Over time, arsenic causes cancer in humans. It may also cause the skin to darken or cause corns or warts on the torso, palms, or soles of the feet.
Arsenic can affect how babies develop before and after they are born. It can also affect these systems and organs in the body:
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Nervous system
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Respiratory system
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Cardiovascular system
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Immune system
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Endocrine system
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Liver
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Kidney
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Bladder
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Prostate
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Skin
Children may be more susceptible to arsenic’s health effects. This is because children eat more food per body weight and can get a higher dose of arsenic from their diet than adults.
Babies can come in contact with arsenic by eating rice cereal. Rice takes up arsenic as it grows more easily than other food crops. Because of this, the Food and Drug Administration recommends feeding babies a variety of infant cereals. This will help limit the amount of rice cereal babies eat. Read more about arsenic in rice cereal
Drinking water with arsenic over a long period of time may cause an increased lifetime risk of bladder, lung or skin cancer. There also may be links to skin and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes or other cancers. Learn more about arsenic in drinking water