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Arsenic

 

            Arsenic is a very abundant, gray metal-like material which is a naturally occurring, extremely poisonous element found in the earth's crust. According to the national Resources Defense Council, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 34 million Americans in at least 25 states, drink tap water supplied by systems containing average levels of arsenic. Arsenic occurs in all three states of matter, liquid, solid and gas, which makes it prone to accumulate almost anywhere on earth; snow covered mountains, lakes, rivers and streams, as well as in the atmosphere. Arsenic is a growing problem in the world's drinking water and must be addressed promptly with an effective policy. President Bush's council admits that he " could have handled the environmental issue a little better.".
             Arsenic has been recognized as a poison since ancient times. It is found naturally occurring in the Earth's crust. Arsenic can get into lakes, rivers, and underground water bodies through many different processes. Arsenic can naturally contaminate groundwater, when mineral deposits or rocks containing arsenic dissolve and drain into aquifers. Arsenic has also been found to be released into the environment through the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil. Many other industrial processes such as metal production, base mining, and petroleum refining have been shown to release arsenic as a byproduct. Agricultural use is another leading producer of arsenic. It is found in many common pesticides and feed additives as well as in burning of agricultural waste. The particles of arsenic in the air go through the process of deposition and attach themselves to rain and snow. Rain and snow eventually go through the water cycle and finally end up in major lakes or streams or in the ground water. .
             Arsenic has many serious health affects, especially when one has prolonged exposure to it. Long-term exposure over years of drinking arsenic contaminated water containing high levels of arsenic (.


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