It is a yellowish-green pigment commonly used during the early to mid-19th century in paints as well as being directly incorporated into a variety of products as a colorant.

[10] The pigment was originally prepared by making a solution of sodium carbonate at a temperature of around 90 °C (194 °F), then slowly adding arsenious oxide, while constantly stirring until everything had dissolved.

[11] Scheele's green was used to color wallpapers, paper furniture linings, and textiles used in clothing and bookbindings, along with paints, wax candles, and even some children's toys.

[19] [20] Although some European nations started banning arsenic-containing pigments in the 1830s and 1840s, Scheele's green did not completely fall out of favor until the 1860s.

An article "Pretty Poison-Wreaths" described her repeated illness from arsenic poisoning leading to her death, and detailed autopsy findings of eyes and fingernails turned green from the pigment.

Alternatively, toxic gas can be released from compounds containing arsenic following certain chemical processes, such as heating, or metabolism by an organism.

Fungi genera such as Scopulariopsis or Paecilomyces release arsine gas, when they are growing on a substance containing arsenic.

[26][27] However, newer studies indicate that trimethylarsine has a low toxicity, and could therefore not account for the death and the severe health problems observed in the 19th century.

[27] During his exile on St. Helena, Napoleon resided in a house in which the rooms were painted bright green, his favorite color.

The cause of his death is generally believed to have been stomach cancer, and arsenic exposure has been linked to an increased risk of gastric carcinoma.