Arsenic Intoxication from Well Water in the United States

Abstract

PERHAPS no substance has had historical notoriety equal to that of arsenic. Nevertheless, its use in medicinal compounds has been widespread since antiquity, and occupational exposure has been common, particularly in the first half of this century.¹ Its greatest use has been in the production of pesticides and herbicides, and a substantial number of accidental deaths have occurred from ingestion of these substances.^{2 , 3} Despite its ubiquity in the environment, arsenic intoxication in the United States secondary to a contaminated water supply is rare. In the 11 cases reported below, acute and subacute arsenic intoxication was related to ingestion of well . . .