Health Effects of Prenatal and Early-Life Exposure to Arsenic

Prenatal and/or early-life exposure to inorganic arsenic is associated with a wide variety of adverse health effects that can impact the lifelong health of individuals. Of particular concern are the latent effects associated with such exposures as they can be a significant cause of mortality and may impact disease risk in subsequent generations. Epidemiological and animal studies have helped to identify the diversity of health effects observed, the varied latencies associated with these effects, and the impacts of other factors on disease development. These studies have also provided some insight into the complex molecular mechanisms associated with latent disease development. In spite of the vast literature on this topic, it is clear that much remains to be learned about these precise molecular underpinnings. Moreover, the true impact of prenatal arsenic exposure on the global burden of disease is likely to have been vastly underestimated.