Arsenic, Blood Unit Converter

Arsenic is a naturally occurring metalloid element found in soil, water, and air. Blood arsenic testing measures the concentration of arsenic in whole blood, primarily to detect recent or acute exposure.

Arsenic exists in multiple forms. Inorganic arsenic (arsenite and arsenate) is the toxic form found in contaminated water and some foods. Organic arsenic, commonly found in seafood, is generally considered non-toxic.

Blood arsenic has a short half-life of 4-6 hours for inorganic arsenic and 20-30 hours for methylated metabolites. This makes blood testing useful only for detecting exposure within the previous 24-48 hours.

Arsenic enters the body primarily through ingestion of contaminated drinking water (especially from private wells), rice and rice products, seafood, and foods grown in arsenic-rich soil. Inhalation exposure can occur in certain occupational settings such as mining, smelting, and semiconductor manufacturing.