Z77.010 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to arsenic

ICD-10-CM Z77.010: Contact with and (suspected) exposure to arsenic

ICD-10-CM code Z77.010 represents contact with and suspected exposure to arsenic, classified as a finding under the parent concept for hazardous metals. Sources establish that arsenic exposure occurs through food, water, soil, and occupational environments. This reference synthesizes official terminology records with clinical and regulatory excerpts to explain the code and its context. 1 3 4

Plain-language overview

Ingestion of arsenic-containing food is the main exposure source for the general United States population, while private well water and treated lumber present additional environmental risks. 3

What this code represents

The code Z77.010 is a child concept to Z77.01, representing contact with and suspected exposure to hazardous metals, and it currently has narrower concepts within the ICD-10-CM terminology. 1

This code appears within a listing of social determinants of health Z-codes, situated alongside other environmental exposures such as asbestos and lead. 5

Documentation considerations

Clinical evaluation of arsenic exposure involves identifying the route, such as ingestion or inhalation, and documenting specific factors like urinary arsenic levels, exposure duration, and current symptoms. 3

Because total urinary arsenic content may overestimate exposure to toxic species, documentation may need to distinguish between harmful inorganic arsenic and essentially nontoxic fish arsenic. 2

Coverage and utilization context

Government regulations limit arsenic exposure, with OSHA mandating a permissible workplace airborne limit and the EPA regulating environmental exposures under the Clean Air Act. 4

What the sources add

While the terminology record defines the code structure, clinical and regulatory sources add operational context by detailing specific environmental sources, clinical indicators, and occupational exposure limits for arsenic. 1 3 4

Clinical literature indicates that characteristic skin changes, specifically hyperkeratinization and hyperpigmentation, serve as the most sensitive and diagnostic clinical indicator of chronic arsenic exposure. 2

Sources

1. ICD-10-CM Z77.010 terminology record — National Cancer Institute Enterprise Vocabulary Services; accessed 2026-07-27.
2. Bookshelf — ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
3. Clinician Brief: Arsenic — atsdr.cdc.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
4. What Are the Standards and Regulation for Arsenic Exposure? — archive.cdc.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
5. icd-10 social determinants of health (sdoh) z-codes — cmics.org; accessed 2026-07-27.