Consequences of arsenic exposure in Plant-health status: an overview

Abstract

Arsenic is the biggest threat to all living organisms across the world. It is typically present in very minute amounts in rock, soil, air, and water, but these levels are rising as a result of both natural and man-made activity. Exposure to arsenic increases the risk of developing liver, lung, kidney, and bladder malignancies as well as vascular illnesses such as stroke, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral vascular disease. Arsenic generates oxidative stress, which disrupts the redox balance. In fact, in plants arsenic gets accumulated in different parts of plants upon exposure to either contaminated soil or water, causing hazardous effects on the plant. Therefore, this chapter is aimed to understand the effect of arsenic exposure on the growth and development of the plant as a whole.