Indicator Explainer
Arsenic
A naturally occurring allotropic pnictogen and metalloid trace element with atomic symbol As, atomic number 33, and atomic weight 74.92 that is found in water, air, food, and soil, and has a role as a micronutrient. Arsenic, which is highly toxic with acute or chronic exposure to moderate or high levels through an unknown mechanism of action, is used in many industrial processes, as well as in pharmaceuticals, feed additives, and pesticides. It is characterized as a white, yellow, gray metallic, or black solid that is odorless. Exposure occurs by inhalation, ingestion, or contact.
This page explains what the indicator is and how results are interpreted in general terms. Reference ranges depend on the laboratory, the method, and your own situation — no single “normal value” applies to everyone. This page is health information, not a diagnosis. For symptoms, treatment, or urgent concerns, contact a healthcare professional.
When it is tested
Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C28131. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0. Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-19. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Reading results
Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.
Also Known As
References
- NCI Thesaurus 26.09d — Arsenic (C28131)
- Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C28131. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.
- Arsenic, lead and cadmium in mango-associated soils and fruit from a wastewater-influenced agricultural system in Tanzania: a screening-level dietary risk assessment. — Int J Environ Health Res, 2026-10-09 (PMID 42855446; literature)
- Reply to comment on "Arsenic exposure and trend of incidence in urinary cancer from 1979 to 2019: A nationwide population-based study". — J Formos Med Assoc, 2026-10-09 (PMID 42855317; literature)
- Coupled and decoupled antimony-arsenic mobility along environmental gradients in a mining soil: Links to geochemical contexts and microbial functional potential. — Environ Pollut, 2026-10-15 (PMID 42880575; literature)
- Phosphorus-associated arsenic bioaccumulation, internal partitioning, and interfacial redistribution in a Vallisneria natans-sediment-water system. — Environ Pollut, 2026-10-15 (PMID 42880573; literature)
- Urinary KIM-1 Transcript Detectability in Workers Chronically Exposed to Arsenic and Antimony in an Industrial Area of Central Chile: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study. — Environ Toxicol Pharmacol, 2026-10-17 (PMID 42892536; literature)
- Low-to-Moderate Arsenic Exposure and DNA Methylation: A Review of Life-Course Evidence and Mechanistic Insights. — Environ Res, 2026-10-16 (PMID 42887753; literature)
- CRISPR-Cas12a cleavage-based fluorescence biosensor to detect arsenic content in rice grains from different regions of China. — Int J Biol Macromol, 2026-10-28 (PMID 42665146; literature)
- Chronic Arsenic Toxicity Associated with Unregulated Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Psoriasis: A Case Series. — Clin Exp Dermatol, 2026-10-27 (PMID 42936882; literature)