Wondering, "Do you want some arsenic with that?"

"Arsenic"; that word conjures up all kinds of murder mysteries.  In all the old books and movies, it seemed that arsenic was the poison of choice.  The name itself gives its nature away, it was derived from the ancient Greek "arsenikon" which meant "potent".  It was used to describe arsenic trioxide which can be lethal at 100 milligrams which is about a fifth of a teaspoon.  Since it is tasteless and odorless, it made one of the most frequently used homicidal poisons in history, and of course, in fiction.  So, do you want some arsenic with that?

Well, of course you don't but you may getting it anyway.  We get it in our food supply.  Do you eat any rice?  A lot of the U.S. rice crop is grown in fields that contain arsenic-based pesticides once used on cotton crops.  The pure element arsenic can and does mix with many compounds, some organic and some inorganic.  (Organic means containing carbon and inorganic would be everything else.)  And guess what?  It doesn't take much to start causing trouble.  And even in an amount comparable to one drop in a swimming pool over time can cause deadly affects, like cancer, etc.

It used to be that the health officials only worried about arsenic in drinking water, but now, they are finding it in a lot of our food.  The really scary part is that it is showing up in jars of baby food.  We sure have poisoned our Earth, haven't we?  I sure hope I haven't ruined your appetite.  I am getting hungry, so will have to go get my daily dosage of arsenic.  Now, you all have a great day, you hear?