Human uses for arsenic
Arsenic has been known since ancient times, though probably in compound form rather than in its pure state. It is used in combination with other materials in pigments, poison gases and insecticides (such as Paris Green, calcium arsenate and lead arsenate) and is well known from former use as a rat poison.
Arsenic has a long history of medical applications; before penicillin was developed an arsenic compound was used to treat syphilis and yaws.
Arsenic is used in ammunition manufacturing because it helps to create harder and rounder bullets. Arsenic is used in small quantities in semi-conductor manufacturing. It is used as a preservative in tanning and taxidermy, as well as on the exterior of wood such as deck and playground materials.
In short, though arsenic is an extremely poisonous substance it has numerous industrial applications and has been used widely for many years.
Another potential source of arsenic in our environment is as a byproduct of copper smelting - arsenic occurs naturally in copper ores. During copper processing, arsenic passes from the solid state into the gaseous state and leaves the smelter through the smokestacks in the form of toxic dusts.
