There is growing concern that low level arsenic consumption may be a contributing factor in the development of type 2 diabetes.

In 2001, the EPA lowered arsenic standards for public water systems to 10 parts per billion. At the time cancer risk was the concern.

One of the first executive decisions of the new Bush administration was that the new EPA mandate was way too expensive to implement and was totally unnecessary. At a dinner speech in March of that year, Mr. Bush joked about it.

It is not entirely clear why Mr. Bush takes arsenic poisoning so
lightly, but it may have something to do with his ties to the
coal industry. Burning coal is a major source of arsenic
contamination. Many landfills contain arsenic-laden ash produced
by coal-burning power plants. Arsenic is likely to leak out of
these landfills, contaminating groundwater.

Now of course the cups among us will crudely chime that Mr. Bush will not be on the November ballot. Indeed he will not, but his doppelganger most assuredly will.