International Science Community Association Research Journal of Recent Sciences 2277 - 2502 2 ISC-2012 2013 February 2 Speciation and Toxicity of Arsenic: A Human Carcinogen 45 53 EN Ahirwar J.R. 1 Department of Botany, Govt. College Niwari, District-Tikamgarh, M.P. INDIA Erhabor J.O. 1 Departement of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin, P.M.B 1154, Benin City, NIGERIA Idu M. 2 Benson Idahosa University, PMB, 110, Benin City, NIGERIA Udo F.O. 3 Mehta Kavit 1 Mehsana Urban Institute of Sciences, Ganpat University, Ganpat Vidyanagar, Kherwa, Dist. Mehsana, North Gujarat, INDIA Patel B.N. 2 M.G. Science Institute, Navrangpura, Ahmadabad, INDIA Jain B.K. 3 Mishra Bishwambhar 1 Instrumental and Food Analysis Laboratory, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, INDIA Suneetha Vuppu 2 Surekha M. 1 Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Kakatiya University, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA Kiran S. 2 Naresh A. 3 Reddy S.M. 4 Krishania Suman 1 Department of Life Sciences,The IIS University, SFS Mansarovar, Jaipur -20 (Raj) INDIA Agarwal Kalpana 2 Kelkar TusharS. 1 Environmental Sciences Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, Wilson College, Mumbai, INDIA Bhalerao SatishA. 2 Naina Thangaraj 1 School of Biosciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, INDIA Sharan Siddharth 2 Vuppu Suneetha 3 Javed Ahmad 1 Department of biochemical Engineering and Food Technology, Harcourt butler technological Institute, Kanpur, INDIA Khan Iffat 2 Department of Bioscience, Integral University Lucknow, INDIA Ashfaq Ahmad 3 kaushar Imam 4 Dubey S. 1 MVJ College of Engineering, Bangalore, Karnataka, INDIA. Kherwa V. 2 Department of Chemistry, C.D.L.University, Sirsa 125055, Haryana, INDIA. Kherwa V. 1 Department of Chemistry, C.D.L. University, Sirsa 125055, Haryana, INDIA Dubey S. 2 Department of Chemistry, MVJ College of Engineering, Bangalore, Karnataka, INDIA PatelKetan B. 1 Government Science College, Department of Chemistry, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, INDIA Patel YogeshM. 2 Patel RakshaB. 3 Udaykumar P. 1 Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani – K.K. Birla Goa Campus, Zuarinagar, Goa, INDIA Khanna T. 2 Behera R.N. 3 Hassan S.Z. 1 Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, INDIA Chopade S.A. 2 Vinjamur M. 3 LalMohan 1 Department of Chemistry, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, INDIA Gangotri K.M. 2 Sindhu Joseph 1 School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi 682022, INDIA Jyothi K.P. 2 SujaP. Devipriya 3 Suguna Yesodharan 4 Yesodharan E.P. 5 Lakdawala M.M. 1 Chemistry Department, S P T Arts and Science College, Godhra, Gujarat, INDIA Lakdawala J.M. 2 Prime interior, Vapi, Gujarat, INDIA Rojith G. 1 School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, Kerala, India BrightSingh I.S. 2 Ariponnammal S. 1 Department of Physics, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Deemed University, Gandhigram, Dindigul District, TamilNadu, INDIA Srinivasan T. 2 Ariponnammal S. 1 Department of Physics, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Deemed University, Gandhigram, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu, INDIA Martínez-Hilders Andrea 1 Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Decanato de Agronomía, Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado, Barquisimeto, VENEZUELA Mendoza Yuraima 2 Peraza Dasybel 3 Laurentin HernÃn 4 Shukla Niharika 1 Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University Jabalpur, INDIA Nannu Shafakatullah 1 Department of Bio-Sciences, Mangalore University, Mangalagangothri, Karnataka, INDIA Shetty Sowmyashree 2 OrisonLobo Reema 3 Krishnamoorthy M. 4 Prasad Chandan 1 Dept. of Chemistry, D.A.V College, Kanpur, INDIA Mishra R.P. 2 R and D Division, MRD Life Sciences, Lucknow, INDIA Ali Asif 3 Integral University, Lucknow, INDIA Gangwar V.S. 4 Dept of Chemistry, V.S.S.D College, Kanpur, INDIA Chand Shweta 5 Dept of Chemistry, Christ Church College, Kanpur, INDIA Maru R.N. 1 JJT University, Rajasthan, INDIA Patel R.S. 2 Department of Biology, KKSJ Maninagar Science College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, INDIA Jyothi K.P. 1 School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, INDIA Sindhu Joseph 2 Suguna Yesodharan 3 Yesodharan E.P. 4 HridayN. Mishra 1 Physics Department, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, INDIA Srivastava RajeshKumar 2 Narayan Vijay 3 Chand Satish 4 Sachan AlokKumar 5 Shukla VikasKuamr 6 Prasad Onkar 7 Sinha Leena 8 Patel JayKumarShantilal 1 Computer Science Department, Kadi Sarva VishwaVidyalaya, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, INDIA Nakade D.B. 1 Dept. of Microbiology, Rajaram College, Kolhapur, MaharashtraState, INDIA Sreejesh K.K. 1 Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, INDIA Thomas T.P. 2 Rugmini P. 3 Prasanth K.M. 4 Kripa P.K. 5 Prasanth K.M. 1 Dept. of Soil Science, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, INDIA Sreekala P.P. 2 S. Sandeep 3 Kripa P.K. 4 Sreejesh K.K. 5 Singh R.K. 1 Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, INDIA Biswal Bijayani 2 Kumar Sachin 3 Saravanan V. 1 Department of Tree Breeding, Forest College & Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, INDIA Parthiban K.T. 2 Kumar P. 3 Marimuthu P. 4 Kumar P. 1 Department of Tree Breeding, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, INDIA Parthiban K.T. 2 Saravanan V. 3 Tiwari Shweta 1 Department of Botany, P.M.B. Gujarati Science College, Indore, INDIA Sharma P.K. 1 Research scholars Zoology, Government P.G. College, Kota, Rajasthan, INDIA Kumar U. 2 Lecturer in Zoology, Government P.G. College, Kota, Rajasthan, INDIA Shrivastava S. 3 RautSonali R. 1 Zoology Dept, Bhavans H. Somani College, Chowpatty, Mumbai-7, INDIA DeshbhratarShantaj M. 2 Botany Dept., Bhavans H. Somani College, Chowpatty, Mumbai-7, INDIA Hile VijayK. 3 Shri Chandulal Nanavati Vinay Mandir, Vile Parle, Mumbai, INDIA Singh AnkitaJ. 4 Tazick Z. 1 Dept. of Plant Protection, Sari Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources University, Sari , IRAN TajickGhanbary M.A. 2 Dept. of Microbiology, Genetics & Agricultural Biotechnology Institute of Tabarestan, Sari, IRAN Kripa P.K. 1 Dept. of Soil Science, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, INDIA Prasanth K.M. 2 Sreejesh K.K. 3 Thomas T.P. 4 RamningAmol M. 1 Department of Petroleum Refining and Petrochemical Technology, Laxminarayan Institute of Technology, Nagpur, MH, INDIA Dhote PriyaS. 2 Ganvir V.N. 3 Rai Priyanka 1 School of Environmental biology, A.P.S. University, Rewa MP, INDIA Mishra RM 2 Parihar Sarita 3 Pati Anupama 1 School of Energy and Environmental Studies, Devi Ahilya University, Khandwa Road, Indore, MP, INDIA Chaudhary Rubina 2 Chithra S.V. 1 School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin-22, Kerala, INDIA Amarnath A. 2 S.V. Smitha 3 HarindranathanNair M.V. 4 Amarnath. A. 1 School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, Kerala, INDIA Rojith. G. 2 Shahin Adhem 3 V.B. Rakesh 4 Ranjita P 1 PG Dept of Environmental Sciences, Sambalpur University, Jyotivihar, Odisha, INDIA P SibaP. 2 Environment Cell, R and D, Hindalco Industries Limited, Hirakud, Sambalpur, Odisha, INDIAI Kar RabiN. 3 nstitute of Minerals $ Materials Technology(CSIR), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, INDIA ChittaR. P 4 Pachauri Tripti 1 Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Dayalbagh, Agra 282 110, INDIA Saraswat RK 2 Singla Vyoma 3 Lakhani Anita 4 KumariMaharaj K. 5 Sharma H.K. 1 M.M University, Mullana, Ambala, INDIA Dogra P. 2 Sharma N. 3 Sharma S. 4 Kumari Om 1 Department of Chemistry, K.K.P. G. College, Etawah, 206001, UP, INDIA Raghav Shailendra 2 Singh Surabhi 3 Srinivas. G 1 Department of Aeronautical and Automobile Engineering, MIT - Manipal University, Manipal, Udupi Karnataka, INDIA PrasadShiva U. 2 M Manikandan 3 Kumar PraveenA. 4 Adhikari Alok 1 Department of Civil Engineering, N.I.T., Rourkela, Odisa, INDIA Patra K.C. 2 Das S.K. 3 Kavuri N.C. 1 Department of Civil Engineering, National Institue of Technology, Roukela 769008, Odisha, INDIA Paul K.K. 2 Roy N. 3 B. Bhuvaneshwari 1 CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre, Chennai, INDIA Iyer NageshR. 2 Alka Alka 1 Department of Human Development and Family Studies. College of Home Science, saifabad, Hyderabad, INDIA Mayuri K. 2 SangeetaC. Sindhu 1 Deptt. of Foods and Nutrition, College of Home Science, CCSHAU Hissar, Haryana, INDIA Yadav Saroj 1 Department of Textile and Apparel Designing, I.C. College of Home Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, INDIA Rose Neelam 2 SinghJeet Saroj 3 Khambra Krishna 4 Ghatge N.S. 1 Pravara Rural Education Society’s, Home Science and BCA College, Loni Taluka Rahata, District, Ahamadnager, INDIA Saraswat Amit 1 Dept. of Mathematics, GLA University Mathura, INDIA Srivastava R.K. 2 Dept. of Mathematics, Agra College Agra, Dr. B.R.Ambedker University Agra, INDIA Banerjee M. 1 Nanoscience and Nanotechnology laboratory, School of Physics, Devi Ahilya University, Vigyan Bhawan, Khandwa Road, Indore, INDIA Sharma A. 2 Shri Dadaji Institute of Technology and Science, Indore Road, Khandwa, INDIA Chongad L. 3 Government Arts and Science College, Ratlam, INDIA Banerjee M. 1 School of Physics, Devi Ahilya University, Vigyan Bhawan, Khandwa Road, Indore, INDIA Chongad L. 2 Government Arts and Science College, Ratlam, INDIA Sharma A. 3 Shri Dadaji Institute of Technology and Science, Indore Road, Khandwa, INDIA Kansal Megha 1 Department of Zoology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, INDIA SanghaGurinder Kaur 2 Parmar Prabha 1 Department of Zoology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, INDIA Kocher D.K. 2 Sharma Shailja 1 Department of CS / IT, S.I.T, Mathura, INDIA Singh Garima 2 Department of CS / IT, IIMT, Gr. Noida, INDIA Singh KrishnaVir 3 Maheswaran S. 1 CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre, CSIR Campus, Taramani, Chennai, INDIA Bhuvaneshwari B. 2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Anna University, Chennai, INDIA Palani G.S. 3 Iyer NageshR 4 Kalaiselvam S. 5 Dhonde Mahesh 1 Dept. of Engg. Physics Prestige Institute of Engineering and Science, Indore INDIA Jaiswal Rajesh 2 Dept. of Engg. Physics Prestige Institute of Engineering and Science, Indore INDIA Bandyopadhyay Madhumita 1 Smt.P.N.Doshi Women’s College of Arts, Ghatkopar(W), Mumbai, INDIA Singh Rajvir 1 Dept. of Agronomy, Janta College, Bakewar, Etawah, UP, INDIA Kumar ShahiSudhir 2 Dept. of A.H. and Dairying, Janta College, Bakewar, Etawah, UP, INDIA Mishra D.J. 3 Dept. of Soil Science and Ag. Chemistry, Janta College, Bakewar, Etawah, UP, INDIA Mishra U.K. 4 Dept. of Ag. Botany, Janta College, Bakewar, Etawah, UP, INDIA Mishra D.J. 1 Dept. of Soil Science and Ag. Chemistry, Janta College, Bakewar, Etawah, UP, INDIA Singh Rajvir 2 Dept. of Agronomy, Janta College, Bakewar, Etawah, UP, INDIA Mishra U.K. 3 Dept. of Ag. Botany, Janta College, Bakewar, Etawah, UP, INDIA Kumar ShahiSudhir 4 Dept. of A.H. and Dairying, Janta College, Bakewar, Etawah, UP, INDIA Kumar ShahiSudhir 1 Dept. of A.H. and Dairying, Janta College, Bakewar, Etawah, UP, INDIA Singh Rajvir 2 Dept. of Agronomy, Janta College, Bakewar, Etawah, UP, INDIA Mishra U.K. 3 Dept. of Ag. Botany, Janta College, Bakewar, Etawah, UP, INDIA Mishra D.J. 4 Dept. of Soil Science and Ag. Chemistry, Janta College, Bakewar, Etawah, UP, INDIA Gupta Shailesh 1 Department of Humanities and Science, Govt. Polytechnic College, Nowgong, Chhatarpur, MP, INDIA Gupta Vikesh 2 Department of Physics, Sushila Devi Bansal College of Engineering, Indore, MP, INDIA > Review Paper 2012 11 6 2013 February 2 Arsenic is an element found in nature in rocks, soils, water and air in fact, it is one of the most common elements on earth. Arsenic is widely distributed throughout Earth’s crust, generally as arsenic sulfide or as metal arsenates and arsenites. The major source of arsenic pollution in the environment is the smelting of ores such as those of gold, silver, copper and others. Arsenic from these sources is distributed in the air, water, soil and finds its way into the human system by way of direct inhalation or through contamination of food and consumer products. The world health organisation (WHO) recommended that many authorities reduce their regulatory limits and it has established a provisional guideline value of 10 μg/l for arsenic in drinking water. While arsenic has been used historically in industry in fertilizers and preservatives, it is probably best known as a poison, toxic to humans who ingest it. Large doses are fatal relatively quickly, while smaller doses over time can cause diseases such as several types of cancer and skin disorders. Arsenic can become an environmental hazard when it is weathered from local geologic units and enters the groundwater supply. In the world today, many populations are at risk for arsenic poisoning due to exposure from contaminated drinking water. Arsenic contamination of drinking water is presently a worldwide epidemic. Contaminated drinking water has been found in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, China, Hungary, West Bengal, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Of these regions, West Bengal and Bangladesh are most seriously affected in terms of the size of the population at risk and the magnitude of the health problems. An estimated 300,000 people in West Bengal alone suffer from arsenic-induced skin lesions. Serious illnesses related to arsenic such as melanosis, keratosis, cancer, and gangrene have been reported in West Bengal and Bangladesh. In the process of arsenic metabolism, inorganic arsenic is methylated to monomethylarsonic acid and finally to dimethylarsinic acid, followed by excretion through urine. Thus, arsenic exposure may cause DNA hypomethylation due to continuous methyl depletion, facilitating aberrant gene expression that results in carcinogenesis. Further, though arsenic is nonmutagenic, it interacts synergistically with genotoxic agents in the production of mutations, and also induces chromosome abnormalities and cell proliferation. Copyright@ International Science Community Association