Arsenic is widely distributed in nature in air, water and soil in the form
of either metalloids or chemical compounds. It is used commercially, as pes
ticide, wood preservative, in the manufacture of glass, paper and semicondu
ctors. Epidemiological and clinical studies indicate that arsenic is a para
doxical human carcinogen that does not easily induce cancer in animal model
s. It is one of the toxic compounds known in the environment. Intermittent
incidents of arsenic contamination in ground water have been reported from
several parts of the world. Arsenic containing drinking water has been asso
ciated with a variety of skin and internal organ cancers. The wide human ex
posure to this compound through drinking water throughout the world causes
great concern for human health. In the present review, we have attempted to
evaluate and update the mutagenic and genotoxic effects of arsenic and its
compounds based on available literature. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. Al
l rights reserved.