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Environmental Medicine: Integrating a Missing Element into Medical Education
Sources of environmental arsenic include smelters, electric power plants using arsenic-rich coal, and soil and water found in certain parts of the world.18
Human poisoning from the burning of CCA-impregnated wood has not been previously reported and represents the probable source of arsenic exposure in this family. Fowler18 warned in 1977 that the burning of CCA-treated wood should be studied as a potential health hazard. Our studies of the kitchen-living area were done in the summer and disclosed notable contamination with CCA-rich ash. In the winter months while the CCA-treated plywood was being burned, we would have anticipated even greater contamination. With the increased popularity of burning wood for household heating purposes, the environmental health hazard of burning CCA-treated wood needs recognition and evaluation. The role of chromium and copper in contributing to these health problems is conjectural. We would suggest that all three elements could be responsible for this kaleidoscopic clinical pattern.
Joy Savides Felker provided advice and secretarial aid and Lee Sjouik, MS, contributed technical assistance.
References
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13. Casarett LJ, Doull J: The Basic Science of Poisons Toxicology. New York, Macmillan Publishing Co Inc, 1975, pp 464–465.
14. Ginsburg JM: Renal mechanism for excretion and transformation of arsenic in the dog. Am J Physiol 1965;208:832–840.
15. Feldman RG, Niles CA, Kelly-Hayes M, et al: Peripheral neuropathy in arsenic smelter workers. Neurology 1979;29:939–944.
16. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): Arsenic and Arsenic Compounds, IARC monographs on the evaluation of the carcinogenic risk of chemicals to humans. Lyon, France, World Health Organization, IRAC, vol 23, pp 39–141.
17. Woolson EA: Fate of arsenicals in different environmental substrates. Environ Health Perspect 1977;19:73–81.
18. Fowler BA: International conference on environmental arsenic: An overview. Environ Health Perspect 1977;19:239–242.
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