Arsenic: the 'King of Poisons' in Antiquity―a Possible Threat to Future Sustainability

摘要

The toxic nature of arsenic compounds has been recognised since the 15th century or earlier. There is also a long history both of arsenic being administered as a poison to commit murder and of adverse health effects in those working with arsenic and those exposed to arsenic containing products. Present day concern is with less acute exposure. This paper notes some current research issues concerning (a) geochemical processes and pathways that influence the release of arsenic from natural geological sources into groundwaters, (b) possible impacts of arsenic contaminated irrigation waters on food quality and phytotoxicity, (c) the regulation of arsenic contaminated land in relation to potential health effects and (d) specific problems due to natural and mining sources of arsenic in river waters in Chile. Agenda 21, one of the main outputs from the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, committed Governments to a variety of social, economic and resource management issues within the general umbrella of sustainable development. How global arsenic problems can be addressed and tackled within these obligations has yet to be decided.