Vol. 9, Issue 9, Part A (2023)

Abstract
Every year millions of tons of heavy metal contaminants are produced and humans are vulnerable to them. The heavy metals that are toxic include lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium. Heavy metals have adverse implications for both plants and animals. They may be found in nature anywhere, however their density varies by region. Arsenic, belonging to group XV elements of the periodic table, is a colorless, tasteless and odorless environmental contaminant classified as metalloid. Arsenic compounds are widely used in drug manufacturing, antifouling paints, pesticides, and wood preservation. Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is prevalent in air and inorganic arsenates (AsO 3-) or arsenites (AsO2-) are found in water, food and soil. On account of the widespread use of arsenic it has become a source of common heavy metal exposure leading to concern about the potential impact of arsenic on human beings. Elevated concentrations of arsenic are reported in carbonate spring waters (0.4–1.3 mg/L) of New Zealand, Romania, and the United States, in artesian wells (up to 1.8 mg/L) of Taiwan and China, and in-ground waters (up to 3.2 mg/L) in India. Occupational exposure occurs from metal smelting, pesticide usage, and fuel combustion, mainly from burning low-grade brown coal and mineral processing. Despite major governmental initiatives, absorption of arsenic poses a life - threatening issue in the living beings. This necessitates assessing the environmental contaminant –arsenic through the oral route as it may have a narrow period of sensitivity with implications for the human population.