Arsenic occurs naturally in groundwater and is found in rocks, vegetables and the human body. It can enter drinking water supplies in communities where groundwater makes up a large part of the total water supply, like Tucson. Some people who drink water over many years could experience skin damage or problems with their circulatory system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer. 

Over the past 30 years, Dr. Lantz has concentrated his research in the area of pulmonary toxicology. His most recent research has focused on the effects of arsenic on lung growth and development and on identification of arsenic and uranium induced pulmonary biomarkers. Two models are currently being used to examine the effects of arsenic in the lung. One model relies on exposure to arsenic during lung development, both in utero and postnatally. A second model relies on chronic 4 to 8 week exposure of adult mice to arsenic in drinking water. Research is also on going to identify protein alterations in lung lining fluid as biomarkers of exposure and effect prior to the development of disease following exposure to arsenic. Patterns of alterations in protein expression in exposed human populations in Arizona and Mexico, human cell lines, and in vivo rodent studies, both common and unique to these different test systems, are being identified. Dr. Lantz is the author of over 80 peer reviewed manuscripts.

Sessions Readings: 

Pulmonary BioMarkers Based on Alterations in Protein Expression after Exposure to Asenic -  Clark Lantz

Environmental arsenic exposure and sputum metalloproteinase concentrations 

Microbe Finds Asenic Tasty

Poisoned Debate Encirclesa Microbe Study's Results

A Bacterium That can Grow by Using Arsenic Instead of Phosphorus- Wolf-Simon et al.

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