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International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Summaries & Evaluations

ARSENIC AND INORGANIC ARSENIC COMPOUNDS

VOL.: 2 (1973) (p. 48)

5. Summary of Data Reported and Evaluation

5.1 Animal carcinogenicity data

Many studies have given essentially negative results, but most of them are not referred to in this monograph because of inadequacies in the experimental design (e.g., too few animals, too short a duration, poor survival, too low a level of exposure).

Adequate oral studies on arsenic trioxide in the mouse and on lead arsenate, calcium arsenate, sodium arsenate, arsenic trioxide and sodium arsenite in the rat gave negative results.

The studies designed to detect cocarcinogenicity to mouse skin by potassium arsenite, sodium arsenate or arsenic trioxide gave negative results.

The two recent preliminary reports suggesting possible carcinogenic effects in mice exposed to sodium arsenate, potassium arsenite and arsenic trioxide by subcutaneous, intravenous, oral and transplacental routes are difficult to interpret on the basis of the findings presented, and the results await confirmation.

5.2 Human carcinogenicity data

The available studies point consistently to a causal relationship between skin cancer and heavy exposure to inorganic arsenic in drugs, in drinking-water with a high arsenic content, or in the occupational environment.

The risk of lung cancer is clearly increased in certain smelter workers who inhale high levels of arsenic trioxide. However, the causative role of arsenic is uncertain, since the influence of other constituents of the working atmosphere cannot be determined. An increased relative frequency of deaths from lung cancer has been found in other occupational groups exposed to high levels of inorganic arsenic compounds (e.g., sheep-dip workers, certain mining and vineyard workers).

Cases of lung cancer occurring after the medicinal use of inorganic arsenic compounds, and of liver haemangioendothelioma following various kinds of exposure to arsenic have been reported, but these may be chance associations.

No evidence exists that other forms of cancer occur excessively with heavy arsenic exposure.

Subsequent evaluations: Vol. 23 (1980); Suppl. 7 (1987)

Last updated: 16 March 1998 






























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