Hindmarsh J T, McCurdy R F
Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci. 1986;23(4):315-47. doi: 10.3109/10408368609167122.
Arsenic is widely distributed throughout the animal and plant kingdoms and our environment where sources can be natural or anthropogenic. Agricultural uses of arsenic have declined recently, but it still has well-defined roles in industry. Small amounts of arsenic are metabolized in a variety of ways and are largely rapidly methylated and excreted by man and animals. Poisoning can occur and may follow an acute or chronic course. Toxic manifestations in man occur at the cellular level and may appear in many organ systems. Specific effects can often be demonstrated in the skin and in the vascular and nervous systems. Other toxic effects appear to include carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, and teratogenesis.
砷广泛分布于动植物界以及我们的环境中，其来源可以是天然的，也可以是人为的。砷在农业中的使用近来有所下降，但在工业中仍有明确的用途。少量的砷会通过多种方式代谢，并且人和动物大多会迅速将其甲基化并排出体外。可能会发生中毒，中毒过程可能是急性的，也可能是慢性的。人体的毒性表现发生在细胞水平，可能出现在许多器官系统中。在皮肤以及血管和神经系统中常常可以表现出特定的影响。其他毒性作用似乎包括致癌、致突变和致畸。
