Forensic Medicine · Toxicology — Specific Poisons

Heavy Metal Poisoning — Arsenic, Mercury & Lead

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Arsenic Poisoning

Arsenic is a metallic irritant poison producing severe gastrointestinal irritation and systemic toxicity.

Common compounds: arsenic trioxide (white arsenic), arsenic sulphides, arsenical insecticides.

  • Fatal dose: approximately 100–200 mg of arsenic trioxide.
  • Fatal period: usually 1–2 days.

Types

  1. Acute — due to ingestion of a large dose; produces severe gastroenteritis.
  2. Chronic (Arsenicosis) — repeated exposure over a long period; common in occupational exposure and contaminated groundwater.

Clinical Features — Acute

  • GI: initial metallic taste, burning in mouth and throat; later severe vomiting, abdominal pain, profuse diarrhea; rice-water stool (may contain mucus and blood).
  • Cardiovascular: hypotension, shock, collapse.
  • Nervous system: headache, giddiness, convulsions, coma.
  • Renal: oliguria, acute renal failure.