Your needs: to detect and quantify the presence of arsenic in your products or raw materials in order to validate their compliance
Arsenic analysis
Ingested or inhaled, arsenic poses a serious toxicological risk to individuals who come into contact with it. The presence of arsenic in a product or environment is subject to strict regulations, particularly in the jewelry sector and the cosmetics sector.
Beyond these sectors, manufacturers are required to test their raw materials by carrying out arsenic analysis so that their finished products comply with current regulations.
Why carry out an arsenic analysis?
Carrying out an arsenic analysis is essential for several reasons, whether regulatory, health-related, environmental, or industrial. Here are the main reasons why arsenic analysis is performed:
Compliance with regulations
- Public health : regulatory bodies such as the WHO, the EU, and the EPA set strict limits on arsenic concentration in drinking water (10 µg/L according to the WHO) and other products in order to protect populations.
- Pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries : regulations impose strict controls on contaminants such as arsenic to ensure product safety.
Prevention of health risks
- Acute and chronic toxicity : exposure to arsenic, particularly in its inorganic form, is linked to serious health effects, such as:
- Carcinogenicity (notably skin, lung, and bladder cancers).
- Cardiovascular and neurological disorders.
- Acute poisoning in cases of ingestion or inhalation of high doses.
Environmental protection
- Water monitoring : arsenic can be released into the environment by industrial activities (mines, factories) or naturally (erosion of arsenic-containing rocks). Analysis helps prevent or limit contamination of water resources and soils.
- Industrial waste management : industries (chemicals, metallurgy, energy) must monitor their discharges to avoid penalties and protect the ecosystem.
Quality control for industry
- Raw materials : ensure that the metals, alloys, or ingredients used do not contain traces of arsenic beyond acceptable limits.
- Product safety : in sensitive sectors such as aerospace or nuclear, the presence of arsenic can affect material performance or pose risks.
Carrying out an arsenic analysis, whether in water, materials, or industrial discharges, meets a need for safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. This approach is essential to protect populations, preserve the environment, and ensure product reliability.
The FILAB laboratory supports you with arsenic analysis
Why choose FILAB for arsenic analysis?
For more than 30 years, the FILAB laboratory has been helping manufacturers assess their products or environments by identifying and measuring the presence of arsenic. Handling this high-risk chemical element requires specific technical tools, as well as the expertise of our scientists regarding the associated regulations.
FILAB Laboratory offers several services related to arsenic analysis:
related services
Lead testing
our technical resources
FAQ
Arsenic is a chemical element naturally present in the Earth’s crust. It can be found in water, soil, air and food products, often as a result of human activity or natural processes. Arsenic analysis is crucial because of its toxicity, particularly in its inorganic form, and its potential impact on human health and the environment.
- Water and the environment : Monitoring the quality of drinking water and soil.
- Pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries : Verifying the compliance of raw materials and finished products.
- Extractive industries : Monitoring emissions from the mining and metallurgical industries.
- Transport and materials : Checking impurities in sensitive materials (alloys, composites).
Analysis may focus on:
- Total arsenic : Overall amount in a sample.
- Arsenic speciation : Differentiation between organic forms (less toxic) and inorganic forms (highly toxic, such as As³⁺ and As⁵⁺).
Prolonged exposure to arsenic, especially in its inorganic form, can lead to:
- Cancers (skin, lungs, bladder).
- Cardiovascular and neurological diseases.
- Acute toxic effects in the event of high ingestion.
The limits set vary depending on the sector and region:
- Drinking water : 10 µg/L according to the WHO and the European Union.
- Food : Strict regulation on inorganic arsenic (for example, rice ≤ 0.2 mg/kg according to EC Regulation 2015/1006).
- Industry : Compliance with thresholds imposed by pharmacopoeias (USP, EP) and environmental standards.
Reminder: what is arsenic?
Arsenic is a chemical element with an electronic configuration similar to phosphorus, and it is located just above it in the periodic table. Like phosphorus, arsenic can form covalent bonds with other elements. However, it also has metallic properties, which makes it useful for alloy manufacturing. Arsenic is used in many fields, including the semiconductor industry, alloy manufacturing, agriculture (in the form of pesticides) and medicine (in certain cancer treatments). However, excessive exposure to arsenic can be harmful to health, as it is toxic to human cells. Arsenic is also considered a proven carcinogen in humans.
Arsenic testing in industry is common for several reasons. First, arsenic can be a common contaminant in various types of chemicals and industrial processing agents. Companies that produce or use these chemicals may be required to carry out regular tests to check for the presence of arsenic in their samples.
In addition, arsenic may be present in soil samples due to environmental contamination. Analytical laboratories may therefore be asked to test soil samples taken from industrial areas or areas exposed to arsenic-containing chemicals.
Finally, laboratories can perform arsenic testing as part of scientific research studies. Scientists may study the effects of arsenic on the environment, pharmacology and other related topics. Arsenic testing is necessary to measure the concentration of arsenic in samples and to understand how it interacts with other chemical compounds.
