How does arsenic interfere with cellular metabolism?

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A labeled diagram of the periodic table entry for arsenic, showing its atomic number 33, symbol As, atomic weight 74.921595, electron configuration, and classification as an other nonmetal. Additional icons indicate arsenic is solid at room temperature, has a rhombohedral crystal structure, and weakly acidic oxides. — arsenic Properties of arsenic.

Arsenic exerts its toxic effects primarily by binding to specific enzymes within the body. These enzymes act as organic catalysts essential for various biological processes, and by combining with them, arsenic effectively disrupts and interferes with cellular metabolism.1

This interference prevents the cells from functioning correctly, leading to the wide-ranging and harmful physiological consequences associated with arsenic poisoning.1