Arsenic

Advanced wellness

also as

What it isA metalloid that exists in toxic inorganic forms (water, rice, some well water) and largely non-toxic organic forms (seafood). Speciation testing distinguishes the two; total arsenic alone overestimates risk in fish eaters.

DoesInorganic arsenic damages DNA, disrupts methylation, drives oxidative stress, and is a recognized human carcinogen.

GoodLow inorganic arsenic protects against skin, bladder, lung, and liver cancers and supports cardiovascular and cognitive health over decades.

BadChronic inorganic arsenic exposure raises cancer risk, drives peripheral vascular disease, and impairs glucose control. Acute high exposure causes gastrointestinal, neurological, and cardiac toxicity.

Standard

<12 µg/L blood; <35 µg/L urine total.

Optimal

Inorganic arsenic below detection in blood, urine inorganic <10 µg/L (lower is good)

Modifiers

Seafood ingestion raises total but not inorganic arsenic; well water and rice are the dominant inorganic sources.

How to optimize

Lifestyle: Test well water; choose lower-arsenic rice varieties (basmati, California-grown) and rinse rice thoroughly; vary grain choices.
Diet: Reduce rice frequency, especially for young children; avoid brown rice syrup sweeteners.
Supplements: Selenium 100–200 µg/day, NAC, B-vitamin complex (supports methylation-based clearance).
Peptides: —
Drugs: Chelation (DMSA, BAL) reserved for symptomatic high-level exposure under specialist supervision.

within Toxins & Heavy Metals