Arsenic is a poisonous substance, which is released both from certain human activities and naturally from the Earth's crust.
Humans may be exposed to arsenic mainly through food and water, particularly in certain areas where the groundwater is in contact with arsenic-containing minerals.
To what extent can arsenic exposure affect human health or the environment?
This Digest is a faithful summary of the leading scientific consensus report produced in 2001 by the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS): "Environmental Health Criteria for Arsenic and Arsenic Compounds (EHC 224)"
