ATSDR - Toxic Substances - Arsenic
Skip directly to search Skip directly to A to Z list Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options

Arsenic

CAS ID #: 7440-38-2

Affected Organ Systems: Dermal (Skin), Gastrointestinal (Digestive), Hepatic (Liver), Neurological (Nervous System), Respiratory (From the Nose to the Lungs)

Cancer Classification: EPA: Confirmed human carcinogen. IARC: Carcinogenic to humans . NTP: Known to be a human carcinogen.

Please contact NTP, IARC, or EPA’s IRIS Hotline with questions on cancer and cancer classification.

Chemical Classification: Inorganic substances

Summary: Arsenic is a naturally occurring element widely distributed in the earth's crust. In the environment, arsenic is combined with oxygen, chlorine, and sulfur to form inorganic arsenic compounds. Arsenic in animals and plants combines with carbon and hydrogen to form organic arsenic compounds. Inorganic arsenic compounds are mainly used to preserve wood. Copper chromated arsenic (CCA) is used to make "pressure-treated" lumber. CCA is no longer used in the U.S. for residential uses; it is still used in industrial applications. Organic arsenic compounds are used as pesticides, primarily on cotton plants.

Community Members 

Community Members
  • ToxFAQs

    Fact sheet that answers the most frequently asked questions about a contaminant and its health effects.

  • Public Health Statement

    Summary about a hazardous substance taken from Chapter One of its respective ATSDR Toxicological Profile.

  • Fact Sheets

    Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) is a water-soluble inorganic pesticide most commonly used as a wood preservative to make it resistant to attack by termites and fungi that cause decay.
  • Emergency Responders 

    Emergency Responders
  • Medical Management Guidelines (MMG) for Acute Chemical Exposure

    Medical Management Guideline (MMG) for Acute Chemical Exposure Publication intended to aid emergency department physicians and other emergency healthcare professionals who manage acute exposures.

  • Toxicological and Health Professionals 

    Toxicological and Health Professionals
  • Toxicological Profile

    Succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for a hazardous substance.

  • Addendum to the Profile (PDF, 3414KB*)

    Addendum to the Toxicological Profile for Arsenic (September 2015)

  • ToxGuide (PDF, 74KB*)

    Quick reference guide providing information such as chemical and physical properties, sources of exposure, routes of exposure, minimal risk levels, children's health, and health effects for a substanc

  • Priority List of Hazardous Substances

    Prioritization of substances based on a combination of their frequency, toxicity, and potential for human exposure at National Priorities List (NPL) sites.

  • Minimal Risk Levels (MRL)

    The MRL is an estimate of the daily human exposure to a hazardous substance that is likely to be without appreciable risk of adverse, non-cancer health effects over a specified duration of exposure. The information in this MRL serves as a screening tool to help public health professionals decide where to look more closely to evaluate possible risk of adverse health effects from human exposure.

  • Interaction Profiles

    Succintly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for mixtures of hazardous substances.

  • Medical Education and Training 

    Medical Education and Training
  • Case Study in Environmental Medicine (CSEM)

    Self-instructional publication designed to increase primary care provider's knowledge of a hazardous substance in the environment and to aid in the evaluation of potentially exposed patients.

  • Top of Page

    Contact Us:
    • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
      4770 Buford Hwy NE
      Atlanta, GA 30341
    • 800-CDC-INFO
      (800-232-4636)
      TTY: (888) 232-6348
    • New Hours of Operation
      8am-8pm ET/Monday-Friday
      Closed Holidays
      Contact CDC-INFO
    USA.gov: The U.S. Government's Official Web PortalDepartment of Health and Human Services
    Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30341
    Contact CDC: 800-232-4636 / TTY: 888-232-6348

    A-Z Index

    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    5. E
    6. F
    7. G
    8. H
    9. I
    10. J
    11. K
    12. L
    13. M
    14. N
    15. O
    16. P
    17. Q
    18. R
    19. S
    20. T
    21. U
    22. V
    23. W
    24. X
    25. Y
    26. Z
    27. #