Arsenicosis is described as a chronic disease resulting from drinking water containing significant levels of arsenic, over a prolonged period of time. It is commonly referred to as poisoning and is considered the only known human carcinogen for which there is evidence of toxicity through ingestion and inhalation. As there are many ionic forms (ionic states) of arsenic, many different biochemical effects can be attributed to the heavy metal. Skin Lesions and Skin CancersSkin lesions are the most dominant effect of arsenic contamination. The skin is known to have a significant amount of keratin containing sulfhydryl groups to which As3+ binds. Studies show that arsenic-affected patients in West Bengal have severe skin deformities. Generally, citizens who have been exposed to high levels of heavy metals from drinking water and/or food consumption for a prolonged period have suffered from cancer. Additionally, the epidemiological evidence that has linked arsenic to skin cancers has also linked it to internal organ defects such as vascular diseases which, in turn, contribute significantly to all kinds of tissue.