Which trace element is classically associated with a garlic odor in poisoning cases?

Which trace element is classically associated with a garlic odor in poisoning cases?

• A. Arsenic
• B. Mercury
• C. Lead
• D. Cadmium

Answer: (A)

Garlic odor on the breath or in residues is a classic sign of arsenic poisoning. Arsenic, a trace element and metalloid, can cause acute gastrointestinal symptoms, and in many exposure scenarios a distinctive garlicky smell is described due to arsenic compounds or arsine gas formed during certain reactions. Among common toxic elements, this odor cue is traditionally linked with arsenic—not with mercury, lead, or cadmium, which have other characteristic clinical presentations. While the odor alone isn’t proof, in a suspected poisoning case it points toward arsenic and should be followed by confirmatory testing, such as urinary arsenic measurements and speciation.

Garlic odor on the breath or in residues is a classic sign of arsenic poisoning. Arsenic, a trace element and metalloid, can cause acute gastrointestinal symptoms, and in many exposure scenarios a distinctive garlicky smell is described due to arsenic compounds or arsine gas formed during certain reactions. Among common toxic elements, this odor cue is traditionally linked with arsenic—not with mercury, lead, or cadmium, which have other characteristic clinical presentations. While the odor alone isn’t proof, in a suspected poisoning case it points toward arsenic and should be followed by confirmatory testing, such as urinary arsenic measurements and speciation.