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Arsenic

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Biochemistry of the Essential Ultratrace Elements

Part of the book series: Biochemistry of the Elements ((BOTE,volume 3))

Abstract

Since ancient times, arsenicals have been characterized by actions both benevolent and malevolent. The sulfides of arsenic—realgar (tetraarsenic tetrasulfide) and orpiment (arsenic trisulfide)—were mentioned by the Greeks and Romans prior to the Christian era. However, pure arsenic apparently was unknown to these ancient civilizations. Because arsenic has such a long history, only a few highlights will be presented here. These highlights were obtained from reviews by Vallee et al. (1960), Schroeder and Balassa (1966), Frost (1970), Klevay (1976), and Bruckner and Dietze (1980).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 58202, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA

    Forrest H. Nielsen & Eric O. Uthus

  2. Department of Biochemistry, University of North Dakota, 58202, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA

    Forrest H. Nielsen & Eric O. Uthus

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  1. Forrest H. Nielsen
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  2. Eric O. Uthus
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  1. The Florida State University, Tallahasse, Florida, USA

    Earl Frieden

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© 1984 Plenum Press, New York

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Nielsen, F.H., Uthus, E.O. (1984). Arsenic. In: Frieden, E. (eds) Biochemistry of the Essential Ultratrace Elements. Biochemistry of the Elements, vol 3. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4775-0_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4775-0_14

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