Arsenic is a nonmetal or metalloid in group V of the periodic table that is found commonly in small amounts, throughout the environment. Arsenic used to be incorporated into a number of common commercially-available products, such as copper chromated arsenate (CCA) wood preservatives (aka "pressure treated wood"), fungicides, pesticides, herbicides, cattle and sheep dips, paints, pigments, cotton desiccants, antifouling paints, fire salts, and leaded gasoline.
In 2001, six calves died from arsenic poisoning due to ingestion of contaminated soil and materials present at an old dump site in their pasture.