Arsenic poisoning is a public health threat in the U.S. Dr. Fuortes defines the scope of the problem in this survey of hospital admissions for arsenic poisoning over a 15-year period. Admissions to 3 Eastern Iowa hosipitals for arsenic poisonings between 1970-1985 were reviewed & 19 cases of arsenic poisoning were identified. Six ingestions were unintentional (all children); 2 were homicides; 5 were suicide attempts; 6 were of unknown intent. 27 Refs. (NBB)