Non-carcinogenic effects of inorganic arsenic

This review will focus primarily on ohe effects of the inorganic arsenicals (arsenate and arsenite forms) that are present in drinking water. They are acutely toxic to both humans and animals, an effect that may be related to their bioavailibility. In humans, arsenicals have been reported to cause dermatitis and mucous membrane irritation upon exposure. They have also been reported to cause skin lesions and peripheral neurotoxicity in smelter workers and in patients treated with Fowler's Solution. When humans are exposed to arsenic in drinking water, effects such as hyperkeratosis, electromyographic abnormalities and vascular effects have been reported. In experimental animals, arsenic has been demonstrated to affect the liver and kidneys. In mice, arsenic has also been reported to decrease the animal's resistance to certain viral infections. The arsenite (+3) and arsenate (+5) forms have different modes of action. Arsenite binds to sulphhydryl groups and has been reported to inhibit over 100 different enzymes, while the arsenate can substitute for phosphate in various high energy intermediates, resulting in arsenolysis. In addition, when arsenate is reduced to arsenite in the body, it can also cause toxicity as that species.     

Acute toxicity of two insecticides to tubificid worms, Tubifex tubifex and Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri

Acute toxicity and presumable harmless concentration of two commercial insecticides, Furadan 3G and Malataf 50E were reported for tubificid worms, Tubifex tubifex and Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri. L. hoffmeisteri were found more susceptible to both the insecticides; the Furadan was found to be more toxic than Malataf to tubificid worms. Analysis of variants showed a significant difference between safe concentrations of the same insecticide to different species.