**7. Pharmaceutical use**

Arsenic has been used therapeutically for over 2000 years. During the 18th- 20th centuries arsenic compounds have been used as medicines, including arsphenamine and arsenic

Arsenic – Pesticides with an Ambivalent Character 191

In industry, arsenic is used to manufacture polants, fungicides, insecticides, pesticides,

In most local hardware stores arsenic-containing herbicides are readily available, the most common are e.g. Disodium methylarsonate (DSMO), monosodium methylarsonate (MSMA), monomethyl arsenic acid (MMA(V)). These compounds can kill crabgrass and other unwanted grass types. Arsenic trioxide (AS2O3) is commonly used as an antisecticide. Arsenic acid and arsenous acid are common rodenticides. The major use for arsenic is in the

Arsenic is used industrially as an additive to glass to reduce coloring, in semiconductors, in pigments such as Paris green (CuHAsO3) and in pesticides. Paris Green is a common name for copper (II) acetoarsenite, which is a toxic emerald-green crystalline powder. Other names for the chemical are Emerald Green, Vienna Green, Schweinfurt Green and Parrot Green. The use has been abandoned around 1960. The III-V semiconductors are very important in the fabrication of LED´s, tunnel diodes, infrared emitters, laser window and

form of chromated copper arsenate, which reduces termites and ants from wood.

**8. Industrial use** 

Hall-effect devices.

Fig. 8. Paris Green bottle

(http://theodoregray.com/periodictable/Elements/033/index.s7.html).

herbicides, wood preservatives, and cotton desiccants.

trioxide. In 1910, Paul Ehrlich introduced the arsenic-based drug Salvarsan (arsenobenzol) as a remedy for syphilis in all stages, a sexually transmitted disease. It was efficient in various similar diseases such as relapsing fever, Vincent´s angina.

Arsenic trioxide is also known as an anti-bacterial and anti-cancer agent (Bardos, tta-Gupta, and Hebborn 1966). Inorganic As has been also used pharmacologically for the treatment of eczema, pemphigus and psoriasis under the name of Fowler´s solution. It was a 1 % solution of potassium arsenite, colored with a tincture of lavender-which contained a very high concentration of arsenic (Rahman 2006). Some arsenic containing drugs are still presently used to treat diseases like asthma rheumatism, cough, pruritus and itching (Ko 1999; Wong, Tan, and Goh 1998a).

In 2000, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of arsenic trioxide for treatment of relapsed or refractory acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (Antman 2001). It is based on its mechanism as an inducer of apoptosis (programmed cell death) (Soignet et al. 1998).

Fig. 7. Effects of all-trans-retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide in the blast cells of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) (Look 1998).

Traditional medicine products contain arsenic sulfides (realgar) and are available as pills and tablets. They are still used for psoriasis, syphilis, asthma, rheumatism, hemorrhoids, cough and pruritus and are rescribed as a health tonic, an analgesic, anti-inflammatory agent (Ko 1999; Wong, Tan, and Goh 1998d). In Korea arsenic is prescribed in herbal medicine for anal suffering such haemorrhoids (Mitchell-Heggs, Conway, and Cassar 1990).

### **8. Industrial use**

190 Pesticides in the Modern World - Risks and Benefits

trioxide. In 1910, Paul Ehrlich introduced the arsenic-based drug Salvarsan (arsenobenzol) as a remedy for syphilis in all stages, a sexually transmitted disease. It was efficient in

Arsenic trioxide is also known as an anti-bacterial and anti-cancer agent (Bardos, tta-Gupta, and Hebborn 1966). Inorganic As has been also used pharmacologically for the treatment of eczema, pemphigus and psoriasis under the name of Fowler´s solution. It was a 1 % solution of potassium arsenite, colored with a tincture of lavender-which contained a very high concentration of arsenic (Rahman 2006). Some arsenic containing drugs are still presently used to treat diseases like asthma rheumatism, cough, pruritus and itching (Ko 1999; Wong,

In 2000, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of arsenic trioxide for treatment of relapsed or refractory acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (Antman 2001). It is based on its mechanism as an inducer of

Fig. 7. Effects of all-trans-retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide in the blast cells of acute

Traditional medicine products contain arsenic sulfides (realgar) and are available as pills and tablets. They are still used for psoriasis, syphilis, asthma, rheumatism, hemorrhoids, cough and pruritus and are rescribed as a health tonic, an analgesic, anti-inflammatory agent (Ko 1999; Wong, Tan, and Goh 1998d). In Korea arsenic is prescribed in herbal medicine for anal suffering such haemorrhoids (Mitchell-Heggs, Conway, and Cassar 1990).

promyelocytic leukemia (APL) (Look 1998).

various similar diseases such as relapsing fever, Vincent´s angina.

apoptosis (programmed cell death) (Soignet et al. 1998).

Tan, and Goh 1998a).

In industry, arsenic is used to manufacture polants, fungicides, insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, wood preservatives, and cotton desiccants.

In most local hardware stores arsenic-containing herbicides are readily available, the most common are e.g. Disodium methylarsonate (DSMO), monosodium methylarsonate (MSMA), monomethyl arsenic acid (MMA(V)). These compounds can kill crabgrass and other unwanted grass types. Arsenic trioxide (AS2O3) is commonly used as an antisecticide. Arsenic acid and arsenous acid are common rodenticides. The major use for arsenic is in the form of chromated copper arsenate, which reduces termites and ants from wood.

Arsenic is used industrially as an additive to glass to reduce coloring, in semiconductors, in pigments such as Paris green (CuHAsO3) and in pesticides. Paris Green is a common name for copper (II) acetoarsenite, which is a toxic emerald-green crystalline powder. Other names for the chemical are Emerald Green, Vienna Green, Schweinfurt Green and Parrot Green. The use has been abandoned around 1960. The III-V semiconductors are very important in the fabrication of LED´s, tunnel diodes, infrared emitters, laser window and Hall-effect devices.

Fig. 8. Paris Green bottle (http://theodoregray.com/periodictable/Elements/033/index.s7.html).

Arsenic – Pesticides with an Ambivalent Character 193

than as an effective anticancer drug. Arsenic is one of the most toxic metals derived from the natural environment. Inorganic Arsenic is a human carcinogen, but nowadays also acts as a beneficial chemotherapeutic agent. The major cause of human arsenic toxicity is from contamination of drinking water and from As-contaminated food through fertilization. Current uses of arsenic compounds are in the glass industry, as a wood preservative and in the production of semiconductor. Over the centuries, arsenic has been used for a variety of purposes. In industry arsenic is used as a potential weapon against insecticides concerning humans as a modern weapon. Arsenic compounds became available e.g. in Fowler´s solution as indication for skin conditions and treatment for acute and chronic diseases. Arsenic affects many cellular and physiological pathways, which is useful in treating malignancies like hematological cancer and solid tumors. The ability of arsenic trioxide to

Still today moderately elevated concentrations of inorganic arsenic in drinking water is a major public health concern as well as arsenic exposure from food, especially rice products

Chronic arsenicism may lead to multiple benign skin diseases as well as potentially fatal skin and visceral malignancies e.g. lungs, bladder, liver kidneys. Pigmentation changes and hyperkeratosis are the earliest signs of toxicity from chronic exposure. People with chronic arsenicism should undergo regular skin and systemic examination. There are no evidence based treatments to reduce chronic arsenic poisoning, but antioxidants have been advocated: Pharmacological interventions such as vitamin C, folic acid, vitamin b12 have been identified to halt the development of arsenic-induced toxicity. More studies are needed. The essential and basic efforts for the reduction of chronic arsenic toxicity are prevention. Although current exposure to arsenic is decreasing, continual surveillance programs to detect unrestricted and unsupervised manufacture and sale of drugs that may contain inorganic arsenic must be implemented to prevent a potentially fatal disorder.

Arsenic is a fascinating element. We were inspired by treating patients having contact to

Shab, C. Crößmann und C. Bayerl, "Multiple Basalzellkarzinome und aktinische Keratosen bei einem landwirtschaftlichen Arbeiter nach Arsen-Exposition: Immer nur BK 1108?"

(1964), *Erkrankungen durch Arsen oder seine Verbindungen, Merkblatt zu BK Nr. 2 der Anl. 1 zur* 

(1980), "Some metals and metallic compounds," *IARC Monogr Eval.Carcinog.Risks Hum*, 39-

(2004), "Some drinking-water disinfectants and contaminants, including arsenic," *IARC* 

Abernathy, C. O., Y. P. Liu, D. Longfellow, H. V. Aposhian, B. Beck, B. Fowler, R. Goyer, R.

Menzer, T. Rossman, C. Thompson, and M. Waalkes (1999), "Arsenic: health effects, mechanisms of actions, and research issues," *Environ.Health Perspect.*, 107(7), 593-7.

Dermatologie in Beruf und Umwelt (Vol. 57,No. 4/2009(4. Quartal)).

*Monogr Eval.Carcinog.Risks Hum.*, 84 1-477.

treat APL has changed the point of view.

(Sun et al. 2008).

**11. Acknowledgment** 

arsenic. Quod vide:

**12. References** 

*7. BKVO*.

141.
