Health monitoring for arsenic

This guide helps doctors monitor the health of workers exposed to arsenic.  

Arsenic (CAS 7440-38-2) is a common element in the natural environment. You find it in tiny amounts in rock, soil, water and air. It’s common in most mineral ores. 

You find arsenic in work settings, such as: 

• smelting of non-ferrous metals 

• arsenic refining and production 

• making semiconductors. 

Examples of work involving inorganic arsenic include: 

• making arsenic compounds, the most important being the trioxide (As2O3). 

• making pigments (arsenic trisulfide and trioxide), ceramic enamels and anti-fouling paints (arsenic trioxide) 

• tanning in the leather industry (arsenic trioxide) 

• hardening copper, lead and other alloys 

• copper, zinc and lead smelting. 

It’s also used in making and applying: 

• weed killers 

• rat poison 

• wood preservatives like copper chrome arsenic (arsenic pentoxide) 

It was used as cattle dip (arsenic trioxide) and sheep dip (sodium arsenite). 

This guide is part of a health monitoring guide collection. 

There are health monitoring guides for: 

• persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) 

• guide for workers 

• registered medical practitioners 

• hazardous chemicals