the disposal of
9,10
the very poisonous arsenic trioxide.
The high volatility of arsenic trioxide (sublimes at
193°C) requires that most arsenic-containing ores be specially
treated to remove arsenic from the exhaust gases. Lead, copper,
28 29
and gold ores may contain up to 3 percent arsenic.
Arsenic is also a contaminant in some nickel and cadmium ores,
and must be removed to improve the quality of the metal. In
some processes the arsenic is removed chemically, while in
others it is removed by taking advantage of the high volatility
of the arsenic trioxide. Since the latter process provides
a most important source of air pollution, it will be discussed
in detail.
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18
In the commercial production of arsenic, arsenic trioxide
is volatilized during the smelting process and concentrated in
the flue gases. Crude flue gas dust may contain up to 30
percent arsenic trioxide, the balance being oxides of copper
or lead and perhaps of other metals, such as antimony, tin,
and zinc. To upgrade the flue dust, a small amount of pyrite
or galena is mixed with the concentrate and the mixture roasted.
The gases are finally passed through a series of brick cooling
chambers called kitchens. The temperatures of the gas and vapor
are controlled; they enter the first kitchen at approximately
220 C, and by the time the gas and vapor reach the last kitchen,
they have been cooled to 100 C or less. The condensed crude
product is 90 to 95 percent arsenic trioxide. Resublimation
at about 295 C and recondensing in kitchens at 180 to 120 C
produce 99 to 99.9 percent arsenic trioxide.
Even in the smelters where arsenic is not recovered for
commercial use, the tonnages involved are very large. A
reverberatory furnace, for example, may smelt as much as 2,100
tons of charge per day, and in doing so, burn 240 tons of coal.
The furnace would produce about 90,000,000 cubic feet of gas
per day, containing 180 tons of solids. This means that it
would be necessary to dispose of up to 60 tons of arsenic
28,29
daily.
Two serious arsenic air pollution incidents from
smelters in the United States have been recorded in the
literature, both of which were mentioned in the preceding
-------
19
section. The first incident took place in Anaconda,
21 22 23
Mont., ' ' where the emission rate of arsenic trioxide was
c
59,270 pounds per day (in 2.28 X 10 ft3 of air per day) while
processing 10,000 tons of copper ore per day. This resulted
in polluting the air at the exit of the stack with approximately
450 g/m of arsenic trioxide (estimated by author); the air
was then dispersed over a radius of 15 miles. Although no
atmospheric concentrations are recorded, the edible plants
were contaminated by as much as 482 |-lg of arsenic trioxide per
gram of plant. It is noteworthy to reiterate that while the
animals eating these plants were killed at distances up to 15
miles from the smelter, no human health complaints are recorded.
The second incident, previously mentioned, occurred in a
9,10
small Western town near a gold smelter. (The exact location
is not mentioned.) The mine had been intermittently operated
since 1934. In 1962, the operation was resumed with a process
that required converting the sulfur and arsenic to sulfur
dioxide and arsenic trioxide to successfully accomplish
subsequent cyanidation of the gold. The smelter processed
sufficient ore to produce about 100 tons of sulfur dioxide and
40 tons of arsenic trioxide per day. The dust-collecting system
which was intended to collect approximately 90 percent of the
toxic dusts failed to operate as expected and toxic fumes
escaped into the atmosphere.
These two episodes indicate that there is an arsenical air
pollution potential at every smelter which refines arsenical
-------
20
ores. An example of the arsenical pollution estimated for
29
Colorado in 1963 is given in Table 5.
TABLE 5
29
ARSENICAL POLLUTION POTENTIAL FROM MILLS IN COLORADO, 1963
Metal
Zinc
Lead
Copper
Total
Average
Arsenic
Content
(Percent)
0.07
0.08
0.28
Ore
(short tons)
48,109
19,918
4,169
No. of
Mines
8
8
1
Potential
Arsenic
Pollution
(tons)
34
16
12
62
Arsine is produced whenever hydrogen is emitted from the
dissolution of arsenical metals, such as in metal pickling,
soldering, etching, or in plating processes involving metals
or acids containing arsenic. This constitutes an industrial
hazard but is not an air pollution problem since the quantities
28,29
are usually very small. Some years ago, arsine was found
to be produced by molds growing on wallpaper which had been
colored with arsenical pigments. Since this procedure is no
longer in use, a hazard no longer exists. However, based on
this evidence an arsenic cycle has been hypothesized in which
arsine is emitted into the atmosphere, oxidized in the presence
of light to form arsenic trioxide deposits on plants, eaten by
animals, and eventually returned to the earth, where it can
19
be reduced to arsine again.
-------
21
3.3 Product Sources
3.3.1 Pesticides
Arsenical pesticides constitute the primary use of
arsenic. Until 1945, when DDT made its appearance, the use
of arsenical insecticides was increasing. DDT or other
organic insecticides have almost replaced arsenical insecticides,
Arsenical herbicides were also replaced by organic herbicides
such as 2,4-D acid, which appeared on the market about the
same time as DDT. The production of arsenical pesticides is
summarized in Table 6 in the Appendix.
Several arsenical compounds are currently recommended
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for insecticides and
herbicides. The compounds listed in Table 7 (Appendix) are
56
recommended. In 1964, arsenic acid was the largest volume
product in the defoliant-desiccant category. About 5.0 million
45
pounds were used on about 1.2 million acres of cotton.
Table 8 in the Appendix lists the quantities of arsenical
45
pesticides used by farmers.
In 1968 the military used cacodylic acid extensively to
control vegetation around encampments. Another domestic
demand for cacodylic acid was for weed control around
industrial sites, rights-of-way, and fence rows. Forest
insect, forest disease, and timber management also used
cacodylic acid, in the amounts of 815 pounds in 1967 and 173
42
pounds in 1968.
-------
22
From 1937 to 1940 the U.S. Public Health Service36
studied the effect of lead arsenate insecticides on orchardists.
During this study, they measured the concentration of arsenic
and lead to which the orchardists were exposed. These data
are summarized in Table 9 in the Appendix. No data were given
indicating the pollution area or concentration of arsenic down-
wind from the various operations. While the authors do not
emphasize the air pollution caused by burning, it is noteworthy
that the highest concentrations of arsenic were measured in the
smoke from burning the pesticide containers. Moreover, the
arsenic-to-lead ratios are out of proportion to the other
concentrations. The high arsenic concentrations might be
explained by the volatility of arsenic trioxide which is
formed in the burning process.
3.3.2 Cotton Gins
Arsenicals are used for weed control and as desiccants
16,40,50
for cotton plants prior to machine picking. Thus,
the dust emitted from cotton gins contains arsenic. Table 10
in the Appendix shows the concentration of dust and arsenic
observed near a cotton gin in Texas and indicates that the
arsenic content is approximately 0.03 percent of the
particulate. Table 11 (Appendix) shows that the particulate
emission concentration from the Stoneville gin may range
between 11,000 and 1,258,000 |ag/m3 . On the assumption that
the concentration of arsenic is approximately 0.03 percent by
-------
23
weight of the particulate, one can estimate that the Stoneville
plant would emit a maximum of 400 |ag/m3 of arsenic in the air
exhausted from the gin and a minimum of 3 ng/m3. The range of
air volume exhausted from a gin is 1,410 to 2,120 per cubic
meter per minute or 9,150 to 15,900 per cubic meter per bale of
cotton. This would result in emission rates of up to 580,000
Hg/min or 6,360,000 |lg/bale as shown in Table 12 in the Appendix.
In addition to the operation of the cotton gin, the
burning of trash from a cotton gin is also a source of arsenic
53 16
pollution. The fieldmen of the Cotton-Classing offices
have indicated that approximately 37 percent of the gins incin-
erate the trash, 58 percent return it to the land, and 5 percent
handle it in some other manner. No estimate was made of the
arsenic emissions from incineration. However, one might expect
that all of the arsenic present in the burning trash would
be converted to volatile arsenic trioxide,which is then emitted
-">
into the atmosphere. Arsenic has been observed in the smoke
53
from burning cotton burr trash. Adverse effects on trees
and vegetation in areas downwind from cotton gins were observed.
Peach trees were killed by arsenic and pecan trees damaged.
These observations were confirmed by laboratory analyses. The
control of cotton gin dust is not enough; the emissions from
burning trash must also be controlled.
3.4 Other Sources
Coal contains 0.08 to 16 (ig of arsenic per gram of
coal. Therefore, the air of most cities contains a small
-------
24
amount of arsenic. Analyses of the dusts in Hamburg, Germany-l-
and Leeds, England,1 have shown that dusts contained 30 to 230
lag of arsenic per gram, with approximately 409 million tons^1
of coal used each year in the United States, it is possible for
327 to 6,440 tons of arsenic to be emitted into the atmosphere
each year. New York City used approximately 5.8 million tons^
of coal in 1966. This could have resulted in 4.6 to 93 tons of
arsenic per year being emitted into New York City air. The
average particulate concentration in New York City ' in 1966
was approximately 125 ng/m3 Assuming that the European values
for arsenic in dust hold for New York City, values of 0.004 to
0.029 p.g/m3 of air can be calculated. This is in agreement with
the value of 0.03 Hg/m3 reported in Tables 11 and 12 (Appendix)
for New York City.
3.5 Environmental Air Concentrations
Air quality data taken in 1950, 1953, 1961, and 1964 of
the arsenic concentration are shown in Tables 13, 14, 15, and
16 (Appendix) respectively. Of the 133 stations reporting in
1964 the year average ranged from below detection to 0.75 ug/m3
and an average for all stations of approximately 0.02 (jg/m3 .
The highest value given in 1964 was 1.40 |ag/m3 for quarterly
average in El Paso, Texas. The Montana State Board of Health^
also reported ambient air concentrations for certain cities in
Montana for 1961-62 (see Table 17, Appendix). The highest con-
centration was 2.5 |jg/m3 in the city of Anaconda.
-------
25
4. ABATEMENT
In general, the removal of particulate material will
control arsenic emissions if the control equipment operates
at a temperature low enough (~100°C) to condense the arsenic
fumes. An electrostatic precipitator has been reported to
13
reduce the arsenic from 5-17 ppb to 0-4 ppb. Cooling flues,
bag houses, and electrostatic precipitators have been used in
19 29
the smelting industry. ' No data have been reported in
the United States on their removal efficiency for arsenic.
However, at a chemical plant in the U.S.S.R., the efficiency
for arsenic removal was greatly improved by using wet vacuum
pumps instead of fabric filters. When the fabric filters
were used, the arsenic content in the air frequently reached
several hundred thousand micrograms per cubic meter. After
the wet scrubbing vacuum pumps were installed, the removal is
32
reportedly 100 percent effective.
In the cotton industry, removal of particulate material
emitted from cotton gins should control the arsenic emissions.
However, methods need to be developed to control the arsenical
emissions produced by the burning of cotton trash.
-------
26
5. ECONOMICS
No information has been found on the economic costs of
arsenic air pollution or on the costs of its abatement.
The production and consumption data for arsenic have
been discussed in Section 3.
-------
27
6. METHODS OF ANALYSIS
6.1 Sampling Methods
Dusts and fumes of arsenic compounds may be collected
by any method suitable for collection of other dusts and
fumes; the impinger, electrostatic precipitator, and filters
are commonly used. The National Air Sampling Network uses a
58
high-volume filtration sampler.
6.2 Quantitative Methods
Several methods are available for detecting trace
amounts of arsenic in dusts; however, only a few of these are
quantitative. The chemical methods generally rely on the
reduction of arsenical compounds to arsine. The arsine is
transported as a gas from the reaction vessel to a second
reaction chamber, where it reacts with copper foil (Reinsch's
method) or is heated to produce metallic arsenic (Marsh's
test), silver nitrate or mercuric chloride (Gutzeit's test),
and silver diethyldithiocarbamate (ACGIH tests).4'12 The
National Air Pollution Control Administration uses silver
diethyldithiocarbamate in the second reaction vessel. Neutron
activation methods are both quantitative and extremely
sensitive, but they require a neutron source. They are
sensitive to approximately 0.1 (ig of arsenic, corresponding
1 O
to 0.24 Hg/m3 in a 30 cubic foot air sample.
CO
Thompson et al.« have reported that the National Air
Pollution Control Administration uses atomic absorption to
-------
28
supplement analyses obtained by the Gutzeit method. The
method has a minimum detectable limit of 0.02 l-Lg/m3 based on
a 2,000 cubic meter air sample.
-------
29
7. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
Arsenic is toxic to some degree in most chemical forms.
Arsenical compounds may be ingested, inhaled, or absorbed
through the skin. Industrial exposure to arsenic has shown
that it can produce dermatitis, mild bronchitis, and other upper
respiratory tract irritations including perforation of the nasal
septum. However, because of the irritant qualities of arsenic,
it is doubtful that one could inhale sufficient amounts to pro-
duce systemic poisoning.
Skin cancer can result from prolonged therapeutic admin-
istration of arsenic. Similar cancers have not been observed
among industrial workers. Moreover, lung tumors which resulted
from inhaling mixed industrial dusts were often thought to be
the result of inhaling arsenic. Recently, this relationship
has been questioned because animal experiments have failed to
demonstrate that arsenic is a carcinogen. Therefore, the
causal relationship between cancer and arsenic is disputed.
Arsenic is poisonous to both animals and plants, but no
damage to materials was found.
Two air pollution episodes in the United States have
shown that there is an arsenical air pollution potential at
every smelter which refines arsenical ores.
Arsenical compounds are used as insecticides and herbi-
-------
30
cides. Although the use of arsenical pesticides declined
sharply after the appearance of DDT and 2,4-D, arsenical com-
pounds are still used as desiccants/ herbicides, and sterilants
Some undetermined amounts of air pollution take place during
spraying and dusting operations with arsenical pesticides.
Pollution from cotton gins and cotton trash burning has been
cited as an important source of agricultural pollution. While
the emission rates from cotton trash burning have not been
determined, as much as 1,258,000 |J.g/m3 of exhaust air (580,000
Hg/min) may be emitted during the ginning operation. This pro-
duced concentrations of only 0.14 |~ig/m3 of arsenic in the air
150 feet from the gin.
Arsenic is found to the extent of approximately 5 ng/g
in coal. Therefore, the air of cities which burn coal contains
some arsenic. Air quality data from 133 sites monitored by the
National Air Sampling Network showed an average daily arsenic
concentration of 0.02 |ag/m3 in 1964.
Control of arsenic emissions requires special attention
to the temperature of exhaust gases since arsenic trioxide
sublimes at 192°C. For this reason exhaust fumes must be
cooled to approximately 100°C prior to removing them as parti-
culates.
No information has been found on the economic costs of
-------
31
arsenic pollution or on the costs of its abatement.
Analytical methods are available to determine arsenic
at the concentration found in ambient air.
Based on the material presented in this report, further
studies are suggested in the following areas:
(1) Determination of the carcinogenic effect of long-
term exposure to low concentrations of arsenic in the atmo-
sphere.
(2) Measurement of the concentration of arsenic near
smelters, pesticide dusting and spraying operations, cotton
gins, and places where cotton trash is burned.
-------
32
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ticulates from Cotton Gins, Preprint. Public Health Service,
Cincinnati, Ohio (1965).
Heiman, H., Status of Air Pollution Health Research, 1966,
Arch. Environ. Health 14;488 (1967).
Holland, R. H., and A. R. Acevedo, Current Status of Arsenic
in American Cigarettes, Cancer 19(9); (1966),
-------
38
Industrial Air Pollution Control, Heating, Piping, Air Con-
ditioning 39(3) 1179 (1967).
Industry and Atmospheric Pollution in Great Britain, (Industrie
et pollution atmospherique en Grande Bretagne) Centre Inter-
prof essionnel Technique d1Etudes de la Pollution Atmospherique,
Paris, France, Report No. CI 310, C.I.T.E.P.A. Document No.
24 (1967).
Ives, N. P., and L. Giuffrida, Investigation of Thermionic
Detector Response for the Gas Chromatography of P, N, As,
and Cl Organic Compounds, J. Assoc. Offic. Anal. Chemists
10(1)1 (1967).
Kambara, T., Y. Nohara, K. Ikegami, T. Nakamura, and T.
Kajiwara, Arsine Poisoning: Report of an Autopsy Case, J. Sci.
Labour (Tokyo) .42(6) :454 (1966).
Katz, M., Recent Developments in Ambient Air Quality Guides
in Relation to Control of Atmospheric Effluents, Pulp Paper
Mag. Can. (Gardenvale) 62(4)60 (1968).
Lew, M., R. Woodruff, W. Johnson, and W. Musa, Ion Exchangers
in Removal of Air Contaminants, San Francisco Bay Naval
Shipyard, Vallejo, Calif., Chemical Lab. 8024-66, PR-1
(March 1967).
Lindberg, Z. Y., Arsenic Content on the Environment of a
Superphosphate Plant, Hyg. Sanitation 29(7):119 (1964).
Lloyd, D. H., A Note on Factory Process Smells and Toxic
Hazards, Sheet Metal Ind. (London) _44(48l):331 (1967).
Pakhotina, N. S. , Sanitary-Hygienic Evaluation of Industrial
Emissions by a Zinc-Lead Combine, jiurvey of U.S.S.R. Litera-
ture on Air Pollution and Related Occupational Diseases 3_'.
93 (1960).
Posin, M. E., B. A. Kopylev, and N. A. Pebrova, Hydrogen
Sulfide Absorption by Sodium Arsenate Solution in a Foam
Apparatus, Zh. Prckl Kakim 3JJ6):849 (1958).
Sawicki, E., Airborne Carcinogens and Allied Compounds,
Preprint, presented at the American Medical Association Air
Pollution Medical Research Conference, Los Angeles, Calif.
(March 2-4, 1966).
Stocks, P., On the Relations Between Atmospheric Pollution in
Urban and Rural Localities and Mortality from Cancer, Bronchi-
tis and Pneumonia, with Particular Reference to 3,4 Benzo-
pyrene, Beryllium, Molybdenum, Vanadium and Arsenic, Brit. J.
Cancer 14;397 (1960).
-------
39
Stokinger, H. E., Effect of Air Pollutants on Wildlife, Conn.
Med. 27_(8)»487 (1963).
Truhaut, R., Danger Thresholds, European Conference on Air
Pollution, June 24-July 1, 1964, Council of Europe, Strasbourg,
(1964).
Viniegra, G., Air Pollution, Text in Spanish. Salud Publica
Mexico (Mexico) 8_(4) :601 (1966).
Wagoner, J. K., R. W. Miller, F- E. Lundin, Jr., J. F.
Fraumeni, Jr., and M. E. Haij, Unusual Cancer Mortality Among
a Group of Underground Metal Miners, New Engl. J. Med. 269;
284 (1963).
Weisburg, M. I., Air Pollution Control Field Operations Manual
(A Guide for Inspection and Enforcement), Public Health
Service, Division of Air Pollution, Washington, D.C. (1962).
-------
APPENDIX
-------
APPENDIX
TABLE 6
PRODUCTION OF SELECTED PESTICIDES, UNITED STATES
(In Thousands of Pounds)
Item 1939
Calcium arsenate 41,349
Lead arsenate 59,569
White arsenic 44,686
Copper sulfate 134,032
Aldrin-toxaphene
groupa
Benzene ,
hexachloride
DDT c
Methyl bromide
Methyl parathion
Parathion
Nabam
2,4-D acid c
1945 1950 1955
25,644 45,348 3
70,522 39,434 14
48,698 25,546
251,000 174,600 156
77
c 76,698 56
33,243 78,150 129
9
5
917 14,156 34
,770
,776
c
,176
,025
,051
,693
,222
,168
,516
1960
6,
10,
c
116,
90,
37,
164,
12,
11,
7,
2,
36,
590
062
000
671
444
180
659
794
434
978
185
1965
4,
7,
c
47,
118,
c
140,
14,
29,
16,
2,
63,
192
098
272
832
785
303
111
607
489
320
1966
2,
7,
c
41,
130,
c
141,
16,
35,
19,
2,
68,
890
328
1967
2,
6,
500
000
c
504
470
349
345
862
444
053
182
33,
120,
c
103,
19,
33,
11,
1,
77,
992
183
411
665
344
361
361
139
alncludes the chlorinated compounds, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, chlordane, heptachlor, and
toxaphene.
Production of gamma isomer content in BHC was 17.1 million pounds in 1951, 10.7 million in
1955, and 6.9 million in 1960. Data in the table are on a gross basis.
GNot available.
-------
APPENDIX
TABLE 7
ARSENICAL PESTICIDES RECOMMENDED FOR USE
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 1968a
42
Crop
Currant and
Gooseberry
Strawberry
Apple
Grape
Pear
Plum and Prune
Asparagus
Nonagricultural
lands
Crop
Cotton
Insecticides
Insect
Imported
cur ran two rm
Slugs and snails
Apple -and- thorn
skeletonizer
Apple maggot
Bagworm
Borer-roundheaded
apple tree
Cankerworms
Codling moth
Fall webworm
Fruitworms
Leaf roller,
red-banded
Plum curculio
Tent caterpillars,
Eastern
Red-banded
leaf roller
Borer, roundheaded
apple tree
Fruit-tree leaf
roller
Fruitworms
Plum curculio
Eye-spotted
bud moth
Cutworms
Mosquito larvae
Herbicides
Purpose
Preharvest dessicant
Insecticide
Lead arsenate
Calcium arsenate
Lead arsenate
Lead arsenate
Lead arsenate
Lead arsenate
Lead arsenate
Lead arsenate
lead arsenate
Lead arsenate
Lead arsenate
Lead arsenate
Lead arsenate
Lead arsenate
Lead arsenate
Lead arsenate
Lead arsenate
Lead arsenate
Lead arsenate
Calcium arsenate
Paris green
Herbicide
Arsenic acid
b
Dosacre
3-4
0.25-0.5
20
30
30
30
24
30
20
30
30
30
30
9
30
32
30
30
24
40
0.6-0.15
Dosaae
4.4
Information taken from Suggested Guide for the Use of Insecticides
to Control Insects Affecting Crops, Livestock, Households, Stored
Products, Forests and Forest Products—196.8, Agriculture Handbook No.
331, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Govt. Printing Office (1968).
Pounds of active ingredient to apply per acre.
-------
43
APPENDIX
TABLE 8
QUANTITIES OF ARSENICAL PESTICIDES USED BY
FARMERS IN 48 STATES, 1964
Herbicides
Sodium, calcium, and zinc
arsenites
Organic
arsenicals
Cropsa
(Thousands
1,183
1,006
Other*5
of pounds)
56
71
Total
1,239
1,007
Insecticides
Lead, calcium, maganesium,
and manganese arsenates 7,014 142 7,156
Defoliants and Desiccants
Arsenic acid 4,973 136 5,109
a
Includes all crops, pasture, and land in summer fallow.
Includes fence rows, ditch banks, and other usages.
-------
44
APPENDIX
TABLE 9
ARSENIC AND LEAD CONCENTRATION IN THE AIR OF ORCHARDS3
WHERE LEAD ARSENATE WAS USED AS AN INSECTICIDE
Insecticide
Operation
Mixing insecticide
Burning containers
Spraying orchard
Thinning fruit
Picking fruit
Dumping fruit
October
December
Sorting and packing
Averaqe
1,850
16,670
140
80
880
60
10
(October) 6
Concentration
Arsenic
b , 3
uq/m
Lead
Rancre Averaqe
20-11,070
4,860-26,120
40-480
10-320
260-1,900
10-190
2-20
3-8
5,740
3,580 1,
450
300
2,930
190
30
16
Ranae
90-46,730
020-7,650
130-1,430
40-1,700
770-7,520
40-690
1-110
7-22
Wenatchee, Wash, apple orchards (1938).
b
Concentration to which orchardist was exposed.
-------
APPENDIX
TABLE 10
SUSPENDED PARTICULATE AND ARSENIC CONCENTRATIONS IN
THE AIR NEAR COTTON GINS IN WEST TEXAS, 196416
Distance
from Gin
(ft)
150-300a
1, 200-1 ,400a
2,200-8,000a
b
Range of
Suspended
Particulate
Concentrations
( Hq/m3 )
5,000-76,000
385-187
217-42
67-783
Range of
Arsenic
Concentrations
( Uq/m3 )
0.6-141
.07-0.08
.10-0.01
Ave
Arsenic per
^g
Particulates
Ratio X 104
1.2-18.5
3.7-2.1
4.6-2.4
. -0.0003
Measurement downwind from the gin.
Measurement upwind from the gin.
TABLE 11
PARTICULATE EMISSIONS FROM STONEVILLE COTTON GIN
(In Micrograms per Cubic Meter)
16
Settling
Sampling Point Chamber
Unloading fan
Six-cylinder cleaner 183,000
Stick and bur machine 1,190,000
Seven-cylinder cleanera
Seven-cylinder cleaner13
Condenser
Sampling
Filter
820,000
91,000
68,000
23,000
11,000
46,000
Total
820,000
274,000
1,258,000
23,000
11,000
46,000
Standard cyclone, 84-inch diameter.
High-efficiency cyclone, 34-inch diameter.
-------
APPENDIX 46
TABLE 12
16
ESTIMATED RATES OP EMISSION OF ARSENIC FROM COTTON GINS
Emission Rate
of Arsenic Minimum* Maximum*
Hg/min 4,200-6,400 560,000-850,000
l-ig/bale 27,000-48,000 3,700,000-6,360,000
*Assuming efficiencies based on Stoneville Gin.
TABLE 13
8
AIR CONCENTRATION OF ARSENIC, 1950
Arsenic
City ( ug/m3 )
Cincinnati 0.06
Charleston <0.10
-------
47
APPENDIX
TABLE 14
AIR CONCENTRATION OF ARSENIC IN CITIES
OF UNITED STATES, 1953
Average Arsenic
Concentration
City3
Los Angeles Over 2,000,000
Detroit
Philadelphia
Chicago " "
New York "
Cincinnati 500,000-2,000,000
Kansas City " "
Portland
Atlanta
Houston "
San Francisco " "
Minneapolis " "
Anchorage <500,000
Charleston "
Fort Worth
Louisville "
Near Boonsboro Nonurban area
Salt Lake City
Atlanta
" Cincinnati "
Portland
Maximum urban concentration
0.02
.04
.16
.04
.05
.02
.02
.02
<.01
.01
.01
.01
<.01
.09
.01
.02
.01
.03
.01
<.01
.04
1.41
-------
APPENDIX
TABLE 15
CONCENTRATION OF ARSENIC IN AIR, FULL-YEAR
Location
Arizona
Phoenix
Delaware
Wilmington
District of Columbia
Washington
Georgia
Atlanta
Illinois
Chicago
Indiana
Gary
Parke County
New York
New York
Pennsylvania
Clarion County
Pittsburgh
Utah
Salt Lake City
Year
1961
1961
1961
1962
1962
1962
1961
1961
1961
1961
1961
No. of
Sam-
ples
27
23
23
25
26
21
23
23
22
23
18
Microqrams per Cubic Meter
Min
.01
.01
Frequency Distribution (Percent)
10
.01
20
.01
.01
.01
30
.01
.01
.01
.01
.01
.02
.01
.01
40
.01
.01
.01
.01
.02
.02
.01
.01
.01
50
.01
.01
.01
.01
.01
.02
.01
.02
.01
.02
.01
60
.01
.01
.01
.01
.02
.03
.01
.03
.01
.02
.01
70
.02
.01
.02
.01
.02
.04
.01
.03
.01
.03
.02
80
.03
.02
.02
.01
.03
.04
.01
.04
.01
.03
.02
90
.04
.02
.03
.02
.03
.06
.01
.05
.02
.05
.02
Max
.11
.03
.04
.04
.04
.08
.02
.11
.03
.09
.11
Arith
Mean
.02
.01
.02
.01
.02
.03
.03
.01
.03
.02
Geom
Mean
.01
.01
.01
.01
.02
.02
.01
.03
.01
.02
.01
Std
Geom
Dev
2.63
1.69
1.79
1.81
1.91
2.29
1.59
1.85
1.56
1.87
2.3
(continued)
-------
APPENDIX
TABLE 15
CONCENTRATION OF ARSENIC IN AIR, FULL-YEAR DATA2 (Continued)
Location
West Virginia
Charleston
United States
Urban
Year
1962
No. of
Sam-
ples
25
*
12
Micro qrams per Cubic Meter
Min
<.01
Frequency Distribution (Percen
10
.01
20
.03
30
.05
40
.08
50
.20
60
.22
70
.36
80
.38
t)
90
.53
Max
1.0
1.0
Arith
Mean
.24
Geom
Mean
.11
0.02
Std
Geom
Dev
4.84
*Number of stations.
-------
APPENDIX
TABLE 16
URBAN AND NONURBAN CONCENTRATION OF ARSENIC IN AIR, 1964':
Station
Location
Alabama
Birmingham
Gadsden
Mobile
Alaska
Anchorage
Arizona
Grand Canyona
Paradise Valley
Phoenix
Tucson
Arkansas
Little Rock
Montgomery County
Texarkana
California
Bakersf ield
Burba nk
Humboldt County3
Los Angeles
Monterey
Oakland
Micrograms per
Cubic Meter
1st
Qtr
.02
.01
.01
.00
.00
.01
.01
.01
.00
.00
.01
.01
.00
.01
.00
.01
2nd
Qtr
.01
.01
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.01
.00
.00
.00
.00
.01
.00
.00
.00
.00
3rd
Qtr
.00
.00
.01
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.02
.00
.01
.00
.01
4th
Qtr
.02
.01
.01
.00
.01
.02
.02
.01
.00
.00
.01
.01
.02
.00
.01
.00
.02
Yrly
Avq
.01
.01
.01
.00
.00
.01
.01
.01
.00
.00
.01
.02
.00
.01
.00
.01
Station
Location
Calif, (continued)
Pasadena
Sacramento
San Diego
San Francisco
Santa Ana
Santa Barbara
Colorado
Denver
Montezuma Countya
Connecticut
Hartford
New Haven
Delaware
Kent County
Newark
Wilmington
District of Columbia
Washington
Micro grains per
Cubic Meter
1st
Qtr
.01
.00
.00
.00
.01
.00
.01
.00
.01
.01
.01
.02
.01
2nd
Qtr
.01
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.01
.01
.01
.02
.01
3rd
Qtr
.02
.01
.00
.00
.01
.00
.01
.00
.01
.01
.01
.01
.01
.01
4th
Qtr
.02
.00
.00
.01
.01
.01
.01
.00
.02
.01
.01
.01
.05
.02
Yrly
Avq
.02
.00
.00
.00
.01
.00
.01
.00
.01
.01
.01
.03
.01
(continued)
-------
APPENDIX
TABLE 16
3
URBAN AND NONURBAN CONCENTRATION OF ARSENIC IN AIR, 1964 (Continued)
Station
Location
Florida
Florida Keys
Jacksonville
Orlando
Tampa
Georgia
Atlanta
Hawaii
Honolulu
Idaho
Boise
Buite Countya
Illinois
Chicago
Cicero ^
East St. Louis
Moline
Peoria
Rock Island
Springfield
Indiana
Beverly Shores
Dunes PCL Post
Micrograms per
Cubic Meter
1st
Qtr
.00
.00
.00
.00
.01
.00
.00
.00
.04
.03
.03
.02
.02
.01
.01
.01
2nd
Qtr
.00
.00
.00
.01
.01
.00
.00
.00
.02
.02
.01
.01
.01
.01
.00
.01
3rd
Qtr
.00
.01
.01
.00
.00
.00
.03
.02
.04
.00
.01
.01
.00
.01
.01
4th
Qtr
.00
.00
.00
.01
.00
.01
.01
.02
.02
.02
.01
.03
.01
.01
.01
.02
Yrly
Avq
.00
.01
.00
.00
.00
.03
.02
.03
.01
.02
.01
.01
.01
Station
Location
Indiana (continued)
Dunes State Park
East Chicago
Evan svi lie
Fort Wayne
Gary b
Hammond
Indianapolis
Ogden Dunes
Portage a
Parke County
Lafayette
Iowa
Davenport
Delaware Countya
Des Moines
Dubuque
Kansas
Kansas City
Wichita
Kentucky
Ashland
Coving ton
Louisville
Micrograms per
Cubic Meter
1st
Qtr
.01
.03
.02
.03
.04
.03
.04
.01
.01
.01
.01
.00
.01
.01
.01
.01
.04
.01
.01
2nd
Qtr
.01
.05
.01
.01
.02
.03
.01
.00
.01
.00
.00
.01
.00
.01
.01
.00
.01
.03
.01
.01
3rd
Qtr
.00
.04
.01
.01
.03
.02
.01
.01
.01
.01
.01
.01
.00
.00
.01
.00
.00
.02
.02
.01
4th
Qtr
.01
.05
.01
.01
.02
.02
.02
.02
.01
.01
.01
.01
.00
.01
.02
.01
.01
.04
.01
.02
Yrly
Avq
.01
.04
.01
.02
.03
.03
.02
.01
.01
.01
.01
.00
.01
.01
.01
.01
.03
.01
.01
(continued)
-------
APPENDIX
TABLE 16
3
URBAN AND NONURBAN CONCENTRATION OF ARSENIC AIR, 1964 (Continued)
Station
Location
Louisiana
Baton Rouge
Lake Charles
New Orleans
Maine
Acadia National Parka
Portland
Maryland
Baltimore
Calvert
Massachusetts
Boston
Springfield
Michigan
Detroit
Wyandotte
Minnesota
Duluth
Minneapolis
Moorhead
St. Paul
Micrograms per
Cubic Meter
1st
Qtr
.01
.00
.00
.00
.01
.02
.00
.02
.02
.03
.03
.01
.01
.01
.01
2nd
Qtr
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.01
.00
.01
.01
.03
.03
.02
.01
.00
.00
3rd
Qtr
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.02
.00
.01
.01
.02
.03
.00
.00
.00
.00
4th
Qtr
.01
.00
.00
.00
.01
.03
.01
.01
.02
.02
.01
.00
.01
.01
Yrly
Avq
.01
.00
.00
.00
.00
.02
.00
.01
.02
.03
.01
.01
.01
.01
Station
Location
Mississippi
Jackson
Q.
Jackson County
Missouri
Kansas City
St. Louis
Shannon Countya
Montana
Glacier National Parka
Helena
Nebraska
Omaha a
Thomas County
Nevada
Las Vegas
White Pine Countya
New Hampshire
Concord
Coos County
Micrograms per
Cubic Meter
1st
Qtr
.00
.01
.01
.00
.00
.02
.04
.00
.00
.00
.01
.00
2nd
Qtr
.00
.00
.00
.01
.00
.00
.02
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
3rd
Qtr
.00
.00
.00
.03
.00
.00
.02
.03
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
4th
Qtr
.00
.01
.01
.00
.00
.05
.02
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
Yrly
Avq
.01
.02
.00
.02
.03
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
Ul
(continued)
-------
APPENDIX
TABLE 16
3
URBAN AND NONURBAN CONCENTRATION OF ARSENIC IN AIR, 1964 (Continued)
Station
Location
New Jersey
Bridge ton
Camden
Glassboro
Jutland
Marlton
Newark
New Brunswick
Pemberton
Perth Amboy
Princeton
Trenton
New Mexico
Albuquerque
Co If ax County
New York
Cape Vincenta
New York
North Carolina
Cape Hatterasa
Charlotte
Fayetteville
Winston-Salem
Micrograms per
Cubic Meter
1st
Qtr
.03
.01
.01
.02
.01
.01
.01
.00
.01
.03
.00
.01
.00
.02
2nd
Qtr
.02
.01
.01
.01
.03
.01
.10
.01
.00
.00
.01
.02
.00
.00
.00
.00
3rd
Qtr
.00
.02
.00
.02
.02
.04
.01
.03
.01
.01
.00
.00
.01
.03
.00
.00
.00
.00
4th
Otr
.02
.04
.02
.01
.02
.02
.02
.10
.02
.02
.01
.00
.01
.05
.00
.01
.01
.02
Yrly
Avq
.03
.01
.02
.01
.00
.01
.03
.00
.01
.00
.01
Station
Location
North Dakota
Bi smarck
Fargo a
Ward County
Ohio
Akron
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Columbus
Dayton
Lorain
Steubenville
Toledo
Youngs town
Oklahoma
Cherokee County3
Oklahoma City
Tulsa
Oregon
Curry County
Portland
Micrograms per
Cubic Meter
1st
Qtr
.00
.01
.00
.04
.03
.04
.02
.02
.03
.04
.06
.07
.00
.01
.01
.00
2nd
Qtr
.00
.00
.00
.04
.02
.02
.02
.04
.02
.07
.18
.05
.00
.00
.00
.00
.02
3rd
Qtr
.00
.00
.00
.04
.02
.02
.02
.01
.01
.08
.03
.02
.00
.00
.00
.00
.01
4th
Qtr
.01
.01
.00
.05
.03
.04
.03
.04
.02
.15
.10
.04
.00
.01
.01
.00
.01
Yrly
Avq
.00
.01
.00
.04
.03
.03
.02
.03
.02
.09
.09
.05
.00
.01
.01
.01
(continued)
-------
APPENDIX
TABLE 16
URBAN AND NONURBAN CONCENTRATION OF ARSENIC IN AIR, 19643 (Continued)
Station
Location
Pennsylvania
Bethlehem13
Clarion County3
Eagleville
Ertibreeville
Lancaster
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Puerto Rico
Guayanilla
Ponce
San Juan
Rhode Island
Providence
Washington Countya
South Carolina
Columbia
Richland Countya
South Dakota
Black Hills
Sioux Falls
Micro grams per
Cubic Meter
1st
Qtr
.02
.02
.04
.03
.00
.00
.00
.01
.01
.01
.00
.00
.01
2nd
Qtr
.01
.01
.01
.01
.02
.03
.00
.00
.00
.01
.00
.00
.00
.00
3rd
Qtr
.01
.01
oOl
.00
.01
.13
.03
oOO
.00
.00
.01
.00
.01
.00
.00
.00
4th
Qtr
.01
.02
.02
.02
.02
.05
.06
.00
.00
.00
.01
.01
.01
.00
.01
.00
Yrly
Avg
.01
.02
.06
.04
.00
.00
.00
.01
.01
.00
.00
.00
Station
Location
Tennessee
Chattanooga
Memphis
Nashville
Texas
Arkansas County3
Dallas
El Paso
Houston
Laredo
San Antonio
Texarkana
Waco
Utah
Ogden
Salt Lake City
Vermont
Burlington
Orange County
Micrograms per
Cubic Meter
1st
Qtr
.04
.02
.01
.00
.02
.50
.01
.00
.00
.00
.01
.02
.01
.00
2nd
Qtr
.02
.01
.01
.00
.01
.60
.00
.01
.00
.00
.00
.00
.01
.01
.00
3rd
Qtr
.03
.01
.0]
.00
.02
.50
.01
.00
,00
.00
.01
.01
.00
.01
.00
4th
Qtr
.02
.01
.01
.00
.03
1.40
.01
.01
.00
.00
.01
.02
.03
.01
.01
(contin
Yrly
Avq
.02
.01
.01
.00
.02
.75
.01
.00
.00
.01
.01
.02
.01
.00
ued)
01
-------
APPENDIX
TABLE 16
URBAN AND NONURBAN CONCENTRATION OF ARSENIC IN AIR, 1964 (Continued)
Station
Location
Virginia
Danville
Norfolk
Shenandoah Parka
Washington
Seattle
Tacoma
West Virginia
Charleston
Huntington
Parkersburg
Weirton
Wheeling
Wisconsin
Door County
Eau Claire
Milwaukee
Racine
Superior
Micrograms per
Cubic Meter
1st
Qtr
.01
.01
.00
.06
.03
.22
.03
.02
.01
.04
.00
.01
.02
.01
.01
2nd
Qtr
.01
.01
.00
.08
.02
.10
.02
.01
.03
.02
.00
.01
.02
.01
.01
3rd
Qtr
.00
.01
.00
.03
.04
.24
.01
.02
.05
.02
.00
.00
.01
.01
.00
4th
Qtr
.01
.01
.00
.14
.18
.36
.03
.02
.05
.02
.01
.01
.02
.02
.01
Yrly
Avq
.01
.01
.00
.08
.07
.25
o02
.02
.04
.03
.00
.01
.02
.01
.01
Station
Location
Wyoming
Cheyenne
Yellowstone Parka
United States
Micrograms per
Cubic Meter
1st
Qtr
.00
.01
2nd
Qtr
.00
.00
3rd
Qtr
.00
.00
4th
Qtr
.00
.02
133 Stations
Yrly
Avq
.00
.01
.02
Nonurban Areas
1963
Ul
-------
APPENDIX
TABLE 17
55
CONCENTRATION OF ARSENIC IN THE AIR OF MONTANA CITIES, 1961-62
Arsenic
Citv
Anaconda
Butte
Great Falls
Helena
Missoula
Maximum
2.50
0.55
0.11
0.16
0.15
July
0.42
.05
.01
.00
.00
Auq.
0.68
.05
.02
.01
.00
Sept.
0.51
.06
.03
.02
.01
, Hq/m
Oct.
0.33
.11
.01
.02
.00
(Average)
Nov.
0.54
.09
.02
.03
.02
Dec.
0.05
.01
.06
.01
Jan.
0.64
.09
.00
.02
.02
Feb.
0.56
.04
,00
.02
.01
Mar.
0.33
.06
.01
.03
.02
Apr.
0.27
.09
.01
.04
.00
Mav
0.18
.04
.00
.01
.00
June
0.46
.09
.00
.00
.00
-------
APPENDIX
TABLE 18. PROPERTIES, TOXICITY AND USES OF SOME ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
33
Compound
Properties
Toxicitv
Uses
Arsenic trioxide
(White arsenic)
AS2°3
75.74%
m.p. 313
b.p. 465°
sublimes at
193°
Most forms of arsenic are
highly toxic. Acute
symptoms following inges-
tion relate to irritation
of the gastrointestinal
tract: nausea/ vomiting,
diarrhea which can pro-
gress to shock and death.
Chronic poisoning can
result in exfoliation and
pigmentation of skin,
herpes, polyneuritis,
altered hematopoiesis,
degeneration of liver and
kidneys
LD5Q for rats 13,000 i-ig/kg
for man 0.0-0.5 g
Chronic: Under 0.1 g
Phytotoxicity: very toxic
to plants.
It is the primary material for
all arsenic compounds. Used in
the manufacture of glass, Paris
green, enamels, weed killers,
textile mordants, metallic
arsenic; for preserving hides,
killing rodents, insects; in
sheep dips and weed killers.
Med. use: formerly for dermati-
tides, chronic bronchitis,
asthma, anemia, topically for
skin neoplasms. Vet. use: for
pulmonary emphysema, chronic
coughs, anemia, general debility,
chronic nonparasitic skin
disease
Arsenic disulfide
AS2S2
70.03%
m.p. 320
b.p. 565C
Most forms of arsenic are
highly toxic
See Arsenic trioxide
As pigment in painting, in fire-
works as blue fire and to give
an intense white flame; to manu-
facture shot; for calico printing
and dyeing, tanning and depi-
lating hides
Arsenic acid
Poisonous. See above.
LD_. in rabbits: 8,000
In the manufacture of arsenates
50
52.78%
ugAg
(continued)
-------
APPENIDX
TABLE 18. PROPERTIES, TOXICITY AND USES OF SOME ARSENIC COMPOUNDS (Continued)
Compound
Properties
Toxicitv
Uses
Arsenic hemiselenide
65.49%
Decomposes
Same as Arsenic trioxide
In manufacture of glass
Arsenic pentafluoride
AsF5
44.09%
m.p. -79.8
b-p. -53.2
Same as Arsenic trioxide
Also, external contact—
liquid or vapor—causes
severe irritation of eyes
Arsenic
pentaselenide
As-Sec
27.51%
Decomposes
Poisonous
See Arsenic trioxide
Arsenic pentoxide
As O_
2 5
65.20%
Poisonous. Keep well
closed.
LD i.v. in rabbits
8,000 ugAg
In manufacture of colored glass,
in adhesives for metals; in wood
preservatives; in weed control;
as fungicide
Arsenic tribromide
AsBr
23.83%
m.p. 31.1
See Arsenic trioxide
Intensely poisonous
Also: highly irritating
to skin, eyes, mucous
membranes, respiratory
tract
Arsenic
trichloride
nv/p. -16 c
b;p. 130.21
41.32%
Extremely toxic. Readily
liberates hydrochloric
acid, which is a strong
irritant. Also see
Arsenic trioxide
In the ceramic industry; in the
synthesis of chlorine-containing
arsenicals (i.e., chloro
derivatives of arsenic)
Ul
oo
(continued)
-------
APPENDIX
TABLE 18. PROPERTIES, TOXICITY AND USES OF SOME ARSENIC COMPOUNDS (Continued)
Compound
Properties
Toxicitv
Uses
Arsenic
trifluoride
AsF
56.79%
m.p. -8.5
b.p. 63°
Extremely toxic.
See Arsenic trioxide
Arsenic triiodide
AsI3
16.44%
m.p. 140.9
b.p. -400°
See Arsenic trioxide
Med. use: formerly internally
for chronic dermatitides (in-
cluding syphilitic), various
chronic arthroses, and certain
cases of lymphadenitis, and
topically as stimulant in
dermatitis
Arsenic
triselenide
38.74%
m.p. 260
See Arsenic
pentafluoride
Arsenic trisulfide
60.90%
m.p. 300-325
See Arsenic trioxide
In manufacture of glass, parti-
cularly infrared transmitting
glass; in manufacture of oil
cloth, linoleum; in electrical
semiconductors, photoconductors;
as pigment; for depilating hides,
in pyrotechnics
Arsenious acid
solution
Prepared with 1 g
As203 5 ml dil HC1
and water to 100 ml
See Arsenic trioxide
Med. use: has been used for
blood dyscrasias.
Vet. use: in certain blood
diseases, anemias, and skin
disorders
(continued)
-------
APPENDIX
TABLE 18,
PROPERTIES, TOXICITY AND USES OF SOME ARSENIC COMPOUNDS (Continued)
Compound
Properties
Toxicitv
Uses
Arsine
AsH3
96.12%
m.p. -117U
b.p. -625°
Injurious in 1:20,000
dilution; a few inhalations
may be fatal. Death from
anoxia or pulmonary edema.
Hemolytic anemia in non-
fatal cases
For chemical analyses
Arsonoacetic acid
O^AsCH .
£. ° 2.
40.72%
m.p. 152
Vet. use: disodium salt used to
treat anaplasmosis (babesiasis);
as general stimulant in nervous
disease; for eclampsia of
bitches, and with adjuncts in
chronic eczema and follicular
mange
Calcium arsenate
Powder
37.64%
See Arsenic trioxide
Poisonous
LD5Q 35-100 mg/kg for
various animals
Phytotoxicity: causes
leaf and fruit damage
to stone fruit trees
As insecticide, particularly
against insects destructive to
plants; as molluscicide
Lead arsenate
PbHAsO
21.58%
White heavy
powder
Decomposes
above 280°C
Poisonous
LD orally in rats
50 80,000 |-igAg
, animals 10,000-
50,000 |J.gAg
man 0.1-0.5 gm
As constituent of various insec-
ticides for larvae of gypsy moth,
boll weevil, etc.
Vet. use: has been reported
useful for tapeworms of cattle,
goats, sheep
<^
(continued
-------
APPENDIX
TABLE 18. PROPERTIES, TOXICITY AND USES OF SOME ARSENIC COMPOUNDS (Continued)
Compound
Properties
Toxicity
Uses
Cupric acetoarsen-
ite (Paris Green)
(CuOAs2O3)3.
44.34%
Emerald green
powder
Decomposes on
prolonged
heating in
water
Poisonous. Gastric dis-
turbances, tremors, or
muscular cramps, and
peripheral neuritis,
local effects on the skin,
mucous membranes and
conjunctivae
As insecticide, wood preserva-
tive; as pigment, particularly
for ships and submarines
Cupric arsenite
(Scheele's green)
CuHAsO
39.96%
Ye11owi sh-gr ay
powder
Poisonous
As pigment, wood preservative,
insecticide, fungicide, rodenti-
cide
Potassium arsenate
Decomposes
Poisonous
41.61%
In textile, tanning, and paper
industries. In insecticidal for-
mulations (especially fly paper)
Potassium arsenite
KAsO -HAsO
59.00%
Decomposes
Very poisonous. Keep well
closed.
LDj-n orally in rats:
5 14,000
In manufacture of mirrors to
reduce the silver salt to
metallic silver
Potassium arsenite
solution
Made from arsenic
trioxide 10 g;
potassium bicarbo-
nate 7.6 g; alco-
hol 30 ml; distilled
water to 1 liter
Very poisonous
See Arsenic trioxide
Med. use: has been used in
chronic myelogenous leukemia,
chronic dermatitides.
Vet. use: for pulmonary emphysema,
chronic coughs, anemia, general
debility, chronic nonparasitic
skin diseases
(continued)
-------
APPENDIX
TABLE 18. PROPERTIES, TOXICITY AND USES OF SOME ARSENIC COMPOUNDS (Continued)
Compound
Properties
Toxicitv
Uses
Methanearsenic acid
CH AsOI
53.53%
CH AsO(OH)
3 2
m.p. 161
See Arsenic trioxide
Disodium salt, as herbicide.
Med. use: has been used in
anemia, leukemia, psoriasis
Cacodylic acid
(CH )As(O)OH
54.29%
m.p. 195-196C
Poisonous
LD s.c. for dogs 1.0 g/kg
As herbicide. Formerly for
various skin diseases
Sodium arsenate
dibasic
Na^HAsO
2 4
40.29%
m.p. 57
Poisonous but less so than
arsenite
The technical grade, about 98%
pure, is used in dyeing with
Turkey-red oil and in printing
fabrics. Med. use: formerly as
"alterative," anthelmintic. Has
been used for chronic skin
diseases. Vet. use: see Arsenic
trioxide
Sodium arsenite
NaAsO
57.67%
Very poisonous. Keep well
closed
See Arsenic trioxide
The technical grade, 90-95% pure,
is used in manufacture of arsen-
ical soap for use on skin, for
treating vines against certain
scale disease, as insecticide
(especially for termites). Vet.
use: topically against ticks of
ruminants
Chloroarsenol
m/p. 115
Formerly as tonic
(continued)
-------
APPENDIX
TABLE 18. PROPERTIES, TOXICITY AND USES OF SOME ARSENIC COMPOUNDS (Continued)
Compound
Properties
Toxicity
Uses
Disodium methyl
arsenate
CH As03Na2-
6H2°
m.p. above
300°
Oral to mammals: test
animals tolerate well
above 50,000 fig per kilo
body weight
LD to rats 20% solution
of agri. grade is
600,000 |-igAg
As weedkiller (crabgrass); for
some control over silver or
goose grass, knotweed, and
chickweed
Zinc arsenate
Zn(As04)2
3096
Oral to mammals
See Arsenic trioxide
As insecticide
------- |