Arsenic
Human Health Risk
M
Ecological Risk
M-L
M- H
Socioeconomic Risk
Arsenic is a trace element normally found in soil, water, food, and the human body. Trace
amounts are believed to be essential for life. The former widespread use of arsenic in
pesticides, its release from copper smelting, and its continued use in metal plating and
wood treatment has resulted in greater concentrations of arsenic in certain areas. An
inorganic form of arsenic, arsenic trioxide, is a known human carcinogen and is associated
with cancers of the lung, skin, liver, kidney, and bladder. Inorganic arsenic may also cause
neurological disorders.
STRESSOR SUMMARIES
What’s at risk?
Up to 5% of New Jersey’s land acreage may be
affected by historical use of arsenical pesticides, and
inadvertent ingestion of contaminated soil by
children may occur. Lead arsenate was a pesticide
used in fruit orchards, vegetable fields, golf
courses, and turf farms, and conversion of such
land to residential use provides opportunities for
exposure through soil ingestion. Others at risk
include individuals with elevated arsenic levels in
their public water supplies or private wells, and
industrial workers exposed to inorganic arsine gas
released into the air.
What are the human health impacts in New
Jersey?
A large fraction of the New Jersey population is
exposed to slightly elevated levels of arsenic in the
air. About 5 million residents are potentially at risk
due to ground water sources of drinking water.
Estimates show less than one case of cancer per
year statewide is due to inhalation of ambient levels
of arsenic in air.
What are the ecological impacts in New
Jersey?
A large number of plant and animal species may be
affected, potentially altering biological integrity,
biodiversity and ecosystem health. Most historic
exposures and effects have occurred in the vicinity
of manufacturing or hazardous waste sites. Data
on specific effects on organisms and populations,
as well as a better assessment of the distribution of
arsenic from widespread agricultural use, would
help determine the ecological effects of arsenic
exposure.
What are the socioeconomic impacts in
New Jersey?
Socioeconomic impacts of arsenic include the costs
of bladder and lung cancers, and the associated
loss of productivity, which are estimated to be
over $16 million per year. Assuming a 5% drop in
property value for contaminated sites, property
value losses may total over $2 billion to which
arsenic contributes. Property values have been
shown to rebound to normal levels once cleanup
has been completed. Arsenic, along with other
constituents of hazardous waste sites, is likely to
cause high levels of worry for New Jersey residents
unsure about the impacts of contamination in their
areas.
What’s being done?
The use of arsenical pesticides has been discontinued. Arsenic is included in federal regulations on air
emissions, hazardous waste, and other environmental programs. In 2001, EPA reduced the acceptable
level of arsenic in drinking water from 50 parts per
billion to 10 ppb. New Jersey DEP has adopted a
soil cleanup standard to apply in remediation of
hazardous sites and has convened a task force to
address historic pesticide contamination.
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Final Report of the New Jersey State Comparative Risk Project