4 ms·
Wow this has gone off the rails quickly. To wit: Arsenic is not an essential micronutrient. "Trace quantities of arsenic have been proposed to be an essentia
by rsync 1y ago
Wow this has gone off the rails quickly.
To wit: Arsenic is not an essential micronutrient.
"Trace quantities of arsenic have been proposed to be an essential dietary element in rats, hamsters, goats, and chickens. Research has not been conducted to determine whether small amounts of arsenic may play a role in human metabolism." [1]
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenic
- jandrewrogers 1y agoThere is substantial evidence that arsenic is a required micronutrient in all mammalian biology. This is not even controversial, you can reliably induce deficiency syndromes in a broad spectrum of animal models, and the operative pathways exist in humans. The effect was first observed in animal husbandry in parts of the world with very low background arsenic levels. It has the same toxicity and micronutrient profile as selenium, another extremely toxic but nonetheless essential micronutrient. Unfortunately, activists with an unrelated agenda have been spreading unscientific misinformation about arsenic to advance that agenda. Same story as fluoride outrage actually. Being anti-science is fashionable and most people are ignorant about chemistry. It is one thing that makes me glad I am no longer a practicing chemist.
- rsync 1y agoIf what you are saying is true – and I am not being sarcastic - I encourage you to edit and update the Wikipedia page that I referenced. The authority that I have appealed to (Wikipedia) is a reasonable one and bias should not be implied in the absence of these supposed corrections you have to make. I’m open-minded …
- maxerickson 1y agoA tertiary source aims to be non-authoritative. Wikipedia tries pretty hard at it.