Skip to main content
Environmental Health Perspectives logoLink to Environmental Health Perspectives
. 1977 Aug;19:179–182. doi: 10.1289/ehp.7719179

Carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic effects of arsenic.

V Bencko
PMCID: PMC1637403  PMID: 908296

Abstract

This review outlines briefly the history and present status of the problem of carcinogenic, teratogenic and mutagenic effects of arsenic. Discrepancies between clinical observations and positive results of epidemiological studies and the experimental induction of cancer by arsenic are discussed. The present knowledge of the mechanism of teratogenic and mutagenic effects of arsenic is analyzed. The growing importance of arsenic as an environmental pollutant is demonstrated. Continuation of throughly organized epidemiological studies in regions with excessive arsenic exposure of the population and standardization of an epidemiological approach to this problem on an international basis are recommended. New approaches in experimental studies of the carcinogenicity of arsenic in combination with other known or suspected carcinogens are recommended as well.

Full text

PDF
180

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BERGOGLIO R. M. MORTALIDAD POR C'ANCER EN ZONAS DE AGUAS ARSENICALES DE LA PROVINCIA DE C'ORDOBA, REP'UBLICA ARGENTINA. CONTRIBUCI'ON A LA PATOLOG'IA REGIONAL DEL C'ANCER. Prensa Med Argent. 1964 Oct 23;51:994–998. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BUECHLEY R. W. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF AN ARSENIC-LUNG CANCER THEORY. Am J Public Health Nations Health. 1963 Aug;53:1229–1232. doi: 10.2105/ajph.53.8.1229. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Beaudoin A. R. Teratogenicity of sodium arsenate in rats. Teratology. 1974 Oct;10(2):153–157. doi: 10.1002/tera.1420100211. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. DOMONKOS A. N. Neutron activation analysis of arsenic in normal skin, keratoses, and epitheliomas. Arch Dermatol. 1959 Dec;80:672–677. doi: 10.1001/archderm.1959.01560240024003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. DOWNING J. G. Cancer of skin and occupational trauma. J Am Med Assoc. 1952 Jan 26;148(4):245–252. doi: 10.1001/jama.1952.02930040001001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Ferm V. H., Carpenter S. J. Malformations induced by sodium arsenate. J Reprod Fertil. 1968 Oct;17(1):199–201. doi: 10.1530/jrf.0.0170199. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Ferm V. H., Saxon A., Smith B. M. The teratogenic profile of sodium arsenate in the golden hamster. Arch Environ Health. 1971 May;22(5):557–560. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1971.10665901. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. GALY P., TOURAINE R., BRUNE J., ROUDIER P., GALLOIS P. [Pulmonary cancer of arsenical origin in Beaujolais vineyeard workers]. J Fr Med Chir Thorac. 1963 Apr;17:303–311. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Hood R. D., Bishop S. L. Teratogenic effects of sodium arsenate in mice. Arch Environ Health. 1972 Jan;24(1):62–65. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1972.10666051. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Lee A. M., Fraumeni J. F., Jr Arsenic and respiratory cancer in man: an occupational study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1969 Jun;42(6):1045–1052. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. NEUMANN E., SCHWANK R. Multiple malignant and benign epidermal and dermal tumours following arsenic. Acta Derm Venereol. 1960;40:400–409. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Oppenheim J. J., Fishbein W. N. Induction of chromosome breaks in cultured normal human leukocytes by potassium arsenite, hydroxyurea and related compounds. Cancer Res. 1965 Aug;25(7):980–985. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Ott M. G., Holder B. B., Gordon H. L. Respiratory cancer and occupational exposure to arsenicals. Arch Environ Health. 1974 Nov;29(5):250–255. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1974.10666582. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Oyanguren H., Pérez E. Poisoning of industrial origin in a community. Arch Environ Health. 1966 Aug;13(2):185–189. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1966.10664530. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Petres J., Berger A. Zum Einfluss anorganischen Arsens auf die DNS-Synthese menschlicher Lymphocyten in vitro. Arch Dermatol Forsch. 1972;242(4):343–352. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. ROSSET M. Arsenical keratoses associated with carcinomas of the internal organs. Can Med Assoc J. 1958 Mar 15;78(6):416–419. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. ROTH F. Arsen, Leber, Tumoren; Hämangioendotheliom. Z Krebsforsch. 1957;61(5):468–503. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. ROTH F. Uber die chronische Arsenvergiftung der Moselwinzer unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Arsenkrebses. Z Krebsforsch. 1956;61(3):287–319. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Regelson W., Kim U., Ospina J., Holland J. F. Hemangioendothelial sarcoma of liver from chronic arsenic intoxication by Fowler's solution. Cancer. 1968 Mar;21(3):514–522. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(196803)21:3<514::aid-cncr2820210323>3.0.co;2-z. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. SNEGIREFF L. S., LOMBARD O. M. Arsenic and cancer; observations in the metallurgical industry. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med. 1951 Sep;4(3):199–205. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. SOMMERS S. C., MCMANUS R. G. Multiple arsenical cancers of skin and internal organs. Cancer. 1953 Mar;6(2):347–359. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(195303)6:2<347::aid-cncr2820060219>3.0.co;2-l. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Schulz E. J. Arsenic as a cause of skin cancer, with notes on its occurrence in Pretoria. S Afr Med J. 1967 Sep 2;41(33):819–822. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Thiers H., Colomb D., Moulin G., Durand B. Septième cas d'arsenicisme chronique des viticulteurs du Beaujolais compliqué de dégénérescences cutanées à foyers multiples: dyskératoses de type Bowen et épithélioma spinocellulaire. Lyon Med. 1965 Jul 4;214(27):19–21. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Yeh S. Skin cancer in chronic arsenicism. Hum Pathol. 1973 Dec;4(4):469–485. doi: 10.1016/s0046-8177(73)80060-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Environmental Health Perspectives are provided here courtesy of National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

RESOURCES