Arsenous oxide was once used as a rodenticide and in sheep dips. It is no longer approved for use in most countries due to its toxicity to humans and the environment. Arsenous oxide is highly toxic to all mammals, is a carcinogen, a reproduction toxin and highly corrosive. It is quite soluble in aqueous solution but practically insoluble in most organic solvents. It is also toxic to most fauna and flora.
Data alerts
The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement.
Environmental fate
Ecotoxicity
Human health
 
Ecotoxicity Moderate alert: Fish acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Fish chronic ecotoxicity: Moderate; Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Daphnia chronic ecotoxicity: Moderate
Warning: Significant data are missing
Human health High alert: Mammals acute toxicity: High; Carcinogen; Reproduction/development effects
GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
Used, historically, in sheep dips
Availability status
Considered obsolete but may be available in some countries
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 0 = No data
;
B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) 0 = No data
;
C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data
;
D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data
;
E2 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 2 = Mixed/ambiguous results
XNo, known not to cause a problem
Reproduction / development effects
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor
Neurotoxicant
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
XNo, known not to cause a problem
?Possibly, status not identified
Respiratory tract irritant
Skin irritant
Skin sensitiser
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
No data found
Eye irritant
Phototoxicant
 
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
No data found
 
General human health issues
Extremely toxic IARC Group 1 carcinogen Will cause a number of severe symptoms if ingested including chest pains, dizziness, breathing problems and weakness
Handling issues
Property
Value and interpretation
General
Dissolves in alkali to form toxic arsenites Corrosive
Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242