Arsenic
CAS Number
7440-38-2Synonym
Arsenic, inorganic; Arsenic black; Arsenic-75; Colloidal arsenic; Gray arsenic; Inorganic arsenic compounds; Metallic arsenic
Occurrence/Use
Wood preservative, herbicide, nonferrous alloys, medicine (leukemia treatment); component of tobacco smoke. Formerly used in optical glass.
Date Added
Soil Screening
| Last CHHSL revision: | 1/2005 |
|---|---|
| CHHSL Comments: |
For chemical-specific screening levels for use in assessing contaminated sites, please see HHRA Note 3 (DTSC HERO). https://www.dtsc.ca.gov/assessingrisk/humanrisk2.cfm |
Cancer Potency Information
| Latest Criteria: | California Public Health Goals |
|---|---|
| Inhalation Unit Risk (μg/cubic meter)-1: | 3.3 E-3 |
| Inhalation Slope Factor (mg/kg-day)-1: | 1.2 E+1 |
| Oral Slope Factor (mg/kg-day)-1: | 9.5 E+0 |
| Comments/References: |
OEHHA 2009. Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Technical Support Document for Cancer Potencies. Appendix B. Chemical-specific summaries of the information used to derive unit risk and cancer potency values. Updated 2011. (Note: arsenic REL for Hot Spots based on 1991 IRIS assessment)
OEHHA 2004. Public Health Goal for Arsenic in Drinking Water. Listed as Arsenic.
Note: Hot Spots risk assessments use oral arsenic TAC slope factor for oral exposures. P65 use the listed NRSLs. Other risk assessors use 2009 TAC inhalation slope factor for the inhalation route, and the 2004 PHG oral slope factor for the oral route. |
Air
Acute RELs
| Acute REL (μg/m3): | 0.2 |
|---|---|
| Species: | Mouse |
| Acute REL Toxicologic Endpoint: | Reproductive/ development (decreased fetal weight); altered brain structure and funtion |
| Acute REL Target Organs: | Reproductive/ development, cardiovascular system, nervous system |
| Severity: | Severe |
| Last Acute REL Revision: | July 2014 |
| Acute Reference Exposure Levels Comments: |
OEHHA 2008. Technical Supporting Document for Noncancer RELs, Appendix D1. |
8-Hour RELs
| 8-Hour Inhalation REL (μg/m3): | 0.015 |
|---|---|
| Last 8-Hour REL Revision: | July, 2014 |
| 8-Hour Reference Exposure Levels Comments: |
OEHHA 2013. Technical Support Document for Noncancer RELs, Appendix D1. |
Chronic REL
| Chronic Inhalation REL (μg/m3): | 0.015 (inhalation); 0.0035 μg/kg BW-day (oral) |
|---|---|
| Chronic Target Organs: | Reproductive/ development; cardiovascular system; nervous system; lung; skin |
| Human Data: | Yes |
| Last Chronic REL Revision: | July 2014 |
| Chronic Reference Exposure Levels Comments: |
OEHHA 2008. Technical Supporting Document for Noncancer RELs, Appendix D1. |
Proposition 65
Chemical Status
| Cancer: | Currently listed |
|---|
Cancer
Cancer - Listing Mechanism
Labor Code
| Listed as causing : | Listed as causing: Cancer |
|---|---|
| Date of Listing: |
Safe Harbor Levels
No Significant Risk Level (NSRL)
10 µg/day (except via inhalation)
No Significant Risk Level (NSRL) - Inhalation
0.06 µg/day
| Cancer |
Comments
Arsenic (inorganic oxides) listed separately.
Water
California Public Health Goals Data
| Health Risk Category: | Carcinogenicity |
|---|---|
| Public Health Goal (mg/L): | 0.000004 |
| Public Health Goal - Download: | asfinal.pdf |
| Cancer Risk at PHG: | 0.000001 |
| MCL value (mg/L): | 0.01 |
| Cancer Risk at MCL: | 0.0025 |
| Last PHG Revision : | 2004 |
| California PHG Comments: | Solubility of arsenic compounds vary. |